I don't how to assist further except to point out that in my opinion it's as much about the mower as it is the dealer. I've been perfectly happy with my Exmarks and the dealer that I've been using for several years (my original one closed) but they're 20 miles away and they don't sell/service any other equipment I have. The Bob-Cat dealer is less than 5 miles from my house and is exceptional. My experience with them with my Shindaiwa and Echo handheld equipment has always been excellent. So I went with the excellent convenient dealer and what they sell = Bob-Cat. I considered a Scag but I don't like the dealer and they store their machines outdoors for extended periods of time. I have 2002 and 2003 machines that have never spent the night outdoors uncovered. I'll be damned if I'm going to buy a brand new machine that's been sitting outdoors unprotected for months.
Personally I like the smaller shops with a handful of employees over the bigger dealers. Things seem to fall through the cracks less often and I can build a relationship with them more easily. The owner of the Bob-Cat shop is the lead mechanic, and is always cordial and helpful. They will literally drop what they're doing when a broken machine comes in and fix it on the trailer if they can.
thanks again...you've given me so much info...the dealer proximity is definitely on my list but not high cause none of them are very close now that my in-town dealer closed...that's a good point about new machines sitting outside...i didn't think of that...i would hope that during repairs it would be stored inside...
1 closest dealer to me is 11 miles away and carries
bobcat...this is a small place that i think focuses more on repairs/sales for earth moving equipment...i don't see any mowers stored outside on google maps aerial/street view but i don't think that is a main source of income for them...don't think i could test out machines here, probably more of a pick what you want from a book and we put it together and you take it home
2 next closest dealer to me is 15 miles away and carries
bad boy, ferris, jonsered, simplicity, snapper, toro, troy-bilt and wright...this is a small place that i think focuses more on repairs...i don't see anything stored outside on google maps aerial/street view...but that doesn't mean much...don't think i could test out machines here, probably more of a pick what you want from a book and we put it together and you take it home
3 next closest dealer to me is 21 miles away and carries
ariens, exmark, scag, husqvarna, toro, walker and wright...this is also a small place that i think focuses more on repairs...i do see a few pieces of equipment stored outside on google maps aerial/street view...those may be for donor parts...they have a gated yard...i have a buddy that i believe used to work here so i will have to ask him...don't think i could test out machines here, probably more of a pick what you want from a book and we put it together and you take it home
4 next closest dealer is 26 miles away and carries
cub cadet, exmark, gravely, husqvarna, kubota, toro, walker and wright...this is a big dealer who has machines outside...not sure if they bring them all in at the end of the day but i doubt it...this is a place i could go to test out machines
5 next closest dealer is 31 miles away and carries
ariens, exmark, gravely, husqvarna and scag...i'd say this is a medium place that does store some outside under the building overhang...i probably could test machines out here but it would be a limited selection
husqvarna, toro and exmark are offered at 3 of the dealers so i have options there...ariens, gravely and scag at 2 of the dealers
i'd rather buy from 2 or 3 as they are closer and carry a few brands...but i may go to 4 to test some machines first and then buy from 1 or 2 (depending on brand)...there is also the option to go to mowers direct for certain brands and have it delivered to my house but only if the price is substantially less since transportation isn't easy as i would have to borrow a trailer from a friend but at the same time i have to assemble parts of it myself and if things aren't adjusted correctly then either i have to figure it out or bring it to a dealer and pay them...the other option is buying used on craigslist which i would only do if i was buying one of my higher level transmission choices with low hours or something i found at a good deal (see my CL finds below)
i feel like if you don't buy the machine from that dealer they don't put you very high on their priority list to get your machine fixed...but i also feel like if you're not a commercial user who has that dealer fix all your machines then you also would get bumped for the commercial guys anyway...my best bet would be buying from 1 or 2 but that takes gravely out of the picture and if one of those dealers closes the doors well then i'm kind of screwed if the next closest guy doesn't service that brand then i have to go farther away...either way i plan to do most of the maintenance myself and buy parts online...so oil changes not requiring a ton of extra work are a must
for me i guess it really comes down to the width of the mower with the bagger attached...if i can get through a 6' wide door with a 48" deck mower with a bagger (maybe powered) that opens up my choices greatly but i really don't think i need a machine that big...it also makes the machine heavier and i have a wet yard at times which could rut...also harder to fit where i need it to like between my shed and fence...i guess it also depends on if a mulching kit can handle the longer grass i have to cut from time to time without sending clumps all over the yard (don't want my dogs eating the clumps)
48" decks
https://southcoast.craigslist.org/grd/d/2017-exmark-radius-48/6545899345.html
https://newlondon.craigslist.org/grd/d/ferris-is600z/6544198708.html
https://vermont.craigslist.org/grd/d/2015-ferris-1500z/6543779096.html
https://providence.craigslist.org/grd/d/like-new-48-gravely-zero/6511161854.html
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better transmission choices...
*GRAVELY ZT XL 42"* (HG 2800 + FRV-TWIN 21.5HP KAWASAKI + POWERED BAGGER)
*FERRIS IS 600Z 44" (HG3400 + FS 600V 18.5HP KAWASAKI OR B&S + POWERED BAGGER)
lower level transmission choices...
*TORO MX4250 (HG2200 + 24.5HP TORO + BAGGER + AUTOBRAKE)
*HUSQVARNA Z242F (HG2200 + 21.5HP FR SERIES KAWASAKI + BAGGER + AUTOBRAKE)
other considerations...
ARIENS Ikon XL 42" (HG2800 + 7000 VTWIN KOHLER 22HP + POWERED BAGGER)
BOBCAT CRZ 42" (HG2800 + FR 651V 18.8HP KAWASAKI + NO BAGGER)
SCAG LIBERTY Z 36" (HG2800 + FR600 18HP KAWASAKI + BAGGER)
EXMARK QUEST E SERIES 42" (HG2100 + 24.5HP EXMARK + BAGGER + AUTOBRAKE)
BAD BOY MZ 42" (HG2200 + 22HP KOHLER PRO 7000 + BAGGER OR POWERED BAGGER)
HUSTLER RAPTOR 42" (HG2200 + FR651 21.5HP KAWASAKI + BAGGER)
KUBOTA Z122R 42" (HG2200 + 21.5HP KUBOTA + BAGGER)