In the first of the year of 2015, I will be purchasing my first zero turn. I've heard a lot of good news about gravely lawn equipment. Since I live in a subdivision, mostly retired folks, I really want to start mowing there grass as well. But I have one problem, I've asked several people about which kind of gravely is best and I always get the answer "all of them". Mine and most of my neighbors yards are flat with some mid level grade to it. All lots in my neighborhood are at an acre to 2 acres. Some question for y'all: Can some body tell me if gravely is a good choice, if so which model would for what I'll be mowing. Please feel free to list your choices of what kind you would use
You don't mention your "budget" for your first ZTR purchase. I don't usually argue with user Ric, but I don't hesitate to offer a rebuttal on this one. Granted the Toro Turbo-Force is a great deck(you have to go with the 3000 series to get a full 7gauge deck), but I would mow side-by side against a 52" Z-Master 3000 with my 52" Gravely Pro-Turn 100 XDZ(with Gravely's 7gauge X-Factor deck) and the quality of my cut would speak for itself. Also, I can't seem to get a "price" on Toro's website, but the 2014 Gravely Pro-Turn 152 has a MSRP of $8,499 and my local dealer has it on sale for $7,699. I would challenge user Ric to provide the price comparison for the 52" Toro Z-Master 3000.
Now if user Ric's son-in-law is using the Gravely "base" Pro-Turn(not the XDZ fully Commercial series), you would have to compare it to either the Toro Z-Master 2000 series. The base Pro-Turn doesn't have the Gravely X-Factor deck and the Toro Z-Master's Turbo-Force deck may have a "slight edge" on cut quality(but again you would need to consider the price difference(the Gravely base Pro-Turn in 52" has a MSRP of $6,999 and is on sale at my local dealer for $6,299). Considering that I bough my 2012 Gravely in the Fall(and I can HIGHLY recommend that you try to buy Sept-Nov to get your best deal just before the dealer gets the next year models in) I spent $6,800 out-the-door(approx $1,300 less than the 2013 model MSRP plus tax) and I couldn't have touched a Toro Z-Master 3000 for even close to that(the Toro dealer quoted $6,100 plus taxes on a 52" 2012 Z-Master "2000").
Sooooo, all that being said, I recommend that you reply with what you are willing to spend and we can make suggestions(I also recommend brands other than Gravely) but you need to go to the dealers, look at the ZTR's closely, ask the dealers to let you demo them, compare specs & price and then make a decision. There are a LOT of good ZTR's on the market and your final decision won't be easy:0(
P.S.
If you want to research the Gravelys check out the link below. All you have to do is click on Find A Dealer and you can get current pricing at your nearest dealer.
Pro-Turn 100 Commercial Zero turn Mower