Help me out here, guys and gals!

[tmanscrew]

Been looking at and researching ztr's for about the past month and I am trying to decide which way to go. I have been on the Ferris IS600z, Grasshopper 126v-52, Scag Freedom Z-52, Kubota Kommander and the Toro Titan 5400. I have also been looking at stepping up from the Freedom Z to the Tiger Cat and from the Kommander to the Z723 in the Kubota. I will be mowing my yard(about 2 acres) and the church yard(1.5 acres, occasionally). Not really gonna do any commercial work right now, but would like to have a mower that could handle the extra work should my son pick up a couple or three yards to mow in the next couple of years and I have always been the kind of guy who wants to go a little more that what I need just in case. Based on what I have seen from looking at the mower, the Grasshopper has the more commercially built mower for the price($5899). The Tiger Cat is @$1400-1600 more than the GH and the Kubota 700 series is practically the same price as the TC. Just looking for some insight from those out there who know. This will be my first ztr, so I want to make the right choice.

Thanks!:thumbsup:

 

[Mike88se]

I think all those sound like buying a Hummer to take one kid 2 blocks to school :wink: You'll def have more than you need
My vote is the Ferris.

 

[tmanscrew]

I think all those sound like buying a Hummer to take one kid 2 blocks to school :wink: You'll def have more than you need
My vote is the Ferris.

Thanks for the reply, Mike! No doubt I will probably have more than I need, but I would rather have one that will last as opposed to one that may not. Also, I noticed that you have exmark in your sig, but you recommended the Ferris. Any particular reason?

 

[clpolcar]

I have a is600z and love it. But if I would buy again it would be a bigger mower and a walker. Lol but I have no complaints with it

 

[Mike88se]

Thanks for the reply, Mike! No doubt I will probably have more than I need, but I would rather have one that will last as opposed to one that may not. Also, I noticed that you have exmark in your sig, but you recommended the Ferris. Any particular reason?

The exmark was a 21. Great mower but I traded it in on a Toro Turfmaster 30. Kinda regret that. I don't regret buying the 30... just trading the 21. I miss it but the 30 does just about anything the 21 would except ground speed. Also I have an old Lawnboy 21. I use the Gravely 34z for larger lawns. You might want to consider Gravely too. They make very good mowers. Wish I'd had a camera to show the lawn I cut with it today. The stripe guys would like it
The Ferris... I like the way they are built.

 

[tmanscrew]

The exmark was a 21. Great mower but I traded it in on a Toro Turfmaster 30. Kinda regret that. I don't regret buying the 30... just trading the 21. I miss it but the 30 does just about anything the 21 would except ground speed. Also I have an old Lawnboy 21. I use the Gravely 34z for larger lawns. You might want to consider Gravely too. They make very good mowers. Wish I'd had a camera to show the lawn I cut with it today. The stripe guys would like it
The Ferris... I like the way they are built.

I have definitely given the Gravely a serious look, Mike, but the closest dealer we have to me is about 75-80 miles away. That's the only thing I really have against buying a Gravely. Another question I am trying to rationalize is whether I would be better off with the FS series Kawi as opposed to the Commercial/Turf B&S with the cyclonic intake. Seems like the FX Kawi is @ $800-$1000 more and is there really that much difference in the inside of the engine or is it mainly the commercial intake system? So many ?'s.:confused2:

 

[djdicetn]

I have definitely given the Gravely a serious look, Mike, but the closest dealer we have to me is about 75-80 miles away. That's the only thing I really have against buying a Gravely. Another question I am trying to rationalize is whether I would be better off with the FS series Kawi as opposed to the Commercial/Turf B&S with the cyclonic intake. Seems like the FX Kawi is @ $800-$1000 more and is there really that much difference in the inside of the engine or is it mainly the commercial intake system? So many ?'s.:confused2:

The Kawa FX is the most solid commercial small engine available and is worth the extra money. Just search these forums for the torque comparison to other engines. That matters more than HP!! Nothing comes close. Too bad the Gravely dealer isn't an option. For the money you are spending and what you will be mowing I would HIGHLY recommend the Pro-Turn 152(regular MSRP on Model#991080 is $8,499 and is on sale at my local dealer for $7,699). Heres a link if you want to compare its specs:

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