Homeowner looking at used commercial equipment and need advice (all over the map)

[Ric]

I looked at a new Ferris but have not found any used ones that represent value yet. I went and looked at them again today and ran them a limited amount. The Simplicity has a large enough leak it does not move. I simply do not like the Scag (for aa big as it is it feels small). The JD is at a different auction and I did not look at it. Absolutely adore the Kubota but think my target has to be modified. If I buy it for $5500 it would still be a deal I think and the Snapper is a great option b I think

This is just my opinion but Ferris, Snapper and Simplicity are all owned and made by B&S and I personally wouldn't have anything to do with any of them but that's just me. As I said before I think the Kubota would be the best built and buy for the money as well as the best mower for the money. I personally before I did or purchased anything would check out a few others like Toro and Hustler maybe Exmark and compare prices and the quality of their mowers to the mowers your looking at.

 

[Lohman446]

This is just my opinion but Ferris, Snapper and Simplicity are all owned and made by B&S and I personally wouldn't have anything to do with any of them but that's just me. As I said before I think the Kubota would be the best built and buy for the money as well as the best mower for the money. I personally before I did or purchased anything would check out a few others like Toro and Hustler maybe Exmark and compare prices and the quality of their mowers to the mowers your looking at.

I had looked at a couple Toro Z-Masters and one Exmark (which I understand are basically the same mower). Generally speaking my impression was that, quality wise, the major players in the commercial game were pretty much a wash (Kubota, Toro / Exmark, Snapper / Simplicity / Ferris, John Deere, Dixie Chopper). While no doubt some fair better than others and in a fleet of mowers the difference would be important I was not buying a fleet of mowers.

I ended up going over budget and picking up the Kubota for a bit under $6K by the time I get it home. It is the liquid cooled diesel. I was sitting there going spending 6K on a dedicated lawnmower for my own use is not reasonable and realized that thought process was, somehow, arguing that spending 5K (on what most perceive as a lesser mower with the gas engine) was. I am happy with my choice if a touch poorer due to it.

For the sake of the posterity on pricing (including auction fees but not sales tax) of this thread the Snapper went for $3650, the Simplicity went for $2820, and the Scag went for $2920. I did not look to see what the John Deere went for. The Simplicity seemed drastically overpriced to me

 

[bertsmobile1]

Those prices tell you someting don't they.
Congratulations.
I have never worked on a Kubots that I would not have been happy to call my own.
PS I am in Aust so som of the mowers mentioned I do not see down here.

 

[Ric]

I had looked at a couple Toro Z-Masters and one Exmark (which I understand are basically the same mower). Generally speaking my impression was that, quality wise, the major players in the commercial game were pretty much a wash (Kubota, Toro / Exmark, Snapper / Simplicity / Ferris, John Deere, Dixie Chopper). While no doubt some fair better than others and in a fleet of mowers the difference would be important I was not buying a fleet of mowers.

I ended up going over budget and picking up the Kubota for a bit under $6K by the time I get it home. It is the liquid cooled diesel. I was sitting there going spending 6K on a dedicated lawnmower for my own use is not reasonable and realized that thought process was, somehow, arguing that spending 5K (on what most perceive as a lesser mower with the gas engine) was. I am happy with my choice if a touch poorer due to it.

For the sake of the posterity on pricing (including auction fees but not sales tax) of this thread the Snapper went for $3650, the Simplicity went for $2820, and the Scag went for $2920. I did not look to see what the John Deere went for. The Simplicity seemed drastically overpriced to me

.

Toro and Exmark are both Made by Toro so there basically the same mower, them followed by Hustler and Scag are your Major Players commercially at least around here.. Dixie Chopper, Kubota, Gravely are all real good mowers and I think are probably some of the most underrated mowers on the market. The rest are B&S wannabes. I guess rating mowers comes down to what part of the country your in as to what people like or dislike or what works best for a particular location.

 

[bertsmobile1]

And you forgot the biggie Ric.
Your own history with the particular brand.
Nothing colours ones opinions better than getting stuck with a lemon, or being dissapointed after buying a highly over rated mower.

 

[Ric]

And you forgot the biggie Ric.
Your own history with the particular brand.
Nothing colors ones opinions better than getting stuck with a lemon, or being disappointed after buying a highly over rated mower.

What biggie did I forget?

 

[Lohman446]

And you forgot the biggie Ric.
Your own history with the particular brand.
Nothing colours ones opinions better than getting stuck with a lemon, or being dissapointed after buying a highly over rated mower.

This goes both ways (though I do not have a history of what others have gone through). For instance I thought about posting my thoughts on the mower after using it in far less than ideal conditions on Sunday after I got it home but everything about this purchase increases my desire to be happy with the machine so I am. I have no experience to compare my use of this machine to (other than what others have cautioned me on) so my opinion on it is based on extremely limited use and a lack of useful comparisons. I used it in wet conditions on some hill areas I thought would be a concern based on what others had written and the thing never wiggled - my biggest concern was alleviated and then it was all smooth sailing.

Though my wife did come out to try it (I did remove the bagger because it was too wet to bag) and everything close to the house and the road and the field is now mowed neatly so I am gathering she liked it.

 

[Ric]

This goes both ways (though I do not have a history of what others have gone through). For instance I thought about posting my thoughts on the mower after using it in far less than ideal conditions on Sunday after I got it home but everything about this purchase increases my desire to be happy with the machine so I am. I have no experience to compare my use of this machine to (other than what others have cautioned me on) so my opinion on it is based on extremely limited use and a lack of useful comparisons. I used it in wet conditions on some hill areas I thought would be a concern based on what others had written and the thing never wiggled - my biggest concern was alleviated and then it was all smooth sailing.

Though my wife did come out to try it (I did remove the bagger because it was too wet to bag) and everything close to the house and the road and the field is now mowed neatly so I am gathering she liked it.

The Kubota should hold hills very well considering its weight. Just don't every turn down a slope or grade because your weight could work against you.