Hi all, we just bought a new house - the yard is amazing! It is about 1 acre and has about 40 trees to mow around, mostly in the backyard. I've only owned a push mower so looking for my first ZT/riding mower for the yard. I've been looking at the Hustler and it checks out - the price compare to the others is right and it looks to be solid. I'd really love to get the SD, but frankly I've spent all of my money with the house. Sales tax here is 9.25% so the $3000 52" Raptor becomes nearly $3300. The $3900 Raptor SD becomes about $4250. This is the only yard I'll be mowing and my neighbors have told me most of the backyard doesn't grow much grass due to all the shade. If I go with the regular Raptor, will I be disappointed? I'm thinking about the finance option....doing so makes the price difference not as bad, however I have no intentions of having a balance on the loan after 6 months...will pay it off as quickly as possible, even if it's 0%.
Thoughts? Besides the transmission differences, one of the main things I see is the armrests...how important are those on a ZT with an acre yard? From your experience, are the dealers willing to bargain at all? If not on price, by maybe throwing in free service of the mulching kit?
Thanks in advance!
Hi all, we just bought a new house - the yard is amazing! It is about 1 acre and has about 40 trees to mow around, mostly in the backyard. I've only owned a push mower so looking for my first ZT/riding mower for the yard. I've been looking at the Hustler and it checks out - the price compare to the others is right and it looks to be solid. I'd really love to get the SD, but frankly I've spent all of my money with the house. Sales tax here is 9.25% so the $3000 52" Raptor becomes nearly $3300. The $3900 Raptor SD becomes about $4250. This is the only yard I'll be mowing and my neighbors have told me most of the backyard doesn't grow much grass due to all the shade. If I go with the regular Raptor, will I be disappointed? I'm thinking about the finance option....doing so makes the price difference not as bad, however I have no intentions of having a balance on the loan after 6 months...will pay it off as quickly as possible, even if it's 0%.
Thoughts? Besides the transmission differences, one of the main things I see is the armrests...how important are those on a ZT with an acre yard? From your experience, are the dealers willing to bargain at all? If not on price, by maybe throwing in free service of the mulching kit?
Thanks in advance!
The thing about being disappointed would depend on you and what you have previously used. If you've never used a ZTR then you probably won't be disappointed on the other hand if you've used a good ZTR then I would say your chances are better than average you will be disappointed. The Raptor isn't all that much mower as the price indicates, that and the fact there selling them at HD now should say something. I think it comes down to the old saying , you get what you pay for. For the money you want to spend you may want to look at the Toro Titans.
Personally I'd stay away from the Raptor because it's running the EZT drives and there trash, at least the SD has the 2800 which should last the homeowner a good while. You'll also get a somewhat better cut with the SD because it has the high blade tip speed.
The EZT transmissions have been bullet proof. I've never seen a bad EZT on any brand not sold in Home Depot or the box stores.
Also, neither of excels lines are sold at home depot, as Toro and several other big brands are.
Better think again
You may want to check out this thread: http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/equipment-news/22108-hustler-mowers-being-sold-lowes-home-depot.html
Why don't I see them sold from either store, when I look online. All I see is Toro, Cub and JD.
The thing about being disappointed would depend on you and what you have previously used. If you've never used a ZTR then you probably won't be disappointed on the other hand if you've used a good ZTR then I would say your chances are better than average you will be disappointed. The Raptor isn't all that much mower as the price indicates, that and the fact there selling them at HD now should say something. I think it comes down to the old saying , you get what you pay for.
For the money you want to spend you may want to look at the Toro Titans there a lot more mower than the Raptor. The 54" model has the 23hp Kawasaki, 18000 blade tip speed, a heavier 10 gauge deck and the 3100 drives along with a 3yr warranty.
Personally I'd stay away from the Raptor because it's running the EZT drives and there trash, at least the SD has the 2800 which should last the homeowner a good while. You'll also get a somewhat better cut with the SD because it has the high blade tip speed.
I'm very disappointed in Excel's decision, but where's your proof it's because they don't sell? I can't keep them in the store. I'm waiting for three coming in that have sold before they get here.Give them time they will be there. Hustler just made the deal with Lowes and Home depot like maybe a couple of months ago, that's way all there dealers are having fits with Hustler and from what I've seen on some other forums some have or thinking of dropping the hustler line. The problem with the Raptor at the dealers is the fact they can't sell the thing.
I'd skip. First, low level Briggs engines are not up with Kawi FR engines and second Dixie is in flux right now with all sorts of changes behind the scenes...I'd wait to see where the chips fall. It's why I skipped on dealing them.I can also get a Dixie Chopper Zee1 2348 for $3000...I believe this has a welded deck, however it has a Briggs engine. Should I give any consideration towards it?
I'm very disappointed in Excel's decision, but where's your proof it's because they don't sell? I can't keep them in the store. I'm waiting for three coming in that have sold before they get here.
I think I'd invite you to think outside your box. As a dealer the one thing I've learned is that every customer has their own version of what their world and equipment is. Location is a player in it. You think how you do, where you are and for your purpose...thousands see it differently. Your point is like saying people who shop new cars are only looking to spend $40k on a top level SUV...but lots of folks buy a Sole.Where is the proof, Excel's reasoning is proof. There sole purpose in making a deal with HD and Lowes is to put the machine in there stores because they want the thing seen by the public. The greatest majority of people at the moment that see the Raptor at a dealers are guys like myself who do lawn-care for a living, the wrong clientele to sell that machine. I mean lets face the fact when I go to the dealer to by a mower and I see the Raptor next to a Fastrack or Super Z the first thing that comes to mind or my first impression is what a piece of crap same as the Toro Timecutter setting next to a Toro Z-Master. Now couple that impression along with the 7 to maybe10 thousand I'm ready to spend on a mower and what chance do those mowers have of selling......slim to none. I'm not saying the Raptor isn't a good mower, it's designed along with the EZT transmission is for a residential user, for someone who has a small yard or lawn maybe a quarter acre there fine. As far as the 3100 transmissions being overkill, maybe it is but for the price difference between the machines I'll take the overkill. I wouldn't run anything less than the 2800's.
I think I'd invite you to think outside your box. As a dealer the one thing I've learned is that every customer has their own version of what their world and equipment is. Location is a player in it. You think how you do, where you are and for your purpose...thousands see it differently. Your point is like saying people who shop new cars are only looking to spend $40k on a top level SUV...but lots of folks buy a Sole.
I don't like the decision, but I understand the mindset. I don't think lack of sales was the motivation, the desire for more was. There is a difference.
I don't think thousands see it differently, I think for thousands it as money issue and there going to go where things are the cheapest to buy and for a mower it's Home Depot or Lowes. Excel's reasoning is proof and there deal with HD and Lowes was of there own admission. There the ones that felt they would have more exposure for the mower by displaying and selling it in Home depot and lowes than in the dealerships. Lets face facts Cub Cadet, Toro, Ariens, John Deere, Husqvarna, Honda, Hustler, and lets not forget Echo and all the hand held equipment and the list goes on for ever cheap mower made and it's all based on increasing sales. The sell ten times more residential equipment than you as a dealership will.
There isn't much wiggle room on those machines like higher ones, and it's a great machine for the homeowner. The retail on it is fair. I hope you enjoy your mower!Got it for the standard $2999 + 9.25% sales tax. Based on what I've read from others, I didn't haggle much at all.
Really !!My Raptor SD only has these drawbacks next to the 16 MPH Hustler next door. It doesn't run 16 MPH. It does, however, ride more smoothly, due to a much better seat, wider tires that require less air pressure. The only other thing I don't like is the deck height adjuster sucks. Other than that, the three owners with adjacent properties with the expensive Hustlers likes mine better than theirs.
Mine came with a suspension seat, has flex forks out front and 8 PSI tire pressure. (Yes I can run lower tire pressures also)In the Z's defense, the neighbor is afraid to turn it loose. If ya got it, use it. But then, with his seat on my property, it nearly shook my eyeballs out. And that was fter all the dirtwork and sodding. Lol
Correction.Mine came with a suspension seat, has flex forks out front and 8 PSI tire pressure. (Yes I can run lower tire pressures also)
Mows my 7 acres in 2 hours.
I have a 2013 Super Z and they come with suspension seat. (Super Z and Super Z HD come with suspension seat)I wonder why the neighbors Z doesn't have a suspension seat on his? He bought it new in 13.
Do you recommend the flex forks?