Looking for advice/help with a new riding mower/lawn tractor purchase

[DPuro329]

Hi everyone,
We recently moved from a townhouse in NJ with a tiny yard to a house in NH on 1.6 acres. Part of the property is wooded and I believe the grassy part I'll have to cut is 2/3 to 3/4 of an acre. It's hilly and there are a good amount of rock and tree obstacles. I'm planning on just using it to mow and nothing else. I would prefer to buy locally from a dealer rather than Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, etc. This will be the first riding mower I have ever bought or even used. I've done some basic research but there are so many brands and I'm just not sure which ones are good, bad, average. I don't want garbage, but my budget for just the tractor is $1500-$1700, is this realistic? I know I'll have to add a few hundred for the bagger also. I would rather buy a basic tractor from a good brand then a lesser brand with more features. Any suggestions or brands to look into or definitely avoid? Any features that are must haves or a waste of money? I saw a Husqvarna tractor (model YTH23V42) at a local dealer for $1699.95 and they are offering 18 or 24 months no interest financing which is definitely a plus.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Dave

 

[reynoldston]

If you are going to finance a mower why not add to the cost and get something more in the 5,000 to 6,000 range and you will have a mower that will last for the next 20 + years. You get what you pay for.

 

[DPuro329]

That is a lot more than I am comfortable spending. There's no way I can spend more than 3x my mortgage payment on a mower. I realize you get what you pay for, but a 5-6 grand mower seems like it would be more than I would need for cutting grass. Is $15-1700 too little to spend? Like I said I don't want garbage but don't want to spend a fortune either. What is the minimum amount I would have to spend to buy a decent basic mower?

 

[wjjones]

That is a lot more than I am comfortable spending. There's no way I can spend more than 3x my mortgage payment on a mower. I realize you get what you pay for, but a 5-6 grand mower seems like it would be more than I would need for cutting grass. Is $15-1700 too little to spend? Like I said I don't want garbage but don't want to spend a fortune either. What is the minimum amount I would have to spend to buy a decent basic mower?

Do you have a Husqvarna dealer close?

 

[DPuro329]

Yes, there's a Husqvarna dealer in town and I was seriously considering them.

 

[reynoldston]

I don't know your money you do, so you know what you want. I was just thinking if you were going to finance just spread it out. Yes a Husqvarna is a good mower to start with. Also there is other brands out there what are just as good. Just make sure you give it good maintenance. Being a lighter mower if the hills are very steep you might have some problims on them? I have a neighbor who has a Husqvarna with some hills and she needed wheel weights. You will know this once you mow with it.

 

[DPuro329]

What are some of the other brands that are similar to Husqvarna?

 

[reynoldston]

What are some of the other brands that are similar to Husqvarna?

You sure want me to think this AM. John Deere, Cub, Sears, You know what dealer are in your neighbor hood better then I. Maybe look in the yellow pages. At that price range they are just about the same. You said you are going to a dealer for better service which I can understand so look for that more then brand.

 

[djdicetn]

That is a lot more than I am comfortable spending. There's no way I can spend more than 3x my mortgage payment on a mower. I realize you get what you pay for, but a 5-6 grand mower seems like it would be more than I would need for cutting grass. Is $15-1700 too little to spend? Like I said I don't want garbage but don't want to spend a fortune either. What is the minimum amount I would have to spend to buy a decent basic mower?

Based upon my personal experience with a 54" Craftsman YS4500(made for Sears by Husqvarna) I would recommend that you stay away from that Briggs & Stratton Intek engine that comes on the YTH2342. If I were buying another lawn tractor, I would buy the Husqvarna YT42XLS. It is a bit pricier(MSRP is $2599), but it has a heavy duty fabricated deck, a hydrostatic tranny with a locking differential, electric PTO(for blade engagement instead of a manual lever) and comes with a Kawasaki which is the most durable, reliable small engine on the market right now. I know the $900 sounds like a LOT more, but I paid $1999 for that Craftsman and wouldn't hesitate to spend the extra money for the YT42XLS. You'll really like the electric PTO and the Kawasaki itself is worth the extra(plus the fab deck has a lifetime warranty). If you look at the two side-by-side I think you'll see the difference in quality.

 

[txzrider]

Have you considered a ztr (zero turn riding mower)? They can be had under 3k and with proper maintenance will last a long time. Plus be much more efficient at doing exactly what your primary purpose is!! Mowing. Toro , cub cadet , snapper , et all... have good decent mower in a 42 inch deck which will last you 10 years or more and be fun to use. My entry level snapper lasted 12 years before I even had to replace a belt!! granted the avg price for that class of mower is around $2700 , fully 1k more than your budget. It will be worth it though in time saved and how well it cuts. That being said, if the $1700 limit is a hard one, given the above comment about proper maint, any rider in the price range will last you a long time as well. Also I have had much better luck with beltlife of mowers that used electric pto's to engage the blades than the old pull a lever versions. Dont know if the pto is easier on the bladebelt or if it just comes on better quality mowers. By the way when I told my wife I was buying a $2700 mower she said not no but h3ll no! 2 weeks after I bought it ... she told me it was the best purchase I had ever made.