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

[djdicetn]

Djdicetn,
No worries I knew it wasn't directed at me. I think I'm accepting the fact that if I spend more now it will cause fewer headaches down the road. I went to another Husqvarna dealer today and saw one (model YT46LS) for $2199 I believe. It has a Kawasaki engine and it has a reinforced deck. I'm not familiar with them, are they a step up from a stamped deck, but less durable than a fabricated deck? I think the problem I'm running into is that the Husqvarna dealers I've gone to only have a few models on display. A guy I talked to yesterday thought that Husqvarna offers too many different models and if he was to carry them all it would just confuse things.

Dave

DPuro329,
Now that YT46LS is a lawn tractor that I could recommend....it has the Kawasaki and the locking differential. Just for grins, ask that dealer if he would order you the YT42XLS. It weighs more(even though it's a 42" versus a 46"), has a little heftier Kawa(23hp versus 21.5hp) and of course the fab deck has a lifetime warranty(versus the LS having a 10year warranty on the reinforced deck). IMHO, all of that is well worth throwing another $400 at your investment!! Of course, if you stay with the YT46LS model and don't go back down into the YTH series models I think you will be well pleased with your new mower for many, many years!!!

 

[DPuro329]

I think I'm leaning towards the Yt46ls and here's why. I found a dealer that had both in the showroom and I was kind of ok spending the additional $400, but then I found out that the fabricated decks need the $850 bagging system with a blower vs the $300 standard double bagging system and I think that if I have to spend more on the tractor and the bagger I'll just go with the slightly lower tractor and save a few bucks.

 

[WILBUR46]

I think I'm leaning towards the Yt46ls and here's why. I found a dealer that had both in the showroom and I was kind of ok spending the additional $400, but then I found out that the fabricated decks need the $850 bagging system with a blower vs the $300 standard double bagging system and I think that if I have to spend more on the tractor and the bagger I'll just go with the slightly lower tractor and save a few bucks.

HERE'S ANOTHER OPTION - AND ONE THAT COULD PUT YOU INTO A BETTER LINE OF MOWER WITHIN YOUR 15-17 - AS THESE HUSKY MACHINES ARE WORK HORSES AND WILL GIVE YEARS OF SERVICE IF WELL MAINTAINED - CHECK AROUND THE DEALER'S STATE WIDE AND EVEN SOME OF THE SALE LISTINGS LIKE CRAIGSLIST FOR A USED UNIT -- ESTATE SALES OR E-BAY -- A GOOD LOW HRS HIGH END UNIT IN THE TYPE YOU'VE CHOSEN CAN BE HAD FOR A BIG SAVING IN THE POCKET - YOU'LL BE SURPRISED JUST WHAT'S OUT THERE FOR GOOD DEAL - AND BARTERING IS THE NAME OF THE GAME - CHEERS AND GOOD HUNTING

 

[DPuro329]

A bunch of people have suggested that I look into a used tractor on craigslist, eBay, etc. And I understand that I could get a decent better quality used mower for around the same or less money than the new ones I'm looking at. My concerns are that I've never used a riding mower before and I'm not mechanically inclined so I would have no idea if mowers I was looking at were in good condition, bad condition, had potential, etc. I would be unable to make any repairs myself so if I have to get a shop involved that raises the price. I have no way to transport a mower bought at a private sale home. Also the Husqvarna ones I'm looking at offer between 18-36 months 0% financing which is why I've been able to raise my budget since initially posting. I wish I knew what I was doing regarding repairs and maintenance, it would certainly save me money.

Dave

 

[djdicetn]

I think I'm leaning towards the Yt46ls and here's why. I found a dealer that had both in the showroom and I was kind of ok spending the additional $400, but then I found out that the fabricated decks need the $850 bagging system with a blower vs the $300 standard double bagging system and I think that if I have to spend more on the tractor and the bagger I'll just go with the slightly lower tractor and save a few bucks.

I think you've made a wise decision if a bagger is important to you. I'm a ZTR-kinda-guy, and lean towards recommending the fabricated decks mostly for that reason(plus there are VERY few lawn tractors outside those XLS Huskies, that even have a fab deck available). I think the YT46LS and bagger will give you good service(and personally I whole-heartedly agree with buying new instead of used....you never know who's unnoticeable "problems" you are buying).

 

[DPuro329]

I ended up going with the YT46LS and its getting delivered Tuesday. I'm definitely looking forward to cutting my lawn for the first time ever.

 

[djdicetn]

I ended up going with the YT46LS and its getting delivered Tuesday. I'm definitely looking forward to cutting my lawn for the first time ever.

Congrats on your new mower!!!!! Post back some pics and let us know what you think after mowing a couple of times(I'm betting that you love it:0)

 

[digitalman]

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

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.

I know I am a little late to this party.... and I am not the one to ask for mower advice. But I hear this logic too often. Why spend $1500 when you can get 4x the mower for 4x the price.

If it is about performance then I can conceed that there is no way that a $1500 mower can compete with a $5000 mower.

But if it is ONLY about longevity, then the logic is totally flawed. You can buy a $1500 mower every 7 years and have money left over for regular maintenance for the cost of a $5000 - $6000 unit. And odds are, you will get more then just 7 years out of it.

I hear this logic all the time with lots of other stuff.... computers are a great example of this. This isn't meant to start a flame war, just presenting a different point of view.

 

[DPuro329]

Late to the party or not it was good advice. I think I initially thought I could get a basic tractor for around $1000 or less or at least I was hoping that I could. I quickly realized that wasn't possible and my budget kept climbing. For me it was a balancing act of not wanting to buy garbage but not wanting to spend a fortune either. Yes $5000-$6000 mowers might be excellent and well built and full of useful features, but I thought that a tractor in that price range is way more than I would ever need to cut grass which is all I'm doing with it.
Thank you everyone for all your input and advice. I've used it several times so far and I love it. I've never liked cutting grass before with a push mower so as I'm sure all of you know, a tractor makes a necessary chore more enjoyable.

Dave