Shopping for heavy duty mower

[Nwatson99]

No jealousy here. One of my best buddies just bought an 820a. Got it for a great price. He asked my opinion before he purchased it. 200 hrs in good running condition with some cosmetic issues for 4000. I suggested he buy it. Not a jd hater, just a jd new mower price hater. And yes you are paying for paint.

Last time with this.
Name one more with Hydraulic deck lift
Name one mower with Deck Emergency Kill Button on Controller
Name one mower with Push Button Deck Lift on Controller
Name one mower with hydraulic cross porting cooling system
Then on top of this you add 1 piece deck

NO ONE IS COMPARABLE to the John Deere Z900 Series!!

 

[Shughes717]

Last time with this.
Name one more with Hydraulic deck lift
Name one mower with Deck Emergency Kill Button on Controller
Name one mower with Push Button Deck Lift on Controller
Name one mower with hydraulic cross porting cooling system
Then on top of this you add 1 piece deck

NO ONE IS COMPARABLE to the John Deere Z900 Series!!

One last time. The more complicated mechanical components are the more likely they will fail, and the more expensive. That means nothing. Good deck, but they are all good decks. It makes no difference whether the deck is stamped or welded. They are all sturdy. Again the main parts of all the zero turn mowers are the same. If you want to pay too much then that's your problem. I want a mower that will hold up and cut my lawn fast with a quality cut. There are many brands out there that will do that, so the next thing to look at is price and john deere thinks because their mowers are the color of money they should cost more. The buttons you are talking about isn't worth $2000 to me.

 

[Shughes717]

All of the mower brands offer something a little different out there to try to set themselves apart. Trying to say no mower compares to jd because you can push a button to raise the deck is ridiculous. Hustler mows faster and offers flex forks. That doesn't mean no mower compares. Ferris is the only brand that offers spring suspension. That doesn't mean no mower compares. Country clipper is the only mower that offers single joy stick controls and a flip up deck. That doesn't mean no other mower compares. By the way, all of those mowers are cheaper than jd.

 

[caryalsobrook]

Last time with this.
Name one more with Hydraulic deck lift
Name one mower with Deck Emergency Kill Button on Controller
Name one mower with Push Button Deck Lift on Controller
Name one mower with hydraulic cross porting cooling system
Then on top of this you add 1 piece deck

NO ONE IS COMPARABLE to the John Deere Z900 Series!!

Your last sentence says it all. That is why you(you referring to all of us) are always trying to compare apples to oranges. Would anyone think manufacturers would want you to be able to compare EXACTLY their product to a competitor? I don't think so.

You have listed some things that you think are advantages of JD, so why don't you tell why you think they are worth the price? Personally, not sure I even like the emergency kill button. When someone drives my Honda 4-wheeler and turns it off using the kill switch, I then have to remember it is there since I have never used it. That is ok. To each his own. What I am looking for is those things that each in his opinion sees as advantages and those thing each sees as disadvantages or low priority. As to the cost, that is the easiest thing to figure.

I appreciate different opinions but do wish that all could refrain from getting their panties in a wad. I had much more like to hear the opinions here than listen to the salesman. Never have trusted them very much. :laughing::laughing: My friend looked at a Hustler this weekend and liked it and I say a thread about the problems with the Rapter. I like the idea of the independent suspension of the Ferris. The 25% discount for farms with horses will be a big factor for me.

You guys are great to give your opinions and I do believe they are a help to me. But try not to get our panties in a wad.:biggrin:

 

[Shughes717]

Your last sentence says it all. That is why you(you referring to all of us) are always trying to compare apples to oranges. Would anyone think manufacturers would want you to be able to compare EXACTLY their product to a competitor? I don't think so.

You have listed some things that you think are advantages of JD, so why don't you tell why you think they are worth the price? Personally, not sure I even like the emergency kill button. When someone drives my Honda 4-wheeler and turns it off using the kill switch, I then have to remember it is there since I have never used it. That is ok. To each his own. What I am looking for is those things that each in his opinion sees as advantages and those thing each sees as disadvantages or low priority. As to the cost, that is the easiest thing to figure.

I appreciate different opinions but do wish that all could refrain from getting their panties in a wad. I had much more like to hear the opinions here than listen to the salesman. Never have trusted them very much. :laughing::laughing: My friend looked at a Hustler this weekend and liked it and I say a thread about the problems with the Rapter. I like the idea of the independent suspension of the Ferris. The 25% discount for farms with horses will be a big factor for me.

You guys are great to give your opinions and I do believe they are a help to me. But try not to get our panties in a wad.:biggrin:

Well said. Hustlers are very good mowers. Which model did your friend look at?

 

[Shughes717]

By the way caryalsobrook, my dad told me to let you know you can come by his house and test his mower the next time you are here if you want. His is more in the range of what you are looking at than mine.

 

[DSepe]

He is the most avid JD guy and only one that seems to defend JD on this forum.

 

[caryalsobrook]

By the way caryalsobrook, my dad told me to let you know you can come by his house and test his mower the next time you are here if you want. His is more in the range of what you are looking at than mine.

Not leaving till the end of the week. Will pick up some pheasants and Scott and I are going to train upland in preparation for the Grand. We are waiting hoping for cooler weather. I plan on calling your dad today and go and see him. I also want to find out if he has found an RV park for the Grand near Union City. I need to make reservations.

My friend didn't say what hstler he looked at but that the dealer in Murfreesboro offered a demo. I didn't even know that the Raptor was not a commercial mower. See how one can learn here WITHOUT having to rely on the salesman??:biggrin:

 

[DK35vince]

I sure like my Hustler Super Z . Very well built mower.
Here is a video of the Super Z Hyper Drive
Hustler Super Z 3D Animation - YouTube

 

[Nwatson99]

Your last sentence says it all. That is why you(you referring to all of us) are always trying to compare apples to oranges. Would anyone think manufacturers would want you to be able to compare EXACTLY their product to a competitor? I don't think so.

You have listed some things that you think are advantages of JD, so why don't you tell why you think they are worth the price? Personally, not sure I even like the emergency kill button. When someone drives my Honda 4-wheeler and turns it off using the kill switch, I then have to remember it is there since I have never used it. That is ok. To each his own. What I am looking for is those things that each in his opinion sees as advantages and those thing each sees as disadvantages or low priority. As to the cost, that is the easiest thing to figure.

I appreciate different opinions but do wish that all could refrain from getting their panties in a wad. I had much more like to hear the opinions here than listen to the salesman. Never have trusted them very much. :laughing::laughing: My friend looked at a Hustler this weekend and liked it and I say a thread about the problems with the Rapter. I like the idea of the independent suspension of the Ferris. The 25% discount for farms with horses will be a big factor for me.

You guys are great to give your opinions and I do believe they are a help to me. But try not to get our panties in a wad.:biggrin:

Okay I am only mid 40's, I suffered a severe spinal injury to my neck and back. I can longer work and wished I could go back to work everyday of my life, I am in constant pain some days and to rate my pain I have bad days and I have worse days since I have never felt a good day in years.
With the pain I live with, the JD 960R with the Comfort and Convenience package has many advantages of most if not all other manufacturers thus allowing me to mow in comfort.
Things I do not have to do like you do with 95% of the mowers out there today on the market:
1. I do not have to bend over while in a setting position to adjust, pull, pin, start, throttle, or anything.
2. I do not have to push a pedal to lift my deck up or down, nor I do not have to use a foot pedal to adjust deck height.

Things that JD has the advantage of over most others while operating:
1. The Emergency Kill switch is for the Deck only and is located on the end of the controller, thus allowing you to stop the deck without removing your hands from the controller and it is faster to kill the deck in an emergency instead of hitting the deck engagement / pto switch.
2. Deck lift is on the other controller so I can lift the deck up and down with the push of the button.
3. Deck height and lock is on the instrument panel, so I do not have to remove my arm from my arm rest to adjust anything with the deck.
4. John Deere's strength which is a plus and also a negative, the construction and strength is legendary and speaks for itself, however unfortunately the strength also comes with additional weight which is easier to get stuck.
5. One piece deck design, eliminates seams, welds, etc.
6. Cross port hydraulic cooling system

He is the most avid JD guy and only one that seems to defend JD on this forum.

Yep I guess so, but anyone would be when you purchase a top of the line mower and folks not knowing what they are talking about are saying all you purchased was paint.


Let's see a show of hands, who has one of the following units?
JD 960R
Gravely 460
Ferris 3100Z
Exmark Lazer Z X Series