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I've done a lot of research and decided that i'd like to pick up a Tiger Cat II with a 52" decl to mow my 2 acres. I don't plan on buying until closer to spring, but I stopped at a couple local dealers recently and both told me that the Tiger Cat is overkill for my needs. They tried to steer me towards a Liberty Z or a Hustler Raptor. My neighbor has a Hustler Raptor SD and he let me try it out and I thought it felt cheap. He seemed to be happy with it, but I like to buy things that will last. That being said, am I being unreasonable thinking that the Tiger Cat II is the right machine for me? Money isn't a factor in this decision and I'm willing to spend up to 10k for a nice mower. I just don't want to completely waste my money on something that isn't appropriate for me.

It is way overkill. From Scag's site "capable of handling more than 24 acres per day" With that said buy what makes you feel right. That mower will last you a lifetime with proper maintenance.

If you want a solid machine to last for decades then it is not overkill.
If you buy a lesser mower and are not happy with it and need to buy again, you didn't save a thing (actually cost you $$).
Buy the one you want the first time.

I have a 35 HP Hustler Super Z with 72" deck for my 8 acre lawn and wouldn't want anything less.
My first zero turn I wanted a Super Z but didn't want to spend that much money, so I bought a Hustler FasTrac 54". (nice mower, just to small and underpowered for my big lawn)
Within a few years I wanted bigger, stronger, faster that would last me for many, many years, so I ended up selling at a loss to buy the Super Z I wanted and should have gotten in the first place it would have been cheaper

I think you should buy what you want...you are not going to be happy with a lesser machine...I have a yard which is about 3/4 of an acre and a field across the road that is about 3+ acres that I mow weekly...three years ago I bought a Tiger Cat with a 61” deck and a chore turned into something I look forward to...after three years of mowing I have 230 hours on it and could not be happier...

Go with the Tiger Cat - it is a beast and you will love it...

Cheers/bg

Back in 1966 the rover mowers I currently use costed 6 months salary
I am still using them today so you get what you pay for and nothing more.
Back in 1998 here was a big bushfire in the area I service.
One of my customers bought a Honda 4120 which cost the same as a small 2 seater car.
The only thing he has replaced on this mower other than normal service items is the front steering bushes and the throttle switch.
The mower currently has 2100 hours on it.
His son bought the top line Murray and the Murray is totally worn out a 600 hours.
It cost 1/3 of the Honda

I just really like th size and comfort of the Tiger Cat. Sat on a few homeowner grade mowers and they weren’t nearly as comfortable or beefy. I’m a firm believer in the adage “you get what you pay for.”

My wife and I bought a TCII with a 61" deck this past spring. We mow upwards of 5 acres (4.8 but who's counting?) weekly. If I had two acres to mow, I'd still get the TCII but I'd get the 52" deck; it's lighter and I wonder sometimes if the 61" deck will push the structural limits of the TCII frame over time. Anyway, the smaller Skags are great machines, don't get me wrong, but the TCII gives you a couple of advantages you just won't see on those smaller models. That seat, oh that seat; it's the same one as on the TTII and it's a doozy. Once you have your weight dialed in you're all set. The Velocity Plus deck is incredible. The discharge chute is cavernous and the clippings exit so cleanly that the deck rarely accumulates enough debris to even bother cleaning out (a little around the spindles sometimes but not much). Can't advise on the engine size as I have nothing to compare to. Ultimately, if you're not concerned about the price, I believe the TCII is a good fit for a couple of acres and a long-term commitment.

My son just bought a TC2 with 54 inch cut, Kawasaki motor, just last month. He mows his 1 acre and his 1 acre rent house next door. He upgraded from a murry mower. He loves the TC2 and the time it saves him.

i have a 3 yr old Scag Cheetah with a 61" cut and 27 hp Kawasaki motor. I mow 3 acres. The dealer thought it was overkill for my yard. I believe you get what you pay for so it is not a waste of money. I also want to get my mowing done fast. If I was going to do it all over, I would get the Turf Tiger.

You should be able to cut two acres in about an hour with it and it will quite possibly be the last mower you ever need to buy. When you look at it from that perspective. No it is not over kill at all. I have three Tiger Cats with the Kawasaki motors on them. If there was anything that I found sold locally that would out cut one I would own it. They are as good as it gets.

Don't let folks fool you into buying something that they really do not know what they are telling you. If they are running things like you said above they are not comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges.

The Tiger Cat is the best buy out there when it is all said and done.

I cut about 2 acres per week, the Tiger Cat II, with a 61 inch deck was the mower of choice for me.
I like to go over kill on my equipment, makes it last for a long time.
Your money, your choice.
I don't think you'll ever be sorry for buying a Tiger Cat.

Just report back to us in here in 20 years and let us know. If you take just reasonable care of it in 20 years it will still be running great.

I have a smaller yard than you. I shopped and researched and found certain characteristics that I felt I needed in a ZTR mower. By the time I got to the models that had the features I felt were required, it was a hop, skip and a jump to the Tiger Cat II which is what I had my mind made up I wanted if I could afford it. The dealer made me a good deal so I got CFO approval and did it. Is it over kill? Heck yes! But to me, it was worth it to get a mower that would last and keep up with my, let's just say, less than skillful driving abilities. Yes, the seat, oh my, the seat! My back loves me for this choice (granted, I had to pay to upgrade to the suspension seat as I got the 48" deck since there are 5 choke points in my yard that limited deck size). I only have one mow day on it so far, but what a difference coming from a 15 year old 40" Murray! Get what you want, if any one ask you why, say "Because I could, that's why!" Good luck!

Yep, learned that lesson years ago, too much is better than not enough for yard equipment.

Often what keeps high-dollar mowers from lasting "many decades" is the lack of availability of parts.

tom3 said:

Yep, learned that lesson years ago, too much is better than not enough for yard equipment.

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Ditto!!!! My elderly Dad chastised me years ago when I chose to buy a commercial ZTR and not the cheapo Wally World lawn tractor that he had and was falling apart, literally. He told me, "For what you paid for that machine, you could buy 3 of my cheapo machines". And I answered, "yes, and I would still have 3 cheapos". My 11 year old commercial is still running strong. His cheapo died a long time ago and parts have never been easy to get for that junk. Overkill is better than 'underkill', IMO.

BobbyV43 said:

I've done a lot of research and decided that i'd like to pick up a Tiger Cat II with a 52" decl to mow my 2 acres. I don't plan on buying until closer to spring, but I stopped at a couple local dealers recently and both told me that the Tiger Cat is overkill for my needs. They tried to steer me towards a Liberty Z or a Hustler Raptor. My neighbor has a Hustler Raptor SD and he let me try it out and I thought it felt cheap. He seemed to be happy with it, but I like to buy things that will last. That being said, am I being unreasonable thinking that the Tiger Cat II is the right machine for me? Money isn't a factor in this decision and I'm willing to spend up to 10k for a nice mower. I just don't want to completely waste my money on something that isn't appropriate for me.

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Did you buy the machine you wanted and what's your thoughts on it so far?

Boit4852 said:

Did you buy the machine you wanted and what's your thoughts on it so far?

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Sorry, haven't checked back in in a little while. I've been too busy mowing with my new Tiger Cat. I did buy it and I love it! The seat is super comfortable and it cuts awesome. I don't see myself needing or wanting another mower for quite a long time.

BobbyV43 said:

Sorry, haven't checked back in in a little while. I've been too busy mowing with my new Tiger Cat. .

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I think most of us can understand that. I work, drive, sleep, and mow - and that's about it for this summer. Whew. A good machine does make a world of difference in the chore though.

I also have a Tiger Cat II and cut about 4 acres of my 15 acres . My JD 4066R cuts the rest.:laughing:

Boit4852 said:

Ditto!!!! My elderly Dad chastised me years ago when I chose to buy a commercial ZTR and not the cheapo Wally World lawn tractor that he had and was falling apart, literally. He told me, "For what you paid for that machine, you could buy 3 of my cheapo machines". And I answered, "yes, and I would still have 3 cheapos". My 11 year old commercial is still running strong. His cheapo died a long time ago and parts have never been easy to get for that junk. Overkill is better than 'underkill', IMO.

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I know of a Scag mower that one of my neighbors has that was bought in 1989 that is running just as good as ever. He cuts a considerable amount of grass with it eery week. Wonder how many of those Wally world cheapo mowers they would have bought by now cutting that much grass for that many years?

cpurvis said:

Often what keeps high-dollar mowers from lasting "many decades" is the lack of availability of parts.

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Scag mowers bought in the 1980's still have parts available.

jekjr said:

I know of a Scag mower that one of my neighbors has that was bought in 1989 that is running just as good as ever. He cuts a considerable amount of grass with it eery week. Wonder how many of those Wally world cheapo mowers they would have bought by now cutting that much grass for that many years?

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2007 Husqvarna RZ5424 cutting 4.2 acres a week and still going. Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you.

BlazNT said:

2007 Husqvarna RZ5424 cutting 4.2 acres a week and still going. Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you.

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The Scag I am talking about was 18 years old when your sky was built. It will be interesting to see if the Husky can run that long. They are good machines for sure though.

I worked at a major university in the South for over 30 years. Lots of open green space, lots of grass to mow. Over the years, they've tried and tossed aside most every mower out there - except Scag. I think they now have 3 Scags (I believe Turf Tigers) that run all day every day from Spring through Fall. I'm not sure how much maintenance they have to perform, but with so much competition out there, there must be a reason why they've stuck with Scags.

War Eagle said:

I worked at a major university in the South for over 30 years. Lots of open green space, lots of grass to mow. Over the years, they've tried and tossed aside most every mower out there - except Scag. I think they now have 3 Scags (I believe Turf Tigers) that run all day every day from Spring through Fall. I'm not sure how much maintenance they have to perform, but with so much competition out there, there must be a reason why they've stuck with Scags.

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Scags are as good as it gets. I personally have never seen anything that will cut Bahia Grass with one.

old topic but I will add that my machine is for my property. It's the best damn mower I have ever used. When you start using a commercial mower, you will never go back to a residential level machine. I wasted so much money, buying, fixing junk. Never mind all the time wasted replacing spindles and cheap plastic parts that fall off after a few uses.
My scag is a Tiger Tank!

Have had my TIger Cat II with 52" deck for 2 years now, have 121 hours on it, can say noting but good things
about the machine, service it regularly, sharpen blades after each of 3 mowing session, cutting about 3 acres,
mostly St. Augustine Grass. Sandy soil.

Previously had JD 455 with 54" in deck, had over 500 hours on it, then went to Gravely HDZT, was a good machine,
but had issues with the lack of a roll bar ROPS, dear wife insisted on machine with ROPS as we have some
slopes on our property, and at 71 she worries.

You can't go wrong with The Scag machine.

GGOSSLER said:

Have had my TIger Cat II with 52" deck for 2 years now, have 121 hours on it, can say noting but good things
about the machine, service it regularly, sharpen blades after each of 3 mowing session, cutting about 3 acres,
mostly St. Augustine Grass. Sandy soil.

Previously had JD 455 with 54" in deck, had over 500 hours on it, then went to Gravely HDZT, was a good machine,
but had issues with the lack of a roll bar ROPS, dear wife insisted on machine with ROPS as we have some
slopes on our property, and at 71 she worries.

You can't go wrong with The Scag machine.

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They are as good as it gets. I have found nothing out there that will cut tall stemmed grass with one.

No way is it over kill. I cut about 4 acres and have been using a JD X324 and takes about 4 hours to cut been doing that since 07 and since I’ve been a good boy my Wife bought me an 08 JD 1545 front mower enclosed with two decks both 72” so looking forward to spring.

My son traded his Tiger cat 52" in on the 61" Tiger Cat II Fi Kohler, with the best riding seat. When he bought his first scag, he knew where I used the old Scag with a Kohler that had over 4500 hours on it and still worked daily until it was replaced recently with a new Ex Mark. I had a Tiger Cub And it did a good job but rode rough. My sons buddy really likes it now. I traded my big Ex Mark 51" commercial with a big Briggs van guard on it in on a new Scag Tiger Cat II FI 61" deck and nicest seat like my sons. After using my new Scag this past season, I will say it is as much a beast as my Ex mark was and as both had the best seat option, rides as good, maybe better. Overkill will only be used by someone who doesn't have one. I feel you get what you pay for, so enjoy your new Scag.

Scag makes very well built machines and like everyone else has said, the machine you are looking at will last you forever. As long as you do not have any issues with the price, the size of the deck in regards to fitting into certain areas (around landscaping, through gates, etc.) then why not get what you want. I personally think that the most important thing on any mower is not exactly the mower but the way in which it is used. Having ample power to do what you ask of it is important, but more importantly is having sharp blades, keeping things lubed and operating smoothly and never operating the mower outside of the manufacturer's recommendations.

If you love your lawn, you might as well love the equipment you use to maintain it.

If I had the $ I'd buy it too.

Be sure to alternate mowing patterns regularly as a 52" TT2 is ~400lbs heavier than a 52" Freedom Z

With all the beef comes the weight

.

I am in the same boat. I am a homeowner and currently mow between 2-3 acres. Occasionally, I might mow my neighbors yard if they are away on vacation or something so that adds another 2 acres. Currently, I have a ride on John Deere D170 54" deck. It gets the job done but not as fast, and I feel I waste a lot of time trying to turn to try to get a more professional to my lawn. I have also added a stripe kit which even with a stripping kit it does not look closely to a professional cut. I have been looking at all kinds of mowers and have researched and asked friends for their opinions. Unfortunately, it seems that there are many different brands to choose from that people swear by. I have looked at Scag, Bobcat, Spartan, hustler, Exmark etc. So far I think I have narrowed down my list to Scag and Bobcat but leaning towards the Scag as the dealer is close and that is a major plus. Scag has a great name in the business and I believe the Velocity deck is top notch. I believe Bobcat has the airfx deck but they arent as common here in my area so that worries me for any repairs etc.

I was looking at the Patriot 61" but I really would like the Velocity deck which is not an option for the Patriot, so it appears I would go with the Tiger Cat II. If anyone has a Patriot I would appreciate if you could tell me your like dislikes and whether or not the deck and cut is worth it? Not 100% sure on the motor but I am thinking the Kawasaki 23HP 730 would suffice. However, I know Scag offers the Kawasaki 26HP 730FT and was hoping someone could weigh in if the 3 horsepower would make a huge difference?? My yard is pretty flat, but I do have a small hill towards the side. There are about 10 trees to cut around but are pretty spaced out. I am looking for a quality mower that 1) will last me 15-20 years, 2) has enough power and speed to cut my 2+ acres as cleanly as possible and 3) cut down on the time it takes to mow. Right now with the John Deere it takes me about 2.5 hours and if the grass is super long close to 3 hours. I know a 61" mower may be overkill and the price point a bit on the more expensive side, but I think I am ok with spending up to 9-10k for a great mower and the time saving would be an additional plus.

Any help and feedback would be greatly appreciated.

thank you!

I wanted a Tiger Cat for my 4 acres but in the end I decided to go for a 2007 John Deere 1545 front mower 72” flex deck enclosure with A/C - heat and happy as a clam. What a nice way to cut grass in comfort and it came with a spare 72” reg deck. Anyway happy grass cutting season all.

I owned a john deere 318 with a kohler, john deere lx 188 with a Kawasaki. A Deere like yours with a briggs. All were good mowers,very dependable. I used my hilly ground as major excuse to not buy a zero turn for years. And they are expensive. After our street department got our city cemeterys old scag commercial grade many,many years ago I became a scag fan. It mowed everything asked of it by many different operators. And it mowed stuff I felt needed bushhogged, but the scag would wade through it. Last year we parked it with over 4500 hours and the original Kohler engine. Our cemetery crew has a Scag and Exmark the last few years and brag on them both equally.And like their two old scags work hard all season with little trouble. I cant speak for the other brands you mentioned.But after owning a commercial grade 36 hp Briggs van guard on an Exmark and a Tiger cub with a Briggs and now a Tiger Cat two with a 29hp Kohler I have no plans to ever own another garden tractor type mower. The Scag mows so fast I rarely hook up my six foot Bush hog brand finish mower anymore. And like JEKJR mentioned, we can still get parts for the old city Scag.