What to buy limited funds limited choices?

[fencepost]

I've read a million reviews and based on my dealers in the area here is what I have to choose from and mow. I have about 2 acres of all terrain but no long steep slopes just a few short ones and limited trees to mow around. Prices do not include tax.

S125 Snapper Pro 61" $5899.00

126 Grasshopper 52" $6195.00

S50 Snapper Pro 48" $4995.00

There is also a Cub Cadet and Hustler dealer near by but I haven't had a chance to stop by there yet. What's yalls opinion.

 

[KrashnKraka]

http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/mower.../33985-need-advice-3-flat-acres-5k-mower.html

... check out the thread above, hot off the press there are many more similar on LMF.

KK

 

[Shughes717]

I've read a million reviews and based on my dealers in the area here is what I have to choose from and mow. I have about 2 acres of all terrain but no long steep slopes just a few short ones and limited trees to mow around. Prices do not include tax.

S125 Snapper Pro 61" $5899.00

126 Grasshopper 52" $6195.00

S50 Snapper Pro 48" $4995.00

There is also a Cub Cadet and Hustler dealer near by but I haven't had a chance to stop by there yet. What's yalls opinion.

Your dealer's prices on the snapper pro mowers are a little high (by a couple hundred compared to local dealers in my area).The s50xt is plenty of mower for 2 acres. At that price you should be getting the heavy duty commercial 19hp fx series Kawasaki engine. It also has zt3100 hydros, which are low end commercial. The s125xt does offer larger hydros and a larger deck, but a step down to the fs series Kawasaki engine. You don't really need the 61" deck unless you are looking at mowing a much larger property.

I mow twice what you are mowing with a 48" snapper pro s150xt and it takes me about 2 hours. The grasshopper is a good mower. It has separate pumps and wheel motors. This won't matter in your case, but the main thing I don't like about the 126 is fuel capacity. It only has a 3 gallon fuel tank. You would think for $6k you would get a larger fuel tank. I would offer $4500 for the s50xt and see if your dealer will budge a little. It is plenty of mower for your lawn.

The hustler raptor sd is another decent option. Not quite the drive train as the s50xt, but a pretty popular mower in the $4k range.

 

[fencepost]

Your dealer's prices on the snapper pro mowers are a little high (by a couple hundred compared to local dealers in my area).The s50xt is plenty of mower for 2 acres. At that price you should be getting the heavy duty commercial 19hp fx series Kawasaki engine. It also has zt3100 hydros, which are low end commercial. The s125xt does offer larger hydros and a larger deck, but a step down to the fs series Kawasaki engine. You don't really need the 61" deck unless you are looking at mowing a much larger property.

I mow twice what you are mowing with a 48" snapper pro s150xt and it takes me about 2 hours. The grasshopper is a good mower. It has separate pumps and wheel motors. This won't matter in your case, but the main thing I don't like about the 126 is fuel capacity. It only has a 3 gallon fuel tank. You would think for $6k you would get a larger fuel tank. I would offer $4500 for the s50xt and see if your dealer will budge a little. It is plenty of mower for your lawn.

The hustler raptor sd is another decent option. Not quite the drive train as the s50xt, but a pretty popular mower in the $4k range.

I really didn't like the smaller gas tank of the grasshopper especially costing about $1200.00 more but the dealer really swears by the Grasshopper but said either of them would be fine for my yard, of course they want a sale too. I guess its a toss up between the 126 and the S50.

Dealer said the grasshopper would be cheaper to operate, as the parts were not quite as costly as the Snapper Pro? But still $1200.00.

My little Craftsman has made it over 15years and still kicking, well more of a limp than a kick I guess. I just want the same from my next mower.

 

[Shughes717]

I really didn't like the smaller gas tank of the grasshopper especially costing about $1200.00 more but the dealer really swears by the Grasshopper but said either of them would be fine for my yard, of course they want a sale too. I guess its a toss up between the 126 and the S50.

Dealer said the grasshopper would be cheaper to operate, as the parts were not quite as costly as the Snapper Pro? But still $1200.00.

My little Craftsman has made it over 15years and still kicking, well more of a limp than a kick I guess. I just want the same from my next mower.

I am on my 4th season with my snapper pro. I haven't needed to replace anything. I know the grasshopper runs kohler engines, and their Efi line is supposed to be very fuel efficient, but my mower only burns about 3/4 of a gallon of fuel to the acre. It's more fuel efficient than my old lawn tractor was. The s50xt is a low end commercial mower. These mowers are built much heavier than a residential mower. Two acres isn't a lot of work for these mowers. You shouldn't need parts for many years as long as you keep it maintained. The most expensive parts on the mower is the drive train, and the s50xt runs a similar drive train to all of the other brands out there. I just don't see how a mower that costs $1200 more is going to save you enough money to make up the difference in cost. You won't put more than 50 hours a season on whichever mower you purchase. Even if the grasshopper only burns 1/2 a gallon of fuel an acre you won't get your money back in your lifetime.

 

[fencepost]

Well I decided on the S50 Snapper Pro over the grasshopper mainly based on the gas tank and price (mainly price). But..... didn't buy it. My wife's aunt gave me a decent Husqvarna YTH 150 (tractor style unit) with a Kohler Commander Pro 15hp, 42" deck. It needs a bracket and a PTO clutch. So I optioned to go to the Snapper Pro dealer and buy the clutch, because they were very helpful and answered all my questions. My Craftsman has an identical deck so I'll rob a bracket from it and hopefully save some money and get a new mower on sale later. This mower is newer than mine and in and appears to be in better shape.

I would like to thank everyone for their time and helping me with my decision.

Enjoy your mowing season

 

[SeniorCitizen]

Well I decided on the S50 Snapper Pro over the grasshopper mainly based on the gas tank and price (mainly price). But..... didn't buy it. My wife's aunt gave me a decent Husqvarna YTH 150 (tractor style unit) with a Kohler Commander Pro 15hp, 42" deck. It needs a bracket and a PTO clutch. So I optioned to go to the Snapper Pro dealer and buy the clutch, because they were very helpful and answered all my questions. My Craftsman has an identical deck so I'll rob a bracket from it and hopefully save some money and get a new mower on sale later. This mower is newer than mine and in and appears to be in better shape.

I would like to thank everyone for their time and helping me with my decision.

Enjoy your mowing season

Thanks for the follow up post.

 

[Shughes717]

Well I decided on the S50 Snapper Pro over the grasshopper mainly based on the gas tank and price (mainly price). But..... didn't buy it. My wife's aunt gave me a decent Husqvarna YTH 150 (tractor style unit) with a Kohler Commander Pro 15hp, 42" deck. It needs a bracket and a PTO clutch. So I optioned to go to the Snapper Pro dealer and buy the clutch, because they were very helpful and answered all my questions. My Craftsman has an identical deck so I'll rob a bracket from it and hopefully save some money and get a new mower on sale later. This mower is newer than mine and in and appears to be in better shape.

I would like to thank everyone for their time and helping me with my decision.

Enjoy your mowing season

I'm glad to hear you found a solution. Thanks for the follow up post. Most get on here, seek advice, then we never hear from them again. I enjoy reading what original posters end up with.