YOU CAN'T TELL ME THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

[midnite rider]

Toro's products are marketed under several brands:
Toro professional and consumer mowers, irrigation systems, compact utility equipment, snow blowers, and handheld trimmers and leaf blowers
Exmark commercial mowers
Lawn-Boy consumer mowers
Irritrol Systems irrigation systems for residential and commercial landscapes
Lawn Genie consumer irrigation
Pope (Australia) garden maintenance solutions
Hayter (United Kingdom) consumer and professional mowers

 

[djdicetn]

I was just looking at different mowers, and I came across these mowers, each having a 33 in. cut. They look exactly the same! Are they all made by the same company or something?? They are the Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, and Craftsman. (Pictures attached.)
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IMHO, even though all three of the example mowers you listed come from the same base manufacturer and may "appear" to be the same mowers, the "difference" will be in the quality of the "components" used to build them. My guess would be that the Cub Cadet would be built with the highest quality materials(after all it's their name that is at stake here); the Troy-Bilt would be the next "step down" in the quality of materials(but still pretty good overall quality); and the "cheapest built" of the three would be the Craftsman(Sears is infamous for giving specs to all of their manufacturers...and we all know that Sears doesn't "manufacture" anything... to use the absolutely cheapest parts and materials available). This is based upon my experience purchasing a Craftsman lawn tractor(built by Husvarna) compared to my next door neighbor who bought a similar Husqvarna lawn tractor from a Husqvarna "dealer" and my purchasing a Troy-Bilt 4-Cycle String Trimmer(built by Ryobi) versus the quality of the previous 2-Cycle Ryobi string trimmer it replaced(the Troy-Bilt's drive shaft sheared at the trimmer head after 3 years and my son is still using the 10-year-old Ryobi without incident). Of course the difference in quality could be just a coincidence but I don't think so.

 

[MowerTodd]

If you're looking for something different, the Honda is a good choice. Some other options are Ariens and Snapper. Hondas are a bit on the expensive side, but most people say it more than makes up for it in performance and reliability.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

If you're looking for something different, the Honda is a good choice. Some other options are Ariens and Snapper. Hondas are a bit on the expensive side, but most people say it more than makes up for it in performance and reliability.

Yes I know, I have 2 Hondas. I LOVE THEM! I was just stating my opinion that the mowers don't look different, I am not in the market for a new mower. Well, I mean, I own a lawn care business, so I am ALWAYS in the market for a new mower, but you know what I mean! :laughing:

 

[djdicetn]

Yes I know, I have 2 Hondas. I LOVE THEM! I was just stating my opinion that the mowers don't look different, I am not in the market for a new mower. Well, I mean, I own a lawn care business, so I am ALWAYS in the market for a new mower, but you know what I mean! :laughing:

lmf,
I know what you mean...and if you are like me, I'm ALWAYS comparing what I bought to what I coulda bought and sometimes discover what I shoulda bought!!

P.S.
Did you "price" those three identical mowers???? I gave you my opinion on the quality of each and without looking, my guess would be the prices would also reflect the same hierarchy(Cub Cadet the most expensive, the Troy-Bilt the next costly and the Craftsman the least expensive) for "basically the same mowers". That is........if.........the cheaper parts on the last two brands are not "major components" that could cause premature operational failure!!!!

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

lmf,
I know what you mean...and if you are like me, I'm ALWAYS comparing what I bought to what I coulda bought and sometimes discover what I shoulda bought!!

haha yeah same with me!

 

[Ric]

lmf,
I know what you mean...and if you are like me, I'm ALWAYS comparing what I bought to what I coulda bought and sometimes discover what I shoulda bought!!

P.S.
Did you "price" those three identical mowers???? I gave you my opinion on the quality of each and without looking, my guess would be the prices would also reflect the same hierarchy(Cub Cadet the most expensive, the Troy-Bilt the next costly and the Craftsman the least expensive) for "basically the same mowers". That is........if.........the cheaper parts on the last two brands are not "major components" that could cause premature operational failure!!!!

The biggest difference in the mowers are the engine sizes. The Cub Cadet would probably be the best of the three with a 420cc 12.5 hp B&S, they also offer the 344cc. The sears model is offered with a 12.5hp but it's only a 344cc and there 10.5hp is also 344cc both B&S. The Troy Built only comes with a 10.5 hp 344cc B&S. The CC 12.5hp is the most expensive and I believe is the only Electric Start. (I believe)