For 1.5 acres are we talking about a push mower, or do you want the
$12,000 Deere with finish mower attachment driven off the p.t.o.? :-)
I keeeeeeeeeeeeed. I've got a Husky from Lowes I use for ~4 acres. The
Deere from the Deere dealer was nicer but was also $1200 more
expensive. It wasn't worth it to me.
Someone here said that if it says Deere on the side, Deere made it, and
not American Yard Products (who I suspect make every lawn tractor sold
in the U.S.). I don't know if that's true, but the Deere from the Deere
dealer was nothing like the Deere from Home Depot, and the price
reflected that. I can't speak to reliability in dealer vs. box models
or brands, but the Husky has been fine with the exception of a deck
mounting bracket that vanished and had to be replaced. Other than that,
it's fine, which is the nicest thing I can think to say about it's
reliability. Essentially, get the cheap one, because they'll all break
about the same.
I'll say this though: mine is a 48-inch deck. It's got three blades.
Avoid this arrangement if you have an option (the dealer Deere was a
44-inch deck, if memory serves, but it had two blades). Ultimately, you
want the longest blades you can get, not the biggest deck. Two 22-inch
blades are far preferable to three 16-inch blades, to which I can attest
from hard experience. My blades must be perfectly razor sharp to cut,
and I still end up cutting the yard twice. As far as the hydrostatic
drive, etc., I've had no issues.
I had a Snapper before that, and I'd still say get the cheap mower. It
was no better than the Husky.
My future plans for the yard are this: multiple Roomba-esque robotic
mowers, a used professional mondo-deck tractor or ZTR, or an actual
tractor with a finish deck. I think for 1.5 acres, I might be inclined
to get a push mower, but a tractor might make it more comfortable. I
wanted the tractor until I got them, and not they just seem to low on
the cost/benefit scale to repeat.
On 9/20/2011 8:25 AM, john niolon wrote:
> My 10 year old Cub Cadet is starting to be more trouble than I want... seems
> every week or so it's costing me money...
>
> for a 1.5 acre suburban lot... what do ya'll consider the best residential
> lawn tractor and ZTR mower...
>
> don't want to put out mega bucks on a commercial and don't want a box store
> pos.. but need something that will last longer than the warranty...
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