[Shop-talk] john deere lawn tractors?

[scott.hall at comcast.net]

my wife went off her meds recently and took it upon herself to purchase for us a spanking new john deere lawn tractor from the local deere dealer.

$2,800.

that does not include tool-time heidi coming over for 'servicing' (what?  seemed fair for that coin).

comparable deere- (and other-) branded tractors (actually--not comparable, much, much better spec-ed) are about $1700 in big box stores.

so, before I return this thing to the dealership, can anyone tell me about deere tractors?  it's just a 42" kawasaki-v-twin engined lawn mower.

the salesman sold my wife with the increased warranty and told her everything at the 'crap' hardware stores was 'consumer' grade, but this fine hunk of machinery was for 'professionals' (maybe a lot of pros use 42" decked mower tractors, I don't know).

anyhow, it is different from the big-box models, and I assume the big-box ones are ayp (american yard products) machines with deere green paint and stickers.  but...$1,000 more?  basically, can anyone tell me about 'real' deere tractors, and give me any kind of actual reason I shouldn't take this thing back right now?  thicker deck, better tranny, etc.?  and how *much* better?

the extra warranty would be nice if it were free.  I wouldn't pay $.25 for it.  the deck has a nice adjuster.  it will get adjusted once then left there forever.  it seems to have a pto on it.  we have nothing that runs off a pto and never will.  any tractor will live in a garage and get maintained regularly.

ultimately: will it last that much longer and run ~100% better over that lifespan to justify the stinging pain I have right now in my butt?

I'm never going out of town again.  damn.