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I hate to ask this but what should I get?

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#21 ·
I have a 2007 Craftsman LT 1000. It isnt an expensive tractor and my lot is about 3/4 acre. It does the job just fine though I only used it 6 times since the lawn was new last year. I thought it cut very well and seems of fairly good quality. Though the John Deere is maybe better in quality though that isnt a surprise. Remember, these Craftsmans are made by Husqvarna which isnt a bad thing.
 
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Discussion starter · #22 ·
Hi all.

So my search continues and I have a new question. Today the wife and I went to Tractor Supply and the sales guy showed us a Cub Cadet that he said would be good for our application. The list price was $1499. It had a single cylinder Kohler engine and a 42" mower deck. Afterwards we stopped by a local Simplicity dealer and he showed me a Regent that we said would be good for our application. List price is $2599 with a 22hp BS V-twin and a 44" deck. He also had one that is $2100 that is probably closer to the Cub.

The question is am I really going to be better served by spending the extra $600 to $1000 on the Simplicity? Does it really matter if I'm just cutting grass and pulling a cart?

Thanks.
 
#23 ·
I won't/can't speak for you--

But think a little 'outside' the box--or immediate time frame, if you have the patientce....what do you intend to use it for in a year or five? What do you intend to do with your property? Whay kind of dealers in your area to support the product?

Sit and think for a little while--don't buy tooo small--too quick---but also--don't waste your hard earned $$..

I know I've made some bad choices and had to swallow the bitter pill for a long time..then swore/be dame%&d if I didn't do it again....
I wish you luck--read all you can, before you sign...
 
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#24 ·
Glenn, my thoughts exactly... Delaware dude, what is the rush? If you don't know what you're looking at as you say, take the time and figure it out. Worst thing you can do is buy quick. You want to pull a cart, will you want to pull a core aerator? A 600# roller? New 800# trees in that cart for your new yard?

Take it from me. I've been in a new development now 9 years. I'm on my 3rd tractor. First tractor was a Cub Cadet LT. Cut nice, pulled the cart.. couldn't push snow or pull a 600# roller. Upgraded to a CC 2180. Pulled everything I asked, but attachment prices for snowblowers, blades were so expensive. Saw a Wheel Horse on the side of the road, 18 years old. Didn't need too much, but for some surface rust. Sold the Cub. I spent $5300 to get me to my $700 tractor. You might buy the Sears and be happy as a pig in filth. But your needs will change, your life will change, so just think about it.

If I could do it all over, I would have read a lot more here on MTF and had more patience. Lack of patience cost me a lot of money. Best Wishes... stay tuned we love to help. :Welcome1:
 
Discussion starter · #26 ·
D-Dogg, The dealer actually has a used one as well. It's about a year and a half old and he is asking $2K for it. I think those ballpark strips are cool.

Not really in a rush but we have to make a decision on which projects to do this year and there is only so much money to go around. If I don't do something relatively soon I'll be using a 22" push mower to cut my acre. Now I've never cut an acre but I imagine that it could take a long time using my little push mower. Like I said I really can't see using it for more than mowing, pulling a cart and maybe moving snow (although I found a new snow blower for $200.) I just want the best lawn in the neighborhood. Is that to much to ask?
 
#28 · (Edited)
It takes the guy next door to me about 3 hours to mow his 1.25 acre yard with a push mower. :Stop:
 
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Discussion starter · #29 ·
I know this is going seem like it's coming from left field but I found a lady that is selling a Toro Timecutter Z5060 for $1600. I checked Toro's website and the list on this thing is $3499. This sounds like a good deal to me. What do you guys think?
 
#30 ·
Fickle young man aren't you? A pretty machine rolls by and off you go after it!:dogrun::sidelaugh

Assuming hours are relatively low, and the machine has been well cared for, that's probably a good price. Just bear in mind that few people pay MSRP.
 
#31 ·
A Zero turn is very nice and quick to cut with. BUT, it will pull a cart with only a VERY LIGHT load! Even the Z Master (commercial model) is only RATED for towing 80lbs(if I remember right), though I have heard of others pulling more weight with a Z Master.

Did you buy the snowblower? If so, then you should be covered for snow removal.

Good luck deciding!
Chris
 
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#32 ·
D-Dogg said:
At the risk of creating two JD junkies in a week, if used is a consideration, a classic JD 300 series can be had for less than a new big box rider.
Click to expand...

Ya if you listen to this guy you will be dressed in Green and gold..lol. :trink40:

Take your time and get waht you need and listen to these guys they know what there talking about.
 
Discussion starter · #34 ·
So the other day I was thinking I could get away with not getting a new mower unil the winter. I figured that would be the best time to buy. Well the grass was starting to get nice and long so I figured I would have to cut it. The first week I just did the front yard with my 22" push mower (not self propelled.) The front yard took about an hour to an hour and a half and I said to myself, "Self that wasn't to bad." The next week I realized that my 18 month old daughter was getting lost in the backyard because the grass was now really tall back there. Feeling encouraged by my previous weeks success I pulled out my trusty littly mower and got to work. Front and side yard took about an hour and half again and I was feeling very good about my decision to put off getting the mower. Then I went to the back yard. About an hour into cutting the backyard (2 hours total) I started to feel a bit tired. 30 minutes later I started to chaff in a very uncomfortable place. If you've ever exprienced this you now how unpleasant this can be. I know some of you know what I'm talking about. At about the 3 hour mark I started envisioning my neighbors watching me through their windows and having a nice laugh. At about 4 hours I finished and then stumbled into the house and proclaimed to my wife: I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!

So today I went to the local JD dealer (conviently located about 2 miles from my house) to take a second look. Out of curiosity I asked if he had an X300 that I could see. He let me test drive it. I liked it. However, I showed incredible restraint and went home.

I now have it narrowed down to the Simplicity Regent and the X300. So the question is... Which one?

Thanks.
 
#35 ·
whichever one you can get home before the next cutting is due!

seriously though, which dealer has the better service dept? the Deere dealer is very close to you, but if his service sucks that does no good! check them out and see which you like.
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
I really don't know which one has better service. Never had a reason to find out. I haven't heard anything bad about either. The Simplicity dealer is about 15 miles away and the JD one is obviously much closer. Beyond that I don't know if there is any difference.
 
#37 ·
do you know anyone with dealings with either one? if so ask how they have been treated. in general you can tell how easy a place is to deal with by the way they treat you when you are just looking around. it does not say for sure how well teh service dept is, but teh general attitude they present will show you whether they are a pleasure to deal with or not.

also, look around their office. usually they will have the certifications and rankings their service gets. if you see a sign that says the service is rated a certain way by teh manufacturer, ask what that truly means. they should be more than happy to explain.
 
#38 ·
Both are very capable machines for the use you require. Which one do you prefer and at which dealer do you "feel the love" more? A good dealer can make a big difference if a problem arises. Only you can make this call. :goodl:
 
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#39 ·
Delaware Guy said:
I really don't know which one has better service. Never had a reason to find out. I haven't heard anything bad about either. The Simplicity dealer is about 15 miles away and the JD one is obviously much closer. Beyond that I don't know if there is any difference.
Click to expand...
I'll chime in with a thought for you. With the Deere, if you decide on a Sunday that you want a rear bucket carrier for it, you can go to Home Depot or Lowe's and get one. The same is true for a few of the other small attachments. I know they also carry belts and blades for the LA series, but don't know if those fit the X series. Might be just a bit of extra convenience.
 
Discussion starter · #40 ·
Well I finally did it. Today my wife and I bought an X300. It gets delivered the beginning of next week. When it came down to it I liked that the dealer is so close. I was in there three times and felt I was treated very well by everyone I spoke with. But the real reason for picking it is that I just like it better.

I hope they deliver it sooner rather than later. I can't wait to cut the grass.

Thanks everyone for your help.
 
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bontai Joe
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