2023 John Deere lawn tractor decision

I have had my X300 for 13 years now. 42 mower, only have replaced the mower belt once about 3 years ago. Mow fairly flat yard and change trans oil every 150 hours. Really trouble free if you do the maintenance like oil changes, grease and keep clean.

mike22 said:

I’m looking at the S240 and X330. Any suggestions?

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For what you said you want/need, the 100 series might be a better choice. Deere gives you a lot of for only $100-$1000 more you can get this better thing. That makes it easy to ratchet up in price.

Back in 2007 when I was looking for a new machine and knew nothing, I thought I wanted a 100 series (price). The dealer had me test drive the 100 series machines and an X300. The Kawasaki v-twin in the X300 was so much smoother running than the B&S in the 100 series. I bought the X300 even though it was quite a bit more expensive than the 100 series I had been planning. Knowing what I know now, I would have been better off buying an X500 series. It would have been much better suited for 90% of my property, but not so good around the house. It took me over a decade to figure out what to do (get an X534 and then an X749 too, but for more than mowing).

The X330 has a B&S. They are okay, but I don't believe very many people believe they are better than a Kawasaki. The components in the X330 (other than the engine, worse, and transaxle, same) are better than in the S240. For what you said you need, it is not clear the better components in the X330 matter that much. If you value the smoothness of the Kawasaki V-twin, the S240 might be a better choice (of the two). If you value low cost, one of the 100 series might be a better choice.

Frogmore said:

For what you said you want/need, the 100 series might be a better choice. Deere gives you a lot of for only $100-$1000 more you can get this better thing. That makes it easy to ratchet up in price.

Back in 2007 when I was looking for a new machine and knew nothing, I thought I wanted a 100 series (price). The dealer had me test drive the 100 series machines and an X300. The Kawasaki v-twin in the X300 was so much smoother running than the B&S in the 100 series. I bought the X300 even though it was quite a bit more expensive than the 100 series I had been planning. Knowing what I know now, I would have been better off buying an X500 series. It would have been much better suited for 90% of my property, but not so good around the house. It took me over a decade to figure out what to do (get an X534 and then an X749 too, but for more than mowing).

The X330 has a B&S. They are okay, but I don't believe very many people believe they are better than a Kawasaki. The components in the X330 (other than the engine, worse, and transaxle, same) are better than in the S240. For what you said you need, it is not clear the better components in the X330 matter that much. If you value the smoothness of the Kawasaki V-twin, the S240 might be a better choice (of the two). If you value low cost, one of the 100 series might be a better choice.

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I’m looking at keeping the tractor for some time. I thought the X330 might stand up better. I guess I was mistaken. Also if I service the tractor myself, I thought the X series tractors might be easier.

The X-series tractors are definitely nicer in some ways. The S240 is a unique model between the 100 series and the X300 series. It's a 100-series frame with a few small upgrades brought down from the X300 line. The Kawasaki engine on the S240 is a plus.

I'd also consider the X330 to be sort of an in-between model, meant to be a low-cost entry point for X300 series. It's strange that they chose to put a Briggs engine in the X330. Between an S240 and an X330, I might lean toward the S240 as well as others have said.

If you want a nice tractor that will last a long time for what you're doing with it, I'd go X350. To me, that's the real starting point for the X300-series. When the LA140 finally started having more trouble than it was worth, I looked at the 100-series, S240, and the X350. The choice was X350, and that worked out great. My family does exactly what you plan to do - mowing a 1/3-acre lot with bagging. X350 is definitely a lot easier to steer than the 100-series, so it's probably easier to steer than S240 as well.

Just did a little checking on MSRP. S240 42" is $3399, X330 42" is $3799, and X350 42" is $3999. Based on that, if you're considering X330, I'd go with X350 and be done.

When you're just mowing, I'm all for a zero turn, although I'm not sure it would matter much on a 1/3 acre lot. The entry level Deere residential zero turns are decent mowers, reasonable price, and just right for a lot under an acre. I don't bag, so I don't know what's available as far as baggers. But mulching kits are available

greenmachine said:

The X-series tractors are definitely nicer in some ways. The S240 is a unique model between the 100 series and the X300 series. It's a 100-series frame with a few small upgrades brought down from the X300 line. The Kawasaki engine on the S240 is a plus.

I'd also consider the X330 to be sort of an in-between model, meant to be a low-cost entry point for X300 series. It's strange that they chose to put a Briggs engine in the X330. Between an S240 and an X330, I might lean toward the S240 as well as others have said.

If you want a nice tractor that will last a long time for what you're doing with it, I'd go X350. To me, that's the real starting point for the X300-series. When the LA140 finally started having more trouble than it was worth, I looked at the 100-series, S240, and the X350. The choice was X350, and that worked out great. My family does exactly what you plan to do - mowing a 1/3-acre lot with bagging. X350 is definitely a lot easier to steer than the 100-series, so it's probably easier to steer than S240 as well.

Just did a little checking on MSRP. S240 42" is $3399, X330 42" is $3799, and X350 42" is $3999. Based on that, if you're considering X330, I'd go with X350 and be done.

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Thank you. I’ll definitely consider the X350!

good advice from the members here, we can also help with any issues you run into.

back in 1986 i was looking at a new 100 series, 165 or 180. this was pre-internet days, my neighbor suggested moving up to the 200 series, 212, 214, 216. i looked them over, then spotted a 316 and decided to go over budget by $600.

my 316 has served me well for 37 years, started up today in 30 degrees and ran it for a some time. moving up to the 316 helped me avoid the dreaded "tractor-envy" best $600 i ever spent.

J

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2017 John Deere X738 60" auto-connect deck, johnny bucket, purchased sept 2017
1986 John Deere 316, 50" deck, purchased jan 1987, B43e onan died 2017, re-powered w P216
2010 Cyclone Rake Z10 - retired 2022

That is what I mean by Deere has figured out how to give people what they want, for only a few hundred more. Each increment is only a little more. Only you can say when what you have is good enough.

My X350 is probably equal to the current X350. It has been fine. My X534 is finer in some ways. The way that really matters to me is diff-lock. If I didn't feel I needed that, I probably would not have upgraded. My property also can use the better transaxle, but the K46 has been fine for 15+ years, despite me being (or maybe because I have been) worried about it for over a decade.

I looked at the S240 and wasn't impressed. It looked like it was cheaply made. Everything was plastic including the hood. The dealer priced one out with a bagger attachment and no discount. Then I looked at The Z365 zero turn I kind of liked but they said you can't get a bagger with it and of course no discount. Then the dealer walked me over to 50 inch Toro My Ride they had and said he can give me 10% off and with the white glove delivery it was $2000 cheaper then the S240 with a bagger. I cut my mowing time down to one half to one third the time it took with a tractor.

My craftsman 917.27308 said:

I looked at the S240 and wasn't impressed. It looked like it was cheaply made. Everything was plastic including the hood. The dealer priced one out with a bagger attachment and no discount. Then I looked at The Z365 zero turn I kind of liked but they said you can't get a bagger with it and of course no discount. Then the dealer walked me over to 50 inch Toro My Ride they had and said he can give me 10% off and with the white glove delivery it was $2000 cheaper then the S240 with a bagger. I cut my mowing time down to one half to one third the time it took with a tractor.

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Don't all of the lawn tractors have plastic hoods?

The s240 is around $3400 and the bagger is $400. If you got a 50 inch toro myride for $1800, you STOLE that thing. I need to go to that dealer.

According to TractorData, the x330 and x350 have K46 transmissions. The x330 has the B&S engine and the x350 has the Kawasaki engine.
From my experience with 2 Kawasaki V twin engines, they run very smooth and reliably.

My advice is buy a level above what you think you need. If you can swing it I'd go with the x350 with the Kawasaki. But as always, its your money, and your choice. Good luck.

Alien5044 said:

According to TractorData, the x330 and x350 have K46 transmissions. The x330 has the B&S engine and the x350 has the Kawasaki engine.
From my experience with 2 Kawasaki V twin engines, they run very smooth and reliably.

My advice is buy a level above what you think you need. If you can swing it I'd go with the x350 with the Kawasaki. But as always, its your money, and your choice. Good luck.

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I like the idea of buying a tractor with the Kawasaki engine.

I have Kohler Twin, a few B&S singles including a 12hp Sears Super Suburban, and the two Kawasakis.

Not sure why, maybe its better internal balancing or what, but the Kawasakis are in a league all their own compared to the others. Maybe comparing apples to oranges but those oranges sure are "sweet" and refreshing!!

i know you said fairly flat 1/3 acre, but see below for the X300 series transmission options

looks like X330, X350 and X354 all use the K46 sealed, non-serviceable transmission

X370 uses the K57 transmission

X380, X384 and X390 use the K58 transmission

J
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2017 John Deere X738 60" auto-connect deck, johnny bucket, purchased sept 2017
1986 John Deere 316, 50" deck, purchased jan 1987, B43e onan died 2017, re-powered w P216
2010 Cyclone Rake Z10 - retired 2022

JDDottie said:

If the TractorData info is accurate

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Apparently not, since it doesn't match Deere's information. Deere says the X350 is 57lb (26kg) more. TractorData is very handy and often very accurate, but does have some errors.

Back the question, Deere always gives you a way to spend a little more to get something better and it usually only cost just a little more for the next increment. Perhaps that is why some people here think the X758 is the ultimate mower. I have an X749 which is the top of the line of the Ultimate Series. I think it is an excellent baby tractor but a lousy mower for my property. When I knew nothing, I bought the X300 (X350 today). There were no 200 series machines and no X300 with B&S, or I might have bought something else. The X350 series gets you a lot for everything except the transaxle and no power steering. People say once you try PS you can't go back. I say it is nice, but I switch between my X300, X534, X749, and CUT and I don't feel, "oh this feels hard to steer". Yes, it does take a little more effort to turn the wheel, but only really noticable when standing still. The X370 has power steering. It is only a few hundred more over the X350. But then it is only a few hundred more for the X380 and then only a little bit more for the X390. But then you are almost at X570 price. Unfortunately the X570 looses power steering and deck lift. You have to go to the X580 to get that. Then there is the X590 to get EFI. Now you aren't far from. The X730 which is a different class. If you are going X700 series you really should consider AWD and possibly diesel. But, if you want AWS, you can't have that with both diesel and AWD (like I have in my Ultimate X749) unless you can get someone to sell you the European X959 which has ROPS and is totally unsuitable for you very modest needs.

I suggest you go sit on and drive samples from each of the series to really see and feel them. I got that advice when I was trying to decide between X500 and X700 series. It sort of worked. I felt the X700 was too big for mowing. But I ended up buying one also for other uses. You don't have any of those other uses with you property size, so the X350 is likely a good choice. There are also a lot of other good choices, even some that come in different colors.