Had to look

[Mike Paulsen]

I had to go and look to see what one of these Dixie Copper looked like in the wild. In my area they are not heard of.A dealer about 60 miles from here started handling them last year so I drove last Sunday to see them. What a let down. There must of been six or seven of them, all different sizes.The thing that was a let down is they all look used. I know they weren't, maybe one or two were demo's but the sticker were coming off and the decks had rust ,they were close to a road and the snowplows had blown snow on them so they had rocks and dirt all over. Just wasn't impressive they way the dealer had them.It's too bad because I had hopes of be the first in my area to have one of though bad boys.Maybe I'll what for the snow to melt and try it on a day the dealer is open so I can test drive one.

[Richard Martin]

Of the Dixie Chopper dealers I've been to they seem to be operated by "Good Ol Boys". I know the DC is an excellant mower but they really need to upgrade their dealer network. Their dealers usually look like a used Yugo car dealership.

[Getmow]

Amen Mr Martin.

[lawman]

If the dealer lets his equipent rust out side, think what he will do to your equipment if you let him work on it.

[John DiMartino]

Mike,I bought a Dixie last year-all the decks have rust if they have been sitting for more than a few weeks,at least they did at my dealer and he never left them outside.The paint quality and prep is poor on them,and some of my stickers are falling off too,after a year.It a shame they left them out in the road salt.If you buy a dixie,stay away from the kohler 25.

[Mike Paulsen]

John, did you become a DC lover now or are you still unhappy. Was it just the pitch of the deck that was your problem with the cut and plugging up?

[syzer]

You should have seen the ones around here in MD I had to fight with barbie toys to get in the front door....no joke. Then there were like 10 used and old beat up machines, none to drive and they all looked horrible =(. I was ready to buy on the spot if I could get one but the guy didnt even seem to want to sell one =(. Went down the road a little ways and picked up 15k of equiptment with a great dane chariot adn all kinds of other goodies and ahvent looked back. Though I would love to check out a high quality dixie dealer.

Chris
Precision Landscaping.

[awm]

The John deere thing is sounding better.
I know ,its not happening, mabe.

[Mike Paulsen]

Why is this? Doesn't it cost the dealer much to carry the DC so they get cheap dealers handling them? Is it like buying a franchise to carry a line of mowers? I'm still bummed.

[John DiMartino]

Mike,my deck is still plugging up when its wet,and no im not satisfied with the machine,mosty because of the deck and engine.I can deal with the deck,at least it cuts good when its not plugged up now since it was pitched right.I am getting a demo Toro in may,if tis nice the Toro dealer will take my Dc on trade,if i get evnough for it,its gone.Sad thing is i planned on keeping this mower 10yrs easy,with only 200 hrs a yr,I think itll be dead in 5 yrs tops,the engine wont make it 2 more at this rate.

[cleancut]

John,
What's wrong with the 25hp kohler engine...???I've got a gravely 260z with a 25hp kohler...Derrick

[jrblawncare]

Eric will be here soon.....

[Jet boater]

I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M READING!!!!!! Chopper bashing on lawnsite.com!!!! LOL!!!!

[Scag48]

Last fall I went to my Exmark dealer to check out a demo mower they had for sale. I was looking at it because it had 250 hrs. on it and I could get a good deal on it (I don't remember what they quoted me) I think it was a 48" Lazer HP. Anyway, that was in October or something. They had it sitting out by the road, like maybe 15 or 20 feet back, and it's STILL sitting there! For 5 months, snow, road salt, sand, whatever, has been inflicted on this mower. I sure won't buy it now....:)

[rdh]

dixie dealers open on sunday .or did they just leave$80.000.
sitting by the road with no on around .

[BigEd]

SYZER

What Dixie dealer did you go to,and where did you buy your Chariot.

[Cutter1]

DC bashing!! I never thought I would see it on LS!! No matter what kind of machine you have(Exmark all the way!!) its all about a few things, the machine obviously and the most important thing....your dealer!! You need to count on your dealer!!

[Eric ELM]

Scag48:
I'm glad to hear it's not just Chopper dealers that are bad. :)

There are good dealers and bad dealers with all brands, just like there can be a lemon with all brands. The thing of it is, bad news travels faster than good news. I've noticed that the bashing threads get many more views and posts on them than most.
If I did a post on how great my dealer is and how he has a nice show room and is the best mechanic in the whole area it would be a, So What Thread.

[jrblawncare]

Eric,you handled all the DC bashing very well,but your right its not just DC.I just don't understand dealers or people that spend the kind of money we do on this stuff and let it sit out in the weather...one year outside in the rain,snow and sun makes your equipment look much older than it is.I understand some folks do not have a garage or shop to store it and have to leave it on a trailer outside,but at least cover it with a tarp!!JOHN

[Skookum]

That's right I have a Toro dealer here that is very bad and a Snapper dealer that is not too much better!

John Deere dealer here handles DC. They are always outside 24 - 7.

[Mike Paulsen]

Wasn't wanting to start a DC bashing tread. They still sound like a good mower. I was just really disappointed at the way the dealer let these King of the Beasts go. The kicker was I looked in the window of the show room and they had a new Hustler Z in there. Boy it looked nice.

[Double D]

I stoped by my dealer to have a look, and the Chopper is the only line of mowers that they sell (also sold golf carts). They had a nice show room full of different models, and the salesman knew no one thing about the mowers. I knew more than he did just from reading the threads on this board. He handed me some product literature, and told me the info was in there. Of course, he also gave me his business card. I asked the dude how long he had been working at the dealership, and he said over a year. Sad, his best line was "they're fast, really fast". I asked about several controlls, and the answer usually started with " I think, that does so and so".

[HOMER]

Not bashing either but you could take that rusty Chopper and spank the wheels off that Hustler any day of the week! :D

Let any machine out there sit in salt all winter and I'm sure it will look a little old too. I guarantee you the stainless steel isn't rusty.

Everyone seems to forget these machines are mowers. I'm all for keeping mine clean but they ain't show cars! Just because it's pretty when it's new doesn't mean it won't look old when it is old.

A mower is a vehicle which is used to make you money, buy the best one that you can to suit your application and hope you have good luck with it.