what type of zero turn mower for me?

[lzrj]

I have been going over these forums for a few weeks to help me try to pick out a mower. I'm building a new home and have 3.6 acres that is all open with slight grades. I have two months until it's complete and the grass starts growing.
I first started out with a $3,000 buget and was looking at a cub cadet. After more looking and reviewing, it seems I need to upgrade quit a bit to get a QUALITY mower. Now I'm looking to buy in the $5,000 to $6000 range with tax(NO HIGHER!!!!).
Right now my main choose is the 06 Ferris IS 1500. I've been quoted a cash price of $5700 ($6000 even w/tax) for a 48" 21hp kawa. Have not test drove any mowers yet, only done the specs comparison. Need to know if this is the best mower for this price range or if there anything else out there that may work for me better for the price. I also looked at Simplicity Citation. Same as Ferris but has 21hp Vanguard, stripe rollers and headlights but no two stage air cleaner.
If anyone can give me some information it would help a lot.

[Restrorob]

You may check these out; http://www.dixiechopper.com/ You may just find more mower for the buck.

[TURF DOCTOR]

Never run a dixie chopper they put high horse power moters on the units,local dealer here has citation doesn't look bad but for a few more bucks you can but a scag.

[Green King]

If you are in springfield you need to look around at some of the other makes especially if you want service after the sale! Give the Encore dealer a call He also sells Dixie Chopper, Country Clipper and Everide. The service alone makes the diffrence not just the brands. I have dealt with the ferris guys please do yourself a favor and run! The ferris product is good for the most part but when you are broke down it hurts to own one. Now for home use you might get a long ok with his service but a cutter cannot be down for a long amount of time with no loaner etc. I am bablling and I am sorry I am just trying to save you some frustration!

[lzrj]

Thanks for the additional makes to consider. Ill check into them as well. All but one dealer has not really seemed to be interested with helping me too much when they know I'm there for homeownership and not commerical business. That one dealer that seemed to be interested and stood around answering all my questions was the dealer that sold ferris. They also sold some other brands but did not really point me to any of those. I'm 6'2 230lbs and would also like a mower that dosent look tiny when Im on it.

[Green King]

I have been to all of them in town and the Encore is what I am buying good tough machine good warranty and service and knowledgeable dealer who will take care of you.

[Dixie Rob]

Never run a dixie chopper they put high horse power moters on the units.

Mine's a Silver Eagle which is light commercial/residential and has a 20HP Kohler. That is not what I would call high horse power especially when the Ferris he was lookin at is 21HP. Don't knock something that you don't know about. Thanks.

[WREBELMACHINE]

Green King is right you need to go west and talk to the Encore dealer he will treat you right! I have dealt with him for over 15yrs. and he is the most honest guy around who does not bad mouth competition which is a plus! Also he is very knowledgeable on virtually every make.

[TURF DOCTOR]

Not sure what you mean as in saying don't knock it,if any thing it was saying dixie chopper was okay as for high horse power i looked at a walkbehind with like a 50 inch cut and a 27 horse moter geez man we have 17 horses on our scags with 48 inch cuts.

[TURF DOCTOR]

Oh yea and 1 more they have a rocket moter and a twin moter deal on there ztr's i don't know of any 1 that can top that.

[fishinpa]

I just picked up a 42" Hustler Mini FasTrack for just under 4k. I wired my own lights on in about a day for maybe 50.00 for lights and hardware. You may want a larger machine for 3.5 acres, I'm not sure. I'm putting this here to give you a price comparison for a smaller commercial, welded deck machine.

Good luck whichever way you go.

[lzrj]

Ya, I looked at the fastrak but to me they look like a golf cart with a deck under it. Everyone says they are good mowers but I would like something that is bigger. I went back to the dealer that sells the fastrak and looked at a new 05 gravely 152z. He said he would sell it for $6000 plus tax. The dealer that sells the encore x-treme and everride hornet said I could get either of them for $5700 out the door for the 48" deck. The Ferris is1500 48" I can get for $5700 plus tax. I want to stay with either the 48" (first choice due to cost savings) or the 52" due to my JD room having french style doors that is only 5 feet wide. I guess I need to start test driving some of the these units or I might never make up my mind. If anyone has any of these models or others in my price range please reply with reviews.

[Green King]

Just make sure you get service after the sale with your mower purchase. I can speak from experience the Encore guy will treat you right. By the way I looked and have test drove the everide that is a nice machine.

[nmurph]

for warranty and factory support the Hustler can't be beat!!!! look at the Hustler forum and notice how the issues that pop up with mowers are resolved. if the owner doesn't get satisfaction at the dealer, pj will step in and get the area rep and factory involved.

[extoro]

For no more than what you are going to be mowing & the price that you are wanting to spend I would look hard at the 48" Snapper.

It is totally commercial, has an excellent warranty, and the dealer is very, very good (Vinton Supply) also the price is in your ball park. Just my opinion

[lawnmaniac883]

Gravelys are nice machines. Lots of bang for the buck. The 152 is a fully commercial unit that will last a homeowner forever.

[lzrj]

I agree with you extoro. I was most impressed with vinton supply than most of the other. Vinton is a smaller operation than the other big business mower places, which I liked. And the owner gave me his personal attention and was great to talk with, which is probably why I will buy from him. I'll probably go for the ferris 1500 but I will also look at the snapper next time Im in and test both.

[extoro]

I agree with you extoro. I was most impressed with vinton supply than most of the other. Vinton is a smaller operation than the other big business mower places, which I liked. And the owner gave me his personal attention and was great to talk with, which is probably why I will buy from him. I'll probably go for the ferris 1500 but I will also look at the snapper next time Im in and test both.

Bruce is a nice guy and I forgot he carried Ferris - I can promise you that he is NOT the same Ferris dealer someone earlier in this post spoke about!

[WREBELMACHINE]

I am suprised that we are allowed to use dealers names. However I bought a Snapper front cut pro crusier from bruce a few years ago. It was suppose to have a 2yr. warranty. about 15months of use on the machine the left hydrostat went out guess what after two weeks and no loaner I was presented a bill on the machine of $1300+. Now I realize I am a commercial cutter but this was the top of the line snapper mower and I was told that I would be taken care of. I quess everyone has there opinion on service let alone warranty. Ferris I think has improved there product I am not sure I had a bad one in that line as well but that was pre simplicity days. If you are going to make a living with one I would look somewhere else but for home use you might do well. Good luck!

[extoro]

My apologizes if we are not to mention dealers names even though I have seen other post where dealers names, and phone numbers were given.

All I can go by is how I have been treated by the named dealer even BEFORE the current owner bought it - and that has been OVER 23 years.

[Signature Landscaping1]

Id say, A Lesco ztwo 48'', or a Scag Tiger Cub 48''
www.lesco.com www.scag.com

[lzrj]

The Lesco is out of the running due to the closest dealer being somewhere around 150 miles away. I have looked at the Scags but I think the prices I have been quoted are slightly out of my price range. I believe I have narrowed the search down between the Ferris IS1500 and the Encore Xtreme.

[The Yard Barber, Inc.]

I bought my 44" toro ztr new for 5600 and i love it, i would recomend it to anyone wanting to buy a new mower

[bigdave36]

Might want to look at Bad Boy Mowers. I looked at one yesterday at a Home show.
50" with Briggs 26 HP for 4,695
60" same way for 4,995
They are the ZT2600 Series
Both come with commercial warrentees and seemed to be built like tanks.
We own a 60" Gravely...OK but has had a lot of down time it seems.
Good luck...Dave

[Dixie Rob]

I've seen some funny things before, but under the accessories for the bad boys mower, they have a ghetto rear spoiler, lol. Good times...

[WREBELMACHINE]

If you are still looking my neighor just bought an encore z-48 for $5000! It has a kawasaki engine and the good hydro's.

[xrayguy]

I am demoing a Scag Tiger Cub this afternoon. If I like, it I buy it. It has the 48" velocity deck and 24 Briggs. The price is 5800 + tax which brings it to roughly 6200. This is for cash payment and they are very firm that this is the lowest they can go. I did get them to throw in a free winter maintenance. My max high was also 6000 OTD, but after looking at everything elso and talking to several LCO's who run Scags I think this is the best mower for me. I am a homeowner with just 2 acres, but I have a large hill and several slopes and I think the drive system on the Scag will perform better for me. Alot of people knock the Briggs but I think that it is fine for my application. You can get the 19 horse kaw for about 500 more. No offense to Hustler fans, but I bought a 52/24 honda MiniZ last year and had so many cut quality issues that the company bought it back. After doing more research after the fact, I found that Hustler has (or least had) alot of cut issues. Great company and solid as a rock machines, but not quite up to standards on their deck designs. Anyway, I feel that I will get the most bang for my buck with the Scag.

[lzrj]

Yes, im still looking and will be buying in less than a month. I am still considering an Encore X-treme. For the 48", I can get one for $5,700 out the door. The X-treme model looks better to me than the Z model. I still have not test drove one yet though. I will probably test the Everride Hornet as well since it is the same price as the X-treme and the same dealer carries both. As for the Scags, I looked at it but I want a Kawasaki engine. And like was mentioned, the Kaw is $500 more over the Briggs on the Scags so the price now for the Scags is now $6,700. The $1,000 additional cost is NOT worth it in my opinion over the X-treme or Ferris for a small to mid size mower.

[Jeds_Lawn_Care]

I forgot he carried Ferris

Anyone who carries Snapper can get (if not in stock) -

Ferris
Simplicity
Giant Vac
Agco
Massey Ferg