Buying a Ferris

[STIPPY]

I'M NEW TO THE INDUSTRY AND LOOKING INTO PURCHASING A NEW FERRIS I/S 3000 ZTR. THE PRICE I WAS QUOTED WAS 7K.
AFTER RESEARCHING SOME OLDER THREADS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A GOOD PRICE. ANY HELP OUT THERE?
HOW DO THEY HOLD UP?

THANKS,

STIPPY

[EJK2352]

Please read the Posting Guidelines and follow them.
(* Opinions that slam a manufacturer or product must be
backed up with facts! If you don't own or have not owned or operated a particular
piece of equipment or product your opinion is worthless and will not be expressed
at the expense of manufacturer slander.)

Edited by Eric ELM

[Administrator]

Ferris will hold up like a tank.

Yes, that is a good price.

Make sure to demo all units and research your dealer support.

PS.. noticed this is your first post. In the future please don't use all CAPS. IT IS YELLING.

Chuck Keough

[turfstar2000]

Ferris has some very hot items in their line-up. I have personally owned several and know some of the boys at Ferris.
Great guys!
That IS system is nice.

[crazygator]

Make sure you actually go demo the unit you are looking to get. You may get on it and say "Man I hate the way this feels". I personally love the Hustler brand, but you may not. Also ask if you can demo the machine at your lawn or a property you mow. Then and only then you will get a true feel for how it works in a real working environment, the one you are used to. It might feel great, but cut terrible in your opinion. Just wanting you to try it out before you buy. Most of our dealers around here have demo units and are willing to bring then to me for a trial run. I hope it works out for you!;)

[EJK2352]

Stippy,
Do a search on Ferris & I think you will find some good info. ED

[strickdad]

i agree with gator alot of it is personal prefrence i also agre that you should demo everything you are intrested in then you will know what is right for you.. remember dont get pressured by a dealer (they are like landscapers ; if you wait just a minute there will be another coming down the road with a better deal)

[Finecut]

My personal experience is that you need to be sure to know what your dealer can do for you. On the other hand, if Ferris themselves won't help it doesn't matter what the dealers do. There are people on this forum including myself who are less than satisfied with Ferris. Think long and hard before you spend your $7000.00. You might look up an individual by the name of Bubenburg and see if he has gotten any satisfaction with his recent purchase. If Bubenburg doesn't respond, I would suggest you send him a PM. This is why it's so important that the manufacturer responds to problems with their equipment!

[Evan528]

I demoed the Ferris I/S 3000 at the expo. I was not impressed..... the streering levers were very stiff to move and i did not find the suspension all that amazing... tell you the truth I like the ride of my toro better. The quality of cut on the ferris is supposed to be so-so...... demo it for a day if you can before you make a decision!

[Dave]

I agree with finecut on his post,as a dealer and not for ferris you need the dist 100% and then the manufacturers 100%,and if you can't get that from them because they can.t be bothered or it does not mean money for them the dealer cannot do any for you,no matter how hard he has tried

[WREBELMACHINE]

I owned three 2000 model year ferris with i/s suspension. It is now 2001 I still own one and soon hopefully none.

We have experienced multiple belt problems, and electric pto problems. As far as being tough all three of the mowers have had the mower decks split and had to be welded up.

We talked to ferris at the expo and they have made several changes to the belt system. but the mower deck is the same and the electric pto is the same!

The only thing that I can say that is really good with the FERRIS is its hillside ability. It sticks to a slope better than any mower i have ever used. When they are running.

[iski3d]

I have used Ferris and only Ferris for four years. Yes they are tough machines, but I too have had my fair share of problems with them. My 2000 dual drive has been in the shop five times this season alone for repairs (not operators fault) thankfully they were all under warranty. I am thinking of switching over to Exmarks or Hustlers for next year. Oh and the I/S 3000 goes for over 8 thousand here in NH.:rolleyes:

[FerrisDJB]

I own three Ferris walkers. One Dual drive and two single drive units. All these have performed very well. Before purchase I researched alot of mowers. Scag, Toro, Ex-mark, Ransome and John Deer. Nothing is built like a Ferris. The layout and ease of controlls sold me on the Ferris line. I'm a one man operation and can't afford machines to sit idle in repair shops. The other units I tested were either toooo expensive or toooo cheaply built. For my peace of mind design was the selling point. Ferris mowers are well thought out, simple in design and easy to work on if need be. But like I said my own opinion. Definetly demo everything thoroughly before purchase. Good luck

[MIDSOUTH]

Personally, I have demoed them IS3000 and IS4000 and I did not care for the machine, blade tip speed definately too slow, the 72" I demoed would clump and would hardly sling the grass out of the discharge chute. The ferris was way cheaper than the 27hp 60" lazer z I bought, but the savings I would have had would have been lost in productivity. I have a good friend who has had a ferris z for 6 months and last week the dealer bought it back from him-that should tell you alot, sad thing is he paid 9600.00 for the unit and the dealer only gave him 4000.00 for it (still in mint condition only about 300hrs, he was just sick of it not cutting right, not doing a good job and breaking down). He bought a 52" lazer z the next day. If you would like the dealers name that bought this machine back let me know and I will give it to you, he bought it back for 4000.00 so you can probably get it dirt cheap if you really want a ferris.

[bubenberg]

never got satisfaction, but i informed the dealer, that i never would buy another piece of equipment from him and have all my kubota equipment maintained by his competition, he gave in.

we returned the f... and split the losses 50/50 and am now a happy owner of a kubota Z21D...

Advatages: GREAT ON FUEL also this new mower has great speed, nice ride (at no extra cost, excellent seat suspension) ADDED speed up kit for greater blade tip speed (less than $100.00). nice stripping. excellent on hills, easy to start in cold weather.

Disadvatages: Can only adjust mowing hights in 1/2 inch increments. Turfes more than any other mower i ever had. must make turns very slowely. scalp wheels make some damage also.

am going to the kubota dealer seminar, lucky me, am not a dealer, to discuss these problems.

Fuel consumption comparison: the fellow that runs my crews and i start on a property in the morning and mow for five hours each....my consumtion is about 1/3 of what his exmark(my machine also) is using mowing this large estate,

[bubenberg]

the lawns i had problems with the f... collecting leaves on a hillside, we are now using an exmarck with the same leave collection system that f... recommended.

we, (for quite a bit more money) bought different parts to fit the exmarck and some home engenieering we installed the leave system on our exmarck.

the result is that we are not making any marks in the grass on those same hillsides (by cutting lower on one side than the other ) thanks to a well engenieered mower such as EXMARCK

[brandy]

I've got one and wish I didn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lawn jockey]

:D I have a 2001 ferris 3000z Im very happy with it so far I only have 20hrs. on it though but so far Im happy! I think most will agree its your own prefrence but all manufactures have lemons once and awhile thats the way it goes so theres my 2cents like they said before demo all of them you can! good luck