pequeajim
06-20-2009, 11:08 PM
Ok, I am pretty much sold on the Exmark series with an UltraCut deck. I cut my 3.5 acres of grass 1-2 times a week. I would like to bag some of the time, but do not need to always. I like on the side of a small mountain and most of my yard is rolling with the exception of a 70' x 40' hill at 15 degrees, and a 70' x 50' hill in back at 22 degrees. I have lived with an underpowered mower in the past and do not want to repeat my mistake. I have also cut my property very successfully with a Ventrac (sim to a Steiner) 31 HP.
I am down to two choices:
A local guy who has a 2007 Lazer Z AS with a 25 HP engine and 60" ultra cut deck, bagger and trailer. All for less than the price he paid for just the ZTR at the end of 2007. The mower has 5 hours on it and the guy was going to try to break into the lawn care business when his car was broadsided and he severly injured his back, the the extremly low hours on the machine. I can verify this as he lives 3 miles from me and i recall reading about him in the paper.
The second option is to buy a new Next Lazer Z with either the 29 or 34hp Kawasaki if I feel the 25hp is underpowered. I would be scraping just to buy the mower, no bagger and no trailer. But I have no doubt that it would handle the larger hill going up or down.
I am bringing the 25hp ZTR over here tomorrow to do some cutting with it.
I will be having a local dealer deliver either the 29 or 34HP kaw here later in the week so I can try them also.
Right now my mindset is that if I feel the 25hp with run up and down my larger hill while mowing, it is the better deal as I will get the bagger and trailer for much less than a new (larger) model. If I am unsure, I will end up leaning towards a new model and will have to bag the bagger idea, (sorry, couldn't help that one...)
I would only bag my front yard sometimes, and never the back. So, it will be important that I can get the bagger on and off fairly easily?
Anyway, any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I really would like the 25hp to work, but am suspecting that it might not be enough in the long haul.
Anything else I should be looking for when i test drive it? Experiences with the Exmark bagger, (version that dumps from the seat with a lever)
I am down to two choices:
A local guy who has a 2007 Lazer Z AS with a 25 HP engine and 60" ultra cut deck, bagger and trailer. All for less than the price he paid for just the ZTR at the end of 2007. The mower has 5 hours on it and the guy was going to try to break into the lawn care business when his car was broadsided and he severly injured his back, the the extremly low hours on the machine. I can verify this as he lives 3 miles from me and i recall reading about him in the paper.
The second option is to buy a new Next Lazer Z with either the 29 or 34hp Kawasaki if I feel the 25hp is underpowered. I would be scraping just to buy the mower, no bagger and no trailer. But I have no doubt that it would handle the larger hill going up or down.
I am bringing the 25hp ZTR over here tomorrow to do some cutting with it.
I will be having a local dealer deliver either the 29 or 34HP kaw here later in the week so I can try them also.
Right now my mindset is that if I feel the 25hp with run up and down my larger hill while mowing, it is the better deal as I will get the bagger and trailer for much less than a new (larger) model. If I am unsure, I will end up leaning towards a new model and will have to bag the bagger idea, (sorry, couldn't help that one...)
I would only bag my front yard sometimes, and never the back. So, it will be important that I can get the bagger on and off fairly easily?
Anyway, any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I really would like the 25hp to work, but am suspecting that it might not be enough in the long haul.
Anything else I should be looking for when i test drive it? Experiences with the Exmark bagger, (version that dumps from the seat with a lever)