Which mower would you buy?

[amr40509]

Thoughts?

http://lexington.craigslist.org/grd/3352473396.html

[JCLawn and more]

Honestly if your gonna go that rout go simplicity. They have a very nice consumer walk behind with a single hydro and a heavy deck. The front tires on that will give you fits and the deck is farly thin on the one you just put up. It would last a few years but not much more. Here is a link http://www.simplicitymfg.com/product...roducts/pacer/
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[IS500Z]

The Simplicity is a Ferris painted orange so if you do go for a smaller walk behind and you do not have a Simplicity dealer nearby look for one selling Ferris mowers.

[JCLawn and more]

Originally Posted by IS500Z

The Simplicity is a Ferris painted orange so if you do go for a smaller walk behind and you do not have a Simplicity dealer nearby look for one selling Ferris mowers.

Its different. This is a single hydro and a thinner deck and about $1000 cheaper. I think its about $2100 for that unit new if I recall right.
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[amr40509]

For my style of use - is there a compelling reason to go up to the Ferris class of mower? In a yard my size, we are talking about running it for what...30min a week during mowing season here in Kentucky, so probably 15hrs a year?

I don't have any personal experience with Simplicity, but we do have a local dealer and from dealing with them on some other stuff, they seem to be a good bunch.

My parents do have a Ferris (I think its a 2000z) and have been really happy with it (it's roughly 5 years old). But they are mowing 10ish acres (since they got the Ferris the line where it goes from yard to field keeps getting pushed back each year - so they must like it).

[JCLawn and more]

Simplicy, snapper, ferris, and a few more are owned by brigs now. You really don't have a reason to go ferris but I would not go mtd quality either. Also if you want a garden tractor the simplicity garden tractors leave a cut that beats most ztr's. I liked the pacer when I saw it. A good solid machine and easy to use unlike the belt drives.
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[IS500Z]

Originally Posted by JCLawn and more

Its different. This is a single hydro and a thinner deck and about $1000 cheaper. I think its about $2100 for that unit new if I recall right.
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The Ferris Hydrocut is a single hydro as well. The deck might be thinner than the one produced by Ferris though.

For the OP's lawn I think a good quality 21-inch would be all that is needed. For a 1/3 acre lot you might be mowing an 1/8 of an acre. A larger mower will not save you that much time and might be more of a hassle in turning if there is a lot of landscaping.

[rbljack]

I picked up a Honda Commercial HRC 216 mower for all my lawns currently which are smaller lots like you are talking about. Its not cheap, BUT its not as expensive as a newer walk behind either. As long as you mulch or bag. For about 1250 bucks, you will have a hydrostatic walk behind mower with rear wheel drive and a honda engine that should last for a very long time as a homeowner unit. You can buy brand new, so there is no worry about how beat up a used model is, and you get a warranty.

If you want speed, get a 32 or 36 walk behind. If you want it to look REALLY good, keep it mowed with that 21 inch honda, and keep your lines straight. It cuts VERY well with the micro cut system. Ive only had mine for a month or so now, but the cut quality is very good. It will have problems in very tall wet grass, but thats the only downside ive seen so far. Thats my two cents, and good luck with your decision. Oh..and if that exmark metro was for sale in my area, I'd DEFINITLY be taking a look at that one too ( i need a bigger mower to go with my honda...LOL).


Oh, and then there is that new Toro Tuffmaster 30" commercial unit thats coming out. I havent seen it cut yet, but it looks interesting. I think the price is going to be around 1700 bucks, but dont quote me on that. Just another option to muddy the water.

[JCLawn and more]

Ya I remembered that after I put that. Its still a gob cheaper. If the lawn was that tiny I don't think he would be asking what to buy because he would only be limited to a puch mower. You also can't beat a reel mower
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[kawasaki guy]

I see 36" scags for $995 on craigslist where I am.