Best $200 String Trimmer?

[statman]

What is your choice for a $200 trimmer?

[Alan0354]

Actually you have to increase to about $220 because I don't think you can get any Echo Straight shaft for $200.

Anyone you get, you need the Speedfeed head.

[StihlMechanic]

I would take the $200 and buy a used fs80, 85, or 90. $200 new?

[bigfish5]

Been using a husqvarna 125l for the past 2.5 years, still going strong. Bought it for 199.00 at the local husky dealer. Not a single problem out of it.
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[Richard Martin]

I just bought a Tanaka 22 (I'm not writing that whole mess of a model number out) for $189 minus a $40 rebate. I wrote a review on it so you can get an idea of what you get for $200.

[doublesharp]

Kawasaki straight shaft for 187.50 delivered. I'm satisfied with mine. 25cc engine holds about 15 ft of .095 line and runs good. Read Richard Martins Tanaka review and it describes how the Kaw gets put together out of the box and the Kaw spool sounds exactly like his Tan/Hitachi. Easy enough to load line. I refilled with .095. It came with heavier line probably .105. Here's where I bought mine. My purchase went smooth and seller is an auth dealer so warranty is valid although it may be a pain to use.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

[LushGreenLawn]

Dont buy a used trimmer. If your stuck on $200 than the Kawi. Its not a true commercial trimmer, but I have one and its pretty close.

I used to be the guy that laughed at a trimmer if it was under $350, but honestly, with how we run them, I cannot seem to get more than two years out of a commercial trimmer now matter how much it costs. Had high end Sthils, Echos, Tanakas, and now kawi's. Same thing, stick edger or trimmer, almost two years on the dot..... trashed. We use them all day every day though.

Now I reserve the high end trimmers for brush work, and the cheap $200 trimmers seem to work well for lawns that are already well manicured.

I'm going to try Husqvarna next. Bought their $200 stick edger, and it has just as much power and tuns just as well as any $400 edger I have had. Their bottom end commercial trimmer is $250, but if it runs anywhere near how their cheap stick edger does, I will be happy.

[LushGreenLawn]

Originally Posted by bigfish5

Been using a husqvarna 125l for the past 2.5 years, still going strong. Bought it for 199.00 at the local husky dealer. Not a single problem out of it.
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Oops, missed your post before I made mine. I didn't know husky made a $200 trimmer. I might check it out.

[Alan0354]

Looks like more and more people are going for more practical route on hand helds.

It never make sense to me why people HAVE to have the "ONE", paying big money and then pay more to the dealer to maintain it. Can you imagin a $350 trimmer with two service of $120 each for 5 years. That will be $600 with tax. You honestly think the "ONE" will last three time as long as the ones mentioned here?

I said it many times, if you treat it as a toy like me, then yes, buy the "ONE" and imagin it will work better than anything else. If you use them as tools, then just go with the most logical way. If you have crews, what do you care?

I shouldn't be putting people down too much on wanting to have the "ONE" since I am one of them, sweating months on the "BEST" hedge trimmer!!! Just admit to yourself that this is your toy and be happy!!!

You want to get the job done, get the low two hundreds trimmers and use it as dispossables or read the other posts about buying tools with the same engine and learn how to fix it yourself. You have your bigger ZTRs that you have to have the dealer sucking your money already. You still want to contribute more to the dealer for this kind of simple stuff?

[statman]

i'm asking because I spent about $300 on a stihl fs85 several years ago and have been wrenching on it for a week and am readdy to toss it