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Kubota, Dixie, or Spartan?

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buy dixie chopper kubota shopping spartan spartan mowers zero turn lawn mower
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PremierLawnServices-LLC

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm looking to add to my fleet and these are the best 3 (decent prices) ones I've found...I'm looking for a 50-54" cut and I went test drive a Spartan yesterday and it seemed pretty legit. I've always sworn by Dixie Chopper but after driving that Kubota and Spartan I'm thinking about changing it up a little bit. Any info or opinions y'all have on these is greatly appreciated.
 
#2 ·
If you liked Dixie choppers you'll be happy with just about anything. No experience with kubota or spartan. Ferris has a lot of bang for your buck if you have a dealer close by.
 
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Discussion starter · #5 ·
Corey B said:
Who is the better dealer. To some that is a high priority.
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Well the Spartan is the local CAT dealer and they are great...I've also heard that the Kubota dealership will push you back if say a $50K tractor comes in they will fix it first and as y'all know downtime in this business is no bueno. I'm really thinking about giving Spartan a shot I just didn't know if anyone has heard any pros or cons on them
 
#7 ·
The kubota. It has a hydraulic deck engagement clutch which is much better than a magnetic clutch. Much more of a robust agricultural design to the bota. Those Bota's are built to last. We had 2-3 on the farm as a kid and they ran like tanks
 
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#8 ·
River said:
The kubota. It has a hydraulic deck engagement clutch which is much better than a magnetic clutch. Much more of a robust agricultural design to the bota. Those Bota's are built to last. We had 2-3 on the farm as a kid and they ran like tanks
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Some of the Kubotas have an electric (magnetic) PTO too.
 
#9 ·
PremierLawnServices-LLC said:
I'm looking to add to my fleet and these are the best 3 (decent prices) ones I've found...I'm looking for a 50-54" cut and I went test drive a Spartan yesterday and it seemed pretty legit. I've always sworn by Dixie Chopper but after driving that Kubota and Spartan I'm thinking about changing it up a little bit. Any info or opinions y'all have on these is greatly appreciated.
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A lot of this depends on which mower in each name brand you're referring to. Dealer is VERY important too. Demo if you can....what some like others don't. That's why there is a market for so many ZTR's.
 
#10 ·
Spartan certainly seems like the most exciting option, if thats a factor to you.

Dixie Chopper seems very old school, but their prices seem to be on point.

I would echo the poster above who mentioned the build quality of the Kubotas. They definetly appear to be very heavy duty.

Who seems to be the best dealer in your opinion?
Are they a "speed shop" or are they mechanics who know what they are selling?
 
#11 ·
I ran Older Dixies for about 5 years a decade ago. Solid build then, don't know how they've held up. Know nothing about Spartan other than they look like a sales gimmick, with their Nascar endorsement, believe they are designed by the bad boy guys? So mid level box brand stuff. Kubota is the most overbuilt machine I ever ran. Had to rent one to finish a day when a weld broke on my Wright. 3 cylinder inline motor, blades about half an inch thick. I was mowing in the dark trying to catch up on a lawn I know very well, but didn't see the metal fencepost the owner had knocked into the ground. Cut a steel post into 3 pieces without so much as nicking a blade. I would have felt comfortable brushcutting a forsithea hedge with that monster. But I would never put something that heavy on my lawns week after week. Almost twice the weight of my usual mower. I would give them a serious look though for a smaller machine, the build quality is there.
 
#12 ·
Highland79 said:
I ran Older Dixies for about 5 years a decade ago. Solid build then, don't know how they've held up. Know nothing about Spartan other than they look like a sales gimmick, with their Nascar endorsement, believe they are designed by the bad boy guys? So mid level box brand stuff. Kubota is the most overbuilt machine I ever ran. Had to rent one to finish a day when a weld broke on my Wright. 3 cylinder inline motor, blades about half an inch thick. I was mowing in the dark trying to catch up on a lawn I know very well, but didn't see the metal fencepost the owner had knocked into the ground. Cut a steel post into 3 pieces without so much as nicking a blade. I would have felt comfortable brushcutting a forsithea hedge with that monster. But I would never put something that heavy on my lawns week after week. Almost twice the weight of my usual mower. I would give them a serious look though for a smaller machine, the build quality is there.
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Agreed, Kubota makes a good machine. Do you have any experience with a Spartan to classify it as a mid level box brand stuff? Can you tell us a little bit about it?
 
#13 ·
No experience with spartan other than what I've read. I'm lumping it in with bad boy, as I believe they we're designed by the same guys. (again read that somewhere) Which can be ordered from my local Tractor Supply, but will put down a decent cut, but can't replicate a JD, Exmark, or you pick your favorite shade of commercial. I assume when they start putting on plastic accent pieces that serve no function, your getting away from a commercial machine.
 
#15 ·
Way2low01 said:
Agreed, Kubota makes a good machine. Do you have any experience with a Spartan to classify it as a mid level box brand stuff? Can you tell us a little bit about it?
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He is saying that because Bad Boy sells some models at places like TSC. Therefore, their entire lineup must be consumer grade crap.

You know, like John Deere. And Hustler. If they sell a model at a big box store, all of their products must be trash, right?

And since there may or may not be some relation with Bad Boy and Spartan, Spartan must also be consumer level crap.
 
#16 ·
Highland79 said:
No experience with spartan other than what I've read. I'm lumping it in with bad boy, as I believe they we're designed by the same guys. (again read that somewhere) Which can be ordered from my local Tractor Supply, but will put down a decent cut, but can't replicate a JD, Exmark, or you pick your favorite shade of commercial. I assume when they start putting on plastic accent pieces that serve no function, your getting away from a commercial machine.
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Yet another uninformed "advisor".
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
JCLawn and more said:
What model number of kubota are you looking at? I have a zd326 and have put almost all 2500 hrs on it myself. If you are looking at the 1000 or 1200 series I can give you a pretty good idea of the maintenance and part costs. Also at hrs you will be replacing what.
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Z724X-54 is the one I'm looking at.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
craigdt said:
He is saying that because Bad Boy sells some models at places like TSC. Therefore, their entire lineup must be consumer grade crap.

You know, like John Deere. And Hustler. If they sell a model at a big box store, all of their products must be trash, right?

And since there may or may not be some relation with Bad Boy and Spartan, Spartan must also be consumer level crap.
Click to expand...
Highland79 said:
No experience with spartan other than what I've read. I'm lumping it in with bad boy, as I believe they we're designed by the same guys. (again read that somewhere) Which can be ordered from my local Tractor Supply, but will put down a decent cut, but can't replicate a JD, Exmark, or you pick your favorite shade of commercial. I assume when they start putting on plastic accent pieces that serve no function, your getting away from a commercial machine.
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The guys who created Bad Boy had a falling out one guy got bought out lived out his 2 year no compete and now he's building these so yes they have the same idea behind them somewhat but no they are not the same. Update I drove the Spartan and tested it on a yard the tires are the best things I've ever had didn't tear up the yard but I made it through a wet ditch like it was nothing with the Spartan shield on it (automated discharge chute cover) it mulches great...seems solid they also use Ranger boat seats so its a pretty comfy seat...so now I'm down to the Kubota or Spartan
 
#19 ·
craigdt said:
He is saying that because Bad Boy sells some models at places like TSC. Therefore, their entire lineup must be consumer grade crap.

You know, like John Deere. And Hustler. If they sell a model at a big box store, all of their products must be trash, right?

And since there may or may not be some relation with Bad Boy and Spartan, Spartan must also be consumer level crap.
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Spartan and BadBoy are owned by brothers.

The biggest restriction to Badboy? Dealer network. They jumped in with TSC beause they NEEDED a big boxstore.

The problem is,it's hard....HARD to beat 20-30 years of guys running machines with known names, changing to some upstart, regardless of the design,build and parts in them.

I KNOW a Scag can be tossed to a 19 y/o to bounce off curbs all day and it'll continue to produce a quality outcome. I KNOW Walker makes lawns look like green berber carpet. I KNOW a Wright's performance and history...And I can see REALWORLD use just by noticing what crews in town are running.

Spartan, Badboy,Bradely, Everride, Worldlawn and the rest are so far between, with minimal dealer support, that breaking into the market is impossible.
 
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