I never bought a HP, so I don't know exactly how you did on price. At any rate, you'll like the machine.<p>When it's mid-May and the grass is growing 1" per day, you won't care how much you paid, you'll just want a machine that'll get the job done.<p>Anyway, I haven't let my guys use the Z-Masters yet. We're still doing spring clean-ups and we have like 3 extra mowers for back-ups, etc. I told my guys if the do nice work and are productive, they'll load up the Z's, otherwise they'll use the older machines.