No offense to the other machines, but for 21", it's Honda hands down. The HRC216 with hydrostatic drive is only $950-$999 at most honda dealers and it is by far the best engineered and most reliable 21" mower on the market. For my money, I wouldn't even consider buying a Toro, given the fact that I could buy a Honda for just a hundred or two more. We've used just about every 21" mower in existence. I waited to use Hondas because they are the most expensive to purchase. But every other mower failed to perform or last in one way or another. So since I finally went with Hondas 3 years ago, I've never once regretted it.
Another cool thing about the Hondas is that the dealer will warranty all parts and labor for one year. And if you are like us, mowing 100 yards a week, your mowers are bound to have something go wrong eventually. It's nice to know that it's fixed quickly and for free.
One more comment, if I had a choice between a used Honda HRC216 and a new Toro, I'd pick the honda. They are THAT good.
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Jim Lewis - Lewis Landscape Services
http://www.lewislandscape.com