Which 48" hydro?

[MikeC]

I am moving up from a 36&quot; belt to a 48&quot; hydro, and have the following choices here locally:<br>Scag - good dealer, cost $4900<br>Exmark - good dealer, cost $4550<br>Lesco - ok dealer, cost $3500 (special promo)<br>Snapper - best dealer in area, cost $4700<p>All machines have 17hp Kaw. engine, except snapper it has 14hp Kaw. Is Lesco a quality machine. There is obviously a big price break if I take advantage of their special?

 

[sunrise]

I have 12 crews that use skags<br>they are good but my dealer prices have gone thru the roof and I am switching to ex-marks riders and walk behinds<br>also get a 52 in gives a better cut

 

[geogunn]

mike--throw out the snapper. pay more money for less horsepower even though the dealer is prefered? I wouldn't.<p>for the money you quote the lesco is probably a fixed deck with a 17 kawi single. what about the others? are they 17 kawi singles or 17 b&s or kholer doubles? are the skagg and exmark floating decks? are you comparing apples to apples? a thousand to fourteen hundred bucks for a comparable apple is alot of money!<p>I run a lesco 48 belt and it's a great machine. it's been dependable and tough as nails. for the difference in price you are talking about there is no way you could convince me that the skagg or exmark is worth the difference. I know where I'm going tomorrow!<p>GEO

 

[Mowman]

Mike spend the extra money on the Exmark and have the mulch kit installed and your business will grow from the finished look of the lawns you cut. Extra investment in the begining is worth it. Trust me. If you buy a mower to save a few hundred and are not happy now you have to spend a few thousand to correct the problem. Well good luck in your purchase. Mowman

 

[Dingo]

Forget the snapper. where ever you are getting it from you are getting jacked. I lookED at it for a little while then easily forgot about it. I can get the same one for 3,999

 

[lawrence stone]

MikeC<p>Take a look at the used toro hydro with<br>a 20hp kohler with a 52&quot; deck at turfquip.com.<p>Why spend over twice as for an inferior machine?<p>Compare the torque specs on a 20hp V twin kohler vs. a 17hp one lung Kawa.

 

[Lazer]

Exmark inferior machine to Toro? <p>Please.

 

[jsteveharris]

I have a scag ultimate 48 hydro w/ 17hp kawa<br>It has a floating deck, mulch kit, xlarge grass gobbler, and a single wheel velke, all for 5800.00 tax and all. love the mower and think it was a pretty good deal

 

[NewellMowingCo]

I'm going to go against the flow here and recommend the Snapper Hydro. I have a 36&quot; Hydro that is still going strong after two years. In my city, the only lawn mower dealer sells Snapper exclusively so I don't have much experience with any other brand. I am happy with my Snapper though. <br>I did run a 32&quot; Ransomes a few years ago. It did a great job, too.<br>Justin

 

[Retro67]

MikeC<p>I have a price of $3779 for a 48&quot; Scag Hydro w/ 14 hp Kawi. The dealer is a full-line dealer. I doubt they charge $1100 more for the 17 hp Kawi. <p>John