I know this is way out there, but in a couple of weeks it will be time to mow here down south. My current mower is about on it's last leg, I have committed to not spend another dime on it. It's a Yazoo Red Rider that's 10 years old and has been a heap from day one. Have been looking at several different new brands, lots of them seem to be a rolling piece of sheet metal with the ubiquitous Briggs & Stratton engine. So what do you have and what do you recommend? My thoughts so far:
Murray - inexpensive, but thin metals, somewhat cheesy parts etc. Wal Mart's mainstay, lots of returns parked in the Garden Shop!
Craftsman - less expensive models very sheetmetalish with cheap controls, flimsy. More expensive deluxe line (red units) seem much much nicer, heavier metals, better engines, electric PTO, cast iron front end, etc. Deluxe models $2100- $2500. Excellent parts network.
Simplicity - Expensive, but well built. Very limited dealer network.
Cub Cadet - Nice, but very expensive! just a 16hp is $2600.00
John Deere - Nice, but get a second mortgage. More expensive than Cub, but not sure its any better. Could be paying extra for green color & name.
Troy-Bilt. Kind of middle of the road, sold at Lowe's home improvement, they couldn't even tell me where to get parts if needed. (90 day wonder working sales that day.)
So what do you recommend to buy or stay away from? Good or bad experiences?