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AR15.COM
5/2/2007 4:46:18 PM EDT
    Alright guys help a guy out.  I have to buy my father a new tractor.  Needless to say I don't know shit about them.  I've been going nuts trying to research them.  Anyway, I want him to have a decent tractor for mowing 4acres, plowing snow and towing a cart.  
    My budget is 3 grand.  My current two ideas were either a John Deere LA150 or a Cub Cadet GT 1554.  Please your opinions and advise would be appreciated.  Thanks!  
5/2/2007 4:50:53 PM EDT
[#1]
Cub Cadets and John Deere used to be good brands. I don't know how the quality is now that Home Depot and the likes got them though.

5/2/2007 4:55:19 PM EDT
[#2]
Tag...

I need a new one in the next 2 weeks
5/2/2007 4:57:29 PM EDT
[#3]
I have had my John deere z225 for a few months and i have to say for a residential mower it is the best i have ever owned. Purchased from the dealer $ 2676.00 plus tax
But it was a fight to get the dealer to come down on price. Paid cash
5/2/2007 5:01:30 PM EDT
[#4]
My choice is John Deere. Buy it at a dealer that sells lawn equipment. The JD's at Home Depot are not the same level of quality.
5/2/2007 5:09:58 PM EDT
[#5]
I know a little about tractors.  mowing a few acres will be a pain with a regular riding mower - considered a zero turn?  

In my area, John Deere has higher resale.  Some folks say, "I am not worried about resale" but every body dies, don't leave a widow with, for example, a yardman she can't turn into cash.

Cub is a regional thing, John Deere seems to be more popular in a wider area.

Now for the most important thing I can tell you, and which you are sure to ignore...DON"T buy from home depot or lowes.

Go to a dealer.  If your home depot unit breaks, and you take it to a dealer for repair, expect to be laughed out of the store...ok, maybe they will work on your machine, but you will get in line behind all those green machines setting in the lot...

edit: oh, and arfcom is great, but for specific questions like these, go to www.tractorbynet.com

nice place for a country boy.
5/2/2007 5:18:54 PM EDT
[#6]
Thanks for the advice.  There is a JD dealer in town I will definately hit that up.  I'll check that website out to.  It's tough just starting to research something, I didn't really know where to go.  When in doubt Arfcom.
5/2/2007 5:21:17 PM EDT
[#7]
A large number of the less expensive riding mowers (under $2000) are made by MTD.  Not noted to be particularly high quality or rugged.  I was amazed when I was looking at a Husqvarna  Troy Built on the internet that I was directed to the MTD webpage.  There were a number of name brands on the site that surprised me.

 I decided at that point to see if I could squeeze a few more years out of my 30 year old Wheel Horse. Shop carefully.

One that I was impressed withand that was not an MTD was the Simplicity.
5/2/2007 5:29:23 PM EDT
[#8]
How much stuff you have to go around? I have 5.5 acres but cut close to 3 acres . So what I did was to buy a used compact tractor. 25hp, 2 cylinder diesel cutting with a 4 ft bush hog. I also have a 5 ft grader blade for my driveway and light grading. Total cost  about $5100. When I move I will get a 5 ft finishing mower and a tiller. Next year I plan on getting a front end loader. Grass cutting is very easy with this tractor if you do not have to cut around a lot of objects.