445
Model Year: 1999
Hi, I've owned 2 445 mowers, a 1996 and a 1999 both with the 60" deck. I sold the 96 to a neighbor, it has 1800 hrs on it and I STILL have the 99 with almost 1300 on it. The neighbor used to think he paid too much...not now! The 60" deck mows great, blows the grass and disperses it evenly with the chute tilted up little. It doesn't like wet grass that well, but it's okay. One note: the 99 has a totally redesigned steering system so make sure you like the way the old style steers. I hated it and that's one of the reasons I bought the 99. Why? They used a real short stroke cylinder on the older ones, and since its has hydraulic power steering, you have to constantly turn the wheel to make it go straight. The 99 deck had some baffles under the mower deck and that improved it'a performance in every way. As an added note I now have a 2011 X740, love the diesel, but the 62" deck is the biggest piece of garbage there is---HATE IT. Doesn't come close to the older 60" deck. Grass clumps on blow out unless totally dry and it leaves little trails of grass behind each blade it doesn't vacuum very well. There is just to much dead space under the deck. I'm trading it right now for a 2013 with the 60' 7 iron style. That deck has rave reviews online compared to the 62' deck. Wish I had seen them! Also I love the Gator style blades for mowing and also mulching leaves. They just disappear.
Pros: Mower deck performance, Kawasaki motor.
Cons: Ignition coils fail every few years, front crank seal every few years---both easy fixes.