Buying Advice I'm breaking down and buying new

KWRB · Jul 7, 2016

I have a Cub 2186 that I like (not love). It was my grandfather's, and he is meticulous about maintenance and traded up 4 years ago. It was in good shape when I bought it from him, but it's a little long in the tooth now. I have enough projects going and I am getting tired of all the little fixes. To boot, the only dealer close to me is, frankly, a jerk. I hate buying parts from him because he's just plain rude.To boot, I think the engine bit the dust a few weeks ago. Black smoke and quit, now won't start. I'm mechanically astute, but I don't feel dealing with this machine anymore.

I bought a used 2186 with a valve problem a year ago and it's about back together after new valves and a new head, but that doesn't solve the old deck issues and the whack-a-mole repairs that are sure to come on this unit too. this one (with the original as a cannibal corpse), will be more of a fun project than an essential everyday tool.

I'm going to break down and buy a new machine.

My fiance does the mowing because she's less tolerant of shabby looking lawn than I am. I know I've got it good in this respect, so I'm trying to take good care of her who takes care of our place. We have a few acres we mow with the rider (the rest with my big tractor). I want to go with an overpowered machine and I think I've settled on the Cub XT3 GSE or GSX. I like that they're American designed and manufactured, and though I don't like my local dealer, I think that should be less of a problem with a new machine (should break less). She kind of likes a front mount machine, but those zero-turns are mow-only and they cost a lot more. For the money, I'd like to have some versatility.

If you have experience, what do you all think of these machines? Since I'm buying new, I'm going to cast a very wide net and price them at virtually every dealer in NY, and I'll drive a long ways to pick it up if I have to. I know my local guy will have a price 125% of the next closest dealer, so I'm already committed to not going the local route.

Thanks for any advice,

Kurt

Bob_Bainbridge · Jul 8, 2016

Kurt, I moved up from a 2004 3235 to a 2015 XT3 GSX last year. I ordered the 54 inch fabricated deck and the 3-bag grass bagger. I found that the prices appear to be "fixed" (I thought Price-fixing was illegal) as all dealers in my area had the same exact price except for sales such as $400 off on models in stock. Mine didn't because it wasn't in stock when I ordered it. It was about $6500 out the door. It turns MUCH sharper than the old one and has electric power steering vs hydraulic. It seemed a little stiffer but I've gotten used to it. The deck lift is also electric vs hydraulic and is a little slower. My old deck was "ground following" but the new one isn't. Overall I'm impressed with the quality and the cut. The bagger chute is a little harder to hook on the deck but not bad.

Bob B.

The Fred · Jul 9, 2016

If you are buying new why buy a Cub at all?

I've had numerous new Cubs and still run 2. There are always issues like crappy loose steering on the tractors and garbage mower deck wheels.

Walk away from Cub Cadet and find a new brand, end of story.

Good luck, Fred

Bob_Bainbridge · Jul 10, 2016

The Fred said:
If you are buying new why buy a Cub at all?

I've had numerous new Cubs and still run 2. There are always issues like crappy loose steering on the tractors and garbage mower deck wheels.

Walk away from Cub Cadet and find a new brand, end of story.

Good luck, Fred

There's NO sloppy steering on my 2015 Enduro. It has the tightest steering of any rider I've owned (5). The deck wheels, which are just for anti-scalping (they don't run on the ground) all have grease fittings (at least on the 54 inch fabricated deck).

Bob B.

KWRB · Jul 13, 2016

The Fred said:
If you are buying new why buy a Cub at all?

...

Walk away from Cub Cadet and find a new brand, end of story.

Good luck, Fred

What would you suggest? I won't buy anything not American made, and I want a tractor style rider because for the investment, I want to ability to clear snow and tow a wagon.

murphy1244 · Jul 13, 2016

Try Simplicity. I had a Conquest for 3 years with 0 problems and a great cut. I moved up to a Ventrac for simple and easy attachment changes.

Midniteoyl · Jul 13, 2016

The problem, as I see it, is not that 'Cub is crap', but that your local dealer is a jerk (as you say). If you cant get along with him, I wouldnt want to buy something that pretty much makes me keep going back to him. If you like Cub and wanna stay, find another nearby dealer that you can work with.

Deere Dude · Jul 13, 2016

Can't go wrong with a mid sized John Deere. Easy to operate and generally durable. Dealers all over and most parts are American made..

Bob_Bainbridge · Jul 14, 2016

Deere Dude said:
Can't go wrong with a mid sized John Deere. Easy to operate and generally durable. Dealers all over and most parts are American made..

Some of my neighbors have JD's. I always thought that Cub's shaft drive was better than relying on a belt to drive the tractor. Also it seemed like JD charged $400-500 more for the same amount of tractor than Cub Cadet. I felt like you were paying more just for the name. For larger farm machines JD is
definitely one of the best.

Bob B.

KWRB · Jul 14, 2016

Midniteoyl said:
The problem, as I see it, is not that 'Cub is crap', but that your local dealer is a jerk (as you say). If you cant get along with him, I wouldnt want to buy something that pretty much makes me keep going back to him. If you like Cub and wanna stay, find another nearby dealer that you can work with.

I like the product enough to do just that. I really do. That said, I'm going to check out Simplicity and Deere also, because driving 50 minutes to get to the other dealer is difficult. It's part of the reason I'm fed up with my 2186. It's still a servicable machine, but getting the parts is so bad... Well I have repeated myself enough on that one.

KWRB · Jul 14, 2016

murphy1244 said:
Try Simplicity. I had a Conquest for 3 years with 0 problems and a great cut. I moved up to a Ventrac for simple and easy attachment changes.

What's ballpark cost for a 4500 and a 60" mower? I've always kinda loved these things, but I don't have many dealers around and I hate the run around they give on price, always quoting MSRP when they don't plan on selling at MSRP.

Deere Dude · Jul 14, 2016

Bob_Bainbridge said:
Some of my neighbors have JD's. I always thought that Cub's shaft drive was better than relying on a belt to drive the tractor. Also it seemed like JD charged $400-500 more for the same amount of tractor than Cub Cadet. I felt like you were paying more just for the name. For larger farm machines JD is
definitely one of the best.

Bob B.

I had JD garden tractors since 1970 and all but one was shaft drive. The cheaper John Deeres are more than likely not shaft drive. You pay for what you get.

Maybe they are more expensive but the price comes from something value added.. The huge dealer network...the availability of parts for a looong time...resale value,,, ergonomic value. People buy them for the same reason people but Stihl chainsaws and Cadillacs and Harleys. The name has value but it is because of the things I mentioned.

Plus I need my retirement pay to continue :thumbsup:

murphy1244 · Jul 14, 2016

KWRB said:
What's ballpark cost for a 4500 and a 60" mower? I've always kinda loved these things, but I don't have many dealers around and I hate the run around they give on price, always quoting MSRP when they don't plan on selling at MSRP.

My 4500Y with 60" side discharge mower would run about 23k. They are the most well built small utility tractor on the market.

The Fred · Jul 15, 2016

KWRB said:
What would you suggest? I won't buy anything not American made, and I want a tractor style rider because for the investment, I want to ability to clear snow and tow a wagon.

I'm not so sure these days. I have an M50 tank with less than 200 hours on it, I'm on my 5th set of front deck wheels, they have fittings and do get greased but with open shafts and no seals they wear out in NO time. Also have had to replace 2 of the deck mower bearings (no big deal).

Also have a 3000 series garden tractor with 280 hours on it bought used cheap for snowblowing my business and it works very well and blows snow like nothing I've ever seen. The front end is worn out stupidly, the steering arm is so loose that I loctited it on permanently, also the steering I beam has so much slop there was 1/2 turn of play in the steering. This is very unacceptable for a machine with so few hours.

Read some of their facebook comments:

Ragen Pearson Thank you for not covering the warranty on my mower. It's been a month and a half of battling with you. I will do my best to steer everyone away from your junk!
9 ｷ July 13 at 12:43am
Cub Cadet
Cub Cadet Ragen - We're sorry to hear that you have not received the answers you're looking for from our authorized service center. If you would like to discuss this further, the most efficient way for our team to solve this problem is to help you over the phone. Please give us a call at 1(877) 428-2349 and mention your personal incident number 160713-000370.
1 ｷ July 13 at 7:42am

Cub Cadet | Facebook

I've been eyeing those bad boy mowers from TSC and they look quite well built. I have no idea what I'd buy new these days. Fred

MoArk Willy · Jul 15, 2016

Bob_Bainbridge said:
I found that the prices appear to be "fixed" (I thought Price-fixing was illegal)

Bob B.

That's referred to in retail as "fair trade pricing"
The purpose is to protect consumers from gouging and to protect other dealers from scalping the market. It's been around forever albeit not as common as it used to be.

Bob_Bainbridge · Jul 17, 2016

Deere Dude said:
I had JD garden tractors since 1970 and all but one was shaft drive. The cheaper John Deeres are more than likely not shaft drive. You pay for what you get.

From what I've read, the X700 series and above have shaft drive but the lower series have belt drive.

Bob B.

KWRB · Jul 20, 2016

So I spend a year and half doing research, making spreadsheets and such. I find multiple dealers, and spend a few hours last Friday speaking with two salesmen about the pros and cons of one vs the other, at a dealer that sells two of the models, a ways away from home but I went there because they deal both.

I grab my fiance on Saturday, and we head up there. First, we get on the Simplicity and the deck handle is loose. It won't allow the button to press far enough to release the latch to lower the deck. It's an easy fix but it's too late. She's done. The Simplicity is dead to her. Then we get on the Cub. something is messed up with the steering. It'll steer from full left to almost straight and no farther. Obviously something got assembled wrong and it's probably simple fix, but alas, there's no getting her back. She's done. The Cub is dead to her.

So the owner of the dealership comes out and asks us how our experience is going, and I'm getting ready to be diplomatic and work this experience in my favor. She interjects "can I have the key to that one?" She tries out a Simplicity Courier 25/52 for about 5 minutes.

Guess which one we went home with?

Midniteoyl · Jul 20, 2016

KWRB said:
So I spend a year and half doing research, making spreadsheets and such. I find multiple dealers, and spend a few hours last Friday speaking with two salesmen about the pros and cons of one vs the other, at a dealer that sells two of the models, a ways away from home but I went there because they deal both.

I grab my fiance on Saturday, and we head up there. First, we get on the Simplicity and the deck handle is loose. It won't allow the button to press far enough to release the latch to lower the deck. It's an easy fix but it's too late. She's done. The Simplicity is dead to her. Then we get on the Cub. something is messed up with the steering. It'll steer from full left to almost straight and no farther. Obviously something got assembled wrong and it's probably simple fix, but alas, there's no getting her back. She's done. The Cub is dead to her.

So the owner of the dealership comes out and asks us how our experience is going, and I'm getting ready to be diplomatic and work this experience in my favor. She interjects "can I have the key to that one?" She tries out a Simplicity Courier 25/52 for about 5 minutes.

Guess which one we went home with?

Let that be a lesson to ya - spreadsheets are a complete waste of time