zero turn mowers EXPENSIVE

[Sawyer Rob]

I keep trying to talk myself into a Krone baler, which is the best, but thats a BIG pile of sheckles

The Krone's are completely rebuildable, you could buy a used one for a lot less and go through it and make it run like new again.

SR

 

[fried1765]

Having a crippled up body puts a different rationale on selection. One that has nothing to do with how long a machine will do the job...it factors into how long the operator can do the job. Luckily, at 70, I am not at that stage yet. Also, with a relatively small flat area to mow, 2 acres, investing in a Cadillac mower seems silly.

If I ever get to the point I cannot endure an hour a week operating a mower, I have much bigger issues to deal with than getting grass cut.

The Country Clipper dealer offered to put in an upgraded seat for $350. This is on a $5k machine. Might be worth doing.

Btw, I used to have a Mercedes sedan. It was a wonderful car. I kept it for 20 years until I totaled it. It was a silly thing to buy,, but I drove a lot of miles and loved it. I look at high end ZTç—´ the same way. But I love cars a lot more than mowers. Most of us have just so many dollars to spend on stuff, so cost matters.

I had my Mercedes E-320 for 24 years, until a woman nailed it in the side just last December.
I loved driving that car.
But then....... I bought a beautiful (used) Mercedes E-350, and I enjoy that even more.
At 5 weeks from 80.....cost may often no longer be the primary concern.

 

[shooterdon]

I had my Mercedes E-320 for 24 years, until a woman nailed it in the side just last December.
I loved driving that car.
But then....... I bought a beautiful (used) Mercedes E-350, and I enjoy that even more.
At 5 weeks from 80.....cost may often no longer be the primary concern.

Mine was an E430. It would switch between 4,6, or 8 cylinders and I could never sense it switching. Got 27 MPG on the highway.

I live rural now, and roads are too crappy for a sedan. When I cannot live rural any longer I will buy another Mercedes and it will be my last vehicle....70 now. Best car I have ever owned or riden in.

 

[Brown Dog]

All I will say is... Kubota makes the best z turn; it will be the only one you will ever buy.

Second that :thumbsup:

I never dreamed I’d pay $15k for a lawnmower.

Then I bought a New ZD1511 72 for $19k & sold the ZD1211

This took the place of a 66hp JD Tractor & 110 inch cut rear finishing mower that I sold them both.

I’m all about quality & dependability.

It’s well worth the cost to me :cool2:

 

[Bullwinkle123]

I moved to the country and knew I would never be cutting this new place with my old 21" walk-behind mower from suburbia. And yes, the ZT mowers are expensive, and so I hired out the service for 10 years to people who had their own ZT mowers because I wasn't ready to buy one and didn't have time to spend on the yard.

But as the price rose, particularly after a recent attempt to raise the price by 50%, I decided enough was enough and bought a $9300 (incl tax+delivery) Kubota ZT724 model. To be sure, that's awful close to the $10,400 I paid for a new Honda Accord I bought in 1987. However compared to what they wanted to charge me going forward I have this sense that the money I spent on the ZT mower is like printing money. Every lawn mowing I do pays me back what I would have spent, and the mower will be fully paid for (from what I saved on hiring it out) in under 2 years.

Could I have used a cheaper mower? Maybe. My yard is no picnic though, and I'm no light frame to be hauled around either. The Kubota is a tank and hauls me with ease. I do have some nits with it, that I'll write up in another topic someday, but by and large it's good and paying for itself. I would have loved a diesel model, but that was just too much for my needs.

 

[shooterdon]

I moved to the country and knew I would never be cutting this new place with my old 21" walk-behind mower from suburbia. And yes, the ZT mowers are expensive, and so I hired out the service for 10 years to people who had their own ZT mowers because I wasn't ready to buy one and didn't have time to spend on the yard.

But as the price rose, particularly after a recent attempt to raise the price by 50%, I decided enough was enough and bought a $9300 (incl tax+delivery) Kubota ZT724 model. To be sure, that's awful close to the $10,400 I paid for a new Honda Accord I bought in 1987. However compared to what they wanted to charge me going forward I have this sense that the money I spent on the ZT mower is like printing money. Every lawn mowing I do pays me back what I would have spent, and the mower will be fully paid for (from what I saved on hiring it out) in under 2 years.

Could I have used a cheaper mower? Maybe. My yard is no picnic though, and I'm no light frame to be hauled around either. The Kubota is a tank and hauls me with ease. I do have some nits with it, that I'll write up in another topic someday, but by and large it's good and paying for itself. I would have loved a diesel model, but that was just too much for my needs.

A Vet would cut/trim my place (just under 2 acres) for $50 but I always gave him $70 on those weeks I was travelling and could not do it myself. Very inexpensive IMHO. But with 20-24 cuts a year, I would be spending about $1500/year. to keep hiring the job out. My BB store Husqvarna 48" rider is 8 years old (300 hrs) and keeps chugging along...hoping it will die...LOL. I will be going with a ZT, as you have, when I finally pull the trigger to replace the rider. I do not need a $10k unit as my lawn is flat, but I hate cutting grass. So cutting my mowing time in half (under an hour) is the driver. I am looking at a $4-5k machine and it will be paid off in less than 4 years. It will last my lifetime..70 YO now. I am 10 years behind fried1765, but think along his lines.

 

[fried1765]

A Vet would cut/trim my place (just under 2 acres) for $50 but I always gave him $70 on those weeks I was travelling and could not do it myself. Very inexpensive IMHO. But with 20-24 cuts a year, I would be spending about $1500/year. to keep hiring the job out. My BB store Husqvarna 48" rider is 8 years old (300 hrs) and keeps chugging along...hoping it will die...LOL. I will be going with a ZT, as you have, when I finally pull the trigger to replace the rider. I do not need a $10k unit as my lawn is flat, but I hate cutting grass. So cutting my mowing time in half (under an hour) is the driver. I am looking at a $4-5k machine and it will be paid off in less than 4 years. It will last my lifetime..70 YO now. I am 10 years behind fried1765, but think along his lines.

"I am 10 years behind Fried1765, but think along his lines"
Better be careful with thinking like me......could land you in jail!

 

[shooterdon]

"I am 10 years behind Fried1765, but think along his lines"
Better be careful with thinking like me......could land you in jail!

LOL....we might need each other to watch our 6’s....

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I moved to the country and knew I would never be cutting this new place with my old 21" walk-behind mower from suburbia. And yes, the ZT mowers are expensive, and so I hired out the service for 10 years to people who had their own ZT mowers because I wasn't ready to buy one and didn't have time to spend on the yard.

But as the price rose, particularly after a recent attempt to raise the price by 50%, I decided enough was enough and bought a $9300 (incl tax+delivery) Kubota ZT724 model. To be sure, that's awful close to the $10,400 I paid for a new Honda Accord I bought in 1987. However compared to what they wanted to charge me going forward I have this sense that the money I spent on the ZT mower is like printing money. Every lawn mowing I do pays me back what I would have spent, and the mower will be fully paid for (from what I saved on hiring it out) in under 2 years.

Could I have used a cheaper mower? Maybe. My yard is no picnic though, and I'm no light frame to be hauled around either. The Kubota is a tank and hauls me with ease. I do have some nits with it, that I'll write up in another topic someday, but by and large it's good and paying for itself. I would have loved a diesel model, but that was just too much for my needs.

I bought a used 20 hr ZT724 last year but alll my other machines are diesel and history with old gas mowers from long ago "made" me trade the ZT back to Barlows for the ZD1211. I've also owned the smaller gas Kubota and some other ZDs but as far as quality of cut with the mulching kit/block plate the Z724 was/is it. It is a high speed blade dedicated mower and does it's job great. One of the past machines that I miss.

 

[timswi]

I bought a used 20 hr ZT724 last year but alll my other machines are diesel and history with old gas mowers from long ago "made" me trade the ZT back to Barlows for the ZD1211. I've also owned the smaller gas Kubota and some other ZDs but as far as quality of cut with the mulching kit/block plate the Z724 was/is it. It is a high speed blade dedicated mower and does it's job great. One of the past machines that I miss.

Agree with you john. My Z724 does a great job on the grass no matter how deep it is. Curious how the mulching kit worked, was thinking about doing that.