Help with choosing new rider mower

[tacticalturnip]

Hadn't really considered CC...just thought they were a box store, MTD/Murray-built brand these days like most of them. Not sure if anyone around here sells them, I'll have to check.

The XT1 models are box store, the dealers sell the XT1 but also have the XT2 which has some upgrades- steering bearings over bushings, overall heavier transaxles across the line, better battery, and a few other things. Plus, they're assembled and supported by the dealer.

There used to be an XT3, but Stanley Black & Decker, MTD's nice new sugar daddy, let it rot and die on the vine. It's a shame, it was on par with the Deere X500 in capability. It was behind on fit and finish, and a little on ergonomics, but overall, a very stout machine.

 

[JasperFrank]

CCs are sort of two tiered. The riding mowers, XT1s and 2s are the hardware store line. XT3s, zero turns, and above are the commercial duty lines. Cub Cadet is owned by MTD, which was bought by Black and Decker in 2021. Which also makes, MTD, Troy-bilt, Bolens, Yard Machines and the Yard-Man brands.
One thing I like about CCs is the company is all in on right to repair. Customer Service, at least from what I've encountered, is outstanding.

 

[JasperFrank]

I'll just mention ... It will be a sad day when the Husky 2354 finally wears out.

View attachment 3686448A rear view mirror? That actually makes a lot of sense!

 

[JasperFrank]

There is a lot of good info here, the sound quality is bad, and he never links to his spread sheet, but I agree with everything he says and he is pointing out the relevant differences. Though his set of tractors is rather limited.

I believe you meant to type ST 242 XT. I can't find a "SD," Husky.
The way the manual diff lock is situated on these would be a deal killer for me.
The X-300 JD line seems too complicated and too expensive for no good reason.
The above link doesn't talk about these, it just talks about the S-100 line.

We looked high and low, in 2021, did my own pro/con sheet for the best value in a lawn tractor for 3 acres, that could pull a cart, with up to 400 lbs.

For me, the choice became pretty clear.
I got a Cub XT2 LX42, 22 HP, for 1,800$ new. I would say my area to mow is fairly rough.
Things I would change up in hind sight: Definitely needed a Diff Lock, and I should have gotten a fabricated mower deck. I also kill the battery all the time leaving the lights on. Other than that, I've been happy with the machine. The controls are all intuitive and I can change the deck level easily on the fly. Its also sort of a speed demon for a mower.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I'll second that, the XT2 is surprisingly quick, but I still mow slow.

The XT2 LX42 has an MSRP of $3,399 now, which I'm pretty sure is more than I paid for my LX46 last year. On the plus side, it has a fabricated deck now.

 

[hslogger]

If you can get the job done with an 1800 dollar mower and have it for a couple decades by golly my hat is off to ya.

 

[tacticalturnip]

If you can get the job done with an 1800 dollar mower and have it for a couple decades by golly my hat is off to ya.

These days, $1800 doesn't buy what you think it does.



Your basic Troy-Bilt is now over $2k, and a Deere S100 is $2,400.

I would argue the majority of people spending up to $5k for a new mower are not keeping it for decades. The long-term folks are investing in the premium zero-turn market and Deere Ultimate Series, and they're shelling out a lot more than most.

 

[JasperFrank]

I was surprised also at the price increases that happened just after 2021. Guess that had to do with the Black and Decker purchase? I recommended a XT2 to my neighbor, a few months later, and then felt kind of stupid, when I re-checked the prices.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I was surprised also at the price increases that happened just after 2021. Guess that had to do with the Black and Decker purchase? I recommended a XT2 to my neighbor, a few months later, and then felt kind of stupid, when I re-checked the prices.

It's all across the board, unfortunately.

 

[Skypuppy]

I can only give you general advice that I discovered many years back. After the 3rd or 4th "garden tractor" (ha!) that are now $3k and $4k, and only last two or three years, I decided I'd had enough of that. So, I looked into real tractors. Finally wound up with a Kubota BX2660 (now BX2860) that was about $13k in 2009 with 5 foot mowing deck, front end loader (4 foot bucket), and some other dirt-moving equipment. And it was zero financing so 5 years of payments were only about $250 / month. Almost free. Best decision I ever made for lawn and smallish farm work. Beats $3-4k every 2 or three years, hands down! It was free delivery, too, at that time, so from KY to AL, zero cost. I've done many around-the-house tasks that I used to have to rent for $250/day and breakdown every 3 or 4 hours. <sigh>