cadet vs deere

ww874 · Aug 26, 2008

Hi i originally posted this on the buying thread but i think my question really belongs here.
hi all, this is my first post and i'd appreciate all advice
my situation-
1. 1 arce of rough sloping terrian. 2 arces somewhat level
2. 2nd home and i'm not able to mow weekly, usually only every 3 or 4 weeks. (if it rains in late may when i'm there and i don't back until mid june the grass gets high, easily over a foot) i have a ford tractor with a 5 foot bush hog but i find its tough to get close around the house and dangerous on the slopes.
3. i'm guessing a garden tractor would be just the ticket around the house and in the fields after i've bush hogged.

My choices are a cub cadet 2544 for 3,200 otd (which seems to be a good price) or a john deere x500 for 5,500( which is about retail price)
Would either machice be adequate for my situation and is the jd worth that much more.

Slade · Aug 26, 2008

For your pretty light duty use, I would opt for the Cadet. That 22 hp Kohler engine will do just fine. I have one in an old Sears rider and it has performed admirably with no problems for 7 years and I beat it mercilessly.

Revelation · Aug 26, 2008

They both make great products, however there is a reason why John Deere is the most popular brand out there; they make very tough, durable, and good looking equipment. When I was going to buy a lawn tractor and thought about buying another brand other than John Deere, I know I would be thinking in the back of my head, I could of bought the John Deere. Kinda like buying a Weber grill. I had a 2 Sears grills that were just fine. However when I bought the Weber, I found in some areas it excelled over the other brands, while in other areas it was the equal. I found the same with John Deere.

Get the John Deere, if money is tight perhaps one of their 300 series could meet your needs. Just make sure you get at least a 22 hp engine for the size of your lot. Just don't cut low, as any tractor will not be happy with cutting 4 or more inches of grass at a time.

bontai_Joe · Aug 26, 2008

The Deere X500 series is closer in comparison to the Cub 3000 series. The Cub 2500 series is closer to the Deere X300 series. from your description, it seems you just want a machine for some tough grass cutting, no mention of snow or tilling, so I'd say the Cub 2500 series or Deere X300 series would be the smallest I'd get. But you might find a nice deal on a bigger used machine if you hunt around some for the same or less money.

LBrown59 · Aug 28, 2008

ww874 said:
Hi i originally posted this on the buying thread but i think my question really belongs here.
hi all, this is my first post and i'd appreciate all advice
my situation-
1. 1 arce of rough sloping terrian. 2 arces somewhat level
2. 2nd home and i'm not able to mow weekly, usually only every 3 or 4 weeks. (if it rains in late may when i'm there and i don't back until mid june the grass gets high, easily over a foot) i have a ford tractor with a 5 foot bush hog but i find its tough to get close around the house and dangerous on the slopes.
3. i'm guessing a garden tractor would be just the ticket around the house and in the fields after i've bush hogged.

My choices are a cub cadet 2544 for 3,200 otd (which seems to be a good price) or a john deere x500 for 5,500( which is about retail price)
Would either machice be adequate for my situation and *is the jd worth that much more.

*Not to me.

Get at least a 48'' mower better yet a 54'' mower.
A 44'' is pretty narrow for 3 acres.
My 46'' seemed to take for ever here on my 2.33 acres after using my CC54'' mower.
For me The CC comes much closer to being worth 3200 than does the JD come to being worth 5500.
The CC is shaft drive but I'm thinking the x500 is belt drive but not sure so check it out .

JiminGa · Aug 28, 2008

I'll go totally against the grain on this one. it's a second home you don't spend alot of time at...hire out the mowing on a bi weekly schedule.

ww874 · Aug 29, 2008

I wish i could find someone who would reliably mow it but that just doesn't seem to be possible. (I've tried).
And I've also watched many other nieghbors wreck lawn tractors every spring, so much so that we joke about it. That's why I want a garden tractor.
Looks like I'm gonna keep my eyes open for a good used JD. My reason for saying this is because I think if I bought the cc I'd always wished I had the JD. I do admit i'd like as new as possible because I do not like tinkering/fixing equiptment, I just want to turn the key and go. That said how old is ok before i have to worry about problems? and any suggestions in addition to the x500?

bontai_Joe · Aug 29, 2008

I am one of those guys that has as much fun working on them as using them, so my stuff is all over 25 years old. Used tractor recomendations for a guy that doesn't want to work on it, just turn a key and go..... less than 5 years old and I'd be looking at Deere 300 series GTs and Cub Cadet 3000 series GTs, and Wheelhorse 300 series and Simplicity as well as the Simplicity clones sold as Massey Ferguson, or Agco.

Mickey_Fx · Aug 29, 2008

Speaking as a former JD owner and now a Cub owner, I have ZERO regrets. I replaced a JD318 with a Cub 3204 a few yrs ago and the Cub has been a more reliable GT than the JD was. Money was not an issue in the decision.

I'll agree the JD is nicer looking and possible better fit and finish but where it counts, the Cub won hands down. Compared models that were as close a match to the 318 as I could find. The Cub weighed quite a bit more and it showed. I'm not a fan of vert shaft engines but that is me. Shaft drive to trans and mower, yes two small belts to drive the pto but no twists, cheap & easy to replace but never have had the need in the 4 yrs I've owned the Cub. My HD deck made the JD look wimpy. It tips the scale at 260# and that's for a 48" model. Grease fittings everywhere, got a doz on the mower itself. Even small cross shafts on the tractor have large bronze bearings. Cast iron trans/diff housing.

I could go on but won't. Like I said NO regrets on the Cub and it was lower cost the the equivalent JD.