Buying Advice Ferris IS500 Vs Scagg Freedom Z vs Toro Titan

Flyfisherman · Mar 20, 2010

Need help deciding the mower or Zero-Turn to purchase. I have 2 1/2 acres.
I am looking at the Ferris IS 500Z 52" 26hp Briggs for $5000K in NH and can ship to my home in NY State, (no sales tax-I just have to ship it home or trailer it home) (there is a local Ferris dealer within 10mile of my home) or I can purchase a Scagg Freedom Z 52" 26 hp Briggs for approx $5400 or a Toro Titan 54" for approx $4750. What is the best mower for my money?

Diamondpilot · Mar 20, 2010

I would go with the Ferris personally. The only difference is I would not get a B/S engine and go with the Kawasaki. My neighbor is a commercial mower and has had most of the major brands and the Ferris ones have been the best. I do all the maintenance. He also runs one Scag and its been the second best. All the other brands he tried just did not make it. Everything we have ever had with a B/S engine is trouble except for the 13HP engine I have on my Troy Built Generator.

Kawasaki has the best warranty people by far. The last mower he bought, a 3100 series has a Kaw 38HP. It would smoke on start up but really did not use any oil, only 1/4 qt in 200 hours. Anyway we had to live with it till this winter since its his main money maker. We took it in 3 weeks ago and they pulled the head, took some pics, sent them to Kaw and they called the dealer and said they did not want him to fix it. They were sending out a new motor and we got it back and running in 2 weeks.

One other issue is the Ferris dealer is so close. You can not beat that convenience.

Chris

wallace · Mar 20, 2010

Look at the Simplicity if you have a local dealer...It is the same machine as a Ferris.

MESSMAKER · Mar 22, 2010

Those are three really good choices. I don't know as much about the Ferris, but they are coming on strong in my area. The local horse farms and lawn services mostly use Scagg or X-mark/Toro. I see different engines on a lot of them so I don't know if it makes a huge difference. They all might well run 8-10 hours a day for 4-5 years. That might out last you.

greasemonkeyok · Mar 24, 2010

We see a lot of Ferris used in Oklahoma; the operators like the models with full suspension. You can compare prices by going to the web page for O'Connor's lawn and garden in OKC.

Diamondpilot · Mar 27, 2010

I wonder what he ended up with? Got to love these tell me what to buy threads. Usually never hear back. I like spending others money though.:licking:

Chris

wingnut96 · Apr 4, 2010

I'm pondering the same thing. Toro and John Deere are the local shops and I have a good buy on a ZX5400 w/ a Kohler 23hp. Still think I'd like to have the Kawi and I have a few hours to research before the shop opens up. It has to be easy enough to use as the Misses will be running it, I'm working overseas. Was thinking about going commercial but that would probably add more complexity to it not to mention bucks. It's still overkill for under 2 acres but should be faster than the STX38 which isn't starting. Probably just needs the relay fix.

Onward with the search.