GT225 or X304??

[hunt4570]

So I'm still looking for a decent mower, the 425 I was looking at seemed too much of a gamble , so I have 2 different ones I'm looking at. A GT225 with a bagger for $1700 (waiting to hear what year and hours), and a X304 without bagger for $1800. The X304 is a 2014 with 316 hours.
I mow maybe 3-4 acres and both of these are a little smaller than I would like, but they are better in my price range. Also I have a in-ground pool that always collects leaves and such, hence my desire for a bagger but I guess I can always add one later.
So what do you think? and are there things I need to look out for in these guys?

Thanks Scott

 

[beenthere]

For my money, it would be one of the 400 (425, 445, 455) series. No question about it. Sorry for being insistent..

 

[hunt4570]

For my money, it would be one of the 400 (425, 445, 455) series. No question about it. Sorry for being insistent..

Me too if there were one around anywhere manufactured after 1998 and priced reasonably... but there's not.

 

[beenthere]

john deere 445 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

John Deere Riding mower - farm & garden - by owner - sale

And more at Greensboro.. don't give up..

 

[hunt4570]

Both still out of my price range...

Any thoughts on the 225 or 304? that was my question...

 

[Smoothas]

Unless you have a flat lot , be careful with X304- for some reason ( price I'm sure) Deere went from a K58 to K46 in X304 ( I believe 2011 was 1st year with K46) So the X304 is not a heavy duty machine

 

[Smoothas]

Here is a LX 277 ( K63 tranny)

Lx 277 John Deere - farm & garden - by owner - sale

GT 235
John Deere GT235 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

X324

John Deere X324 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[hunt4570]

Unless you have a flat lot , be careful with X304- for some reason ( price I'm sure) Deere went from a K58 to K46 in X304 ( I believe 2011 was 1st year with K46) So the X304 is not a heavy duty machine

According to "tractordata.com" the 304 has the K58 which is what a lot of my thinking is based on, why do you say they went with the k46?
I know the tranny is the problem with the "big box store" machines which is why I've been avoiding them.. along with the huskys..

 

[hunt4570]

Here is a LX 277 ( K63 tranny)

Lx 277 John Deere - farm & garden - by owner - sale

GT 235
John Deere GT235 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

X324

John Deere X324 - farm & garden - by owner - sale

Thanks.. the top one is not too far, but the bottom 2 are 3 hours away.. might drive that far for a 400 series, but other than that I'm not sure.

 

[Smoothas]

According to "tractordata.com" the 304 has the K58 which is what a lot of my thinking is based on, why do you say they went with the k46?
I know the tranny is the problem with the "big box store" machines which is why I've been avoiding them.. along with the huskys..

2 nd line down on tractor data will say model years- from 2006 till 2010, hit the drop down menu and select 2011 to 2015 and you will see X304 has K46- the X304 had a K58 when introduced and in 2011 Deere went to K46 in X304