Comparison Scag Tiger Cat vs. Ferris IS 700z

seethesun · May 30, 2014

Hi,

I have been doing research and reading threads. From that, along with the price range, it looks like I would be choosing between the Scag Tiger Cat & Ferris IS 700z.

We just bought a home on a 5 acre property. Right now only about 2.5 acres are being mowed and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, but at some point we will start maintaining the rest as well. The current portion that we will be mowing is fairly smooth, some incline (but not steep). The other part must have been used for farming trees or something as you have very wide rows, not my mamma's garden. That's part of the reason the Ferris peaked my interest, the suspension (and good reviews).

Between the Tiger Cat and Ferris IS700Z, is there a clear winner (I'm sure it's not going to be that easy)?

Then, to throw a wrinkle in my decision-making, the Ferris dealer offered the IS 2000z with a 25.5 Kawisaki engine for $8500 + tax delivered, probably closer to $9500 (with taxes and the seat upgrade I would want). I'm not sure if it's a deal or not? I am not necessarily cheap, but I do look for value. If that's a really good deal and it's obviously a step above the other two, then I might just bite the bullet. But unless it's just a great offer, then I believe one of the two would work for my purposes.

I appreciate any feedback.

David

ShowroomShine · May 30, 2014

I looked at the IS700Z and Tiger Cat. Both were nice mowers, but the ICD deck and suspension on the 700z made it the nicer mower. I drove both, and the drives reflected that as well.

Plus, the 700z is a good bit cheaper. I got a quote on a 61" for $6399.

TSO · May 31, 2014

Both are good mowers. But, the main reason I would choose a Ferris would be because of the suspension system, IF your ground is rough enough to necessitate it. I see myself someday getting the Ferris when my aging joints call for it!

I dint think you can go wrong with any of the commercial grass mowers from any of the big companies.

seethesun · May 31, 2014

Thanks for the responses. $6399 for the 700. I definitely need to check some of these other dealers around here because this dealer quoted me between $7200 and $8200 out the door, depending on the engine.

ecruzin · May 31, 2014

I bought a Ferris IS700Z last year and have been very pleased with it. It has the B&S 28hp commercial engine and 52" mower deck. Total price with tax was right at $6000 total. I did not look at Skag as there is no local dealer here. Below is a copy of the review I posted last year. Hope this helps.

I looked at Snapper, Husky, Ferris/Simplicity. My local Ferris dealer actually let me take several units home to demo. First was the IS500 with the 61" deck and the B&S 27HP engine. I felt the machine was good but it felt slow and underpowered. Next I took home the IS700 with a 52"deck and the B&S 28hp commercial engine. World of difference. The IS700 is about 3 MPH faster than the IS500. The faster speed more than makes up for the smaller deck. Also the larger tires on the IS700 make the machine much more stable on slopes and uneven ground than the IS500.
I have been more than happy with the IS700.

EddieWalker · May 31, 2014

I have a Scag Wildcat with the Kawasaki 26 hp water cooled engine and I'm very happy with it. I can't comment on if it's better then a Ferris or not, but my thinking is that at this level of machine, all the top name brands are going to be very similar. What you need to look at is which one will have the best support from the dealer you buy from. Brand new machines get old and eventually need repair. In my opinion, that is the most important thing to consider when buying anything.

Look at what it takes to change the blades. Which one is more comfortable? Do they both have solid front tires? I wouldn't buy a machine without solid front tires and if I could get solid back tires, I would!!!!

Once you do decide, look into Fusion blades. They last longer between sharpening and they cut great!!!!!

Eddie

seethesun · May 31, 2014

Thanks for the responses. Yeah, dealer support is going to come into play and have me lean toward the Scag (because I have a dealer right down the road from me).

Of course, I went to demo the Tiger Cat today, along with the Cheetah and a JD. The Tiger Cat was nice, but by the time I left I started thinking about moving up a level to either the JD Z930M or the Scag Cheetah. I really liked the Cheetah with the operator suspension system. It will push me to $10k OTD.

The JD was as well. So I think I am trying to decide between those two now.

Gary Fowler · May 31, 2014

It will be a big mistake to move from the Ferris IS 700Z for both comfort and price. I mow 6 acres with mine and have over 50 trees and bushes and it takes me about 2 hours to mow it all and I can do it with less than half a tank of gas (about 2 gallons) if I mow it weekly. It will run 10 MPH and cut nicely and even on my very rough ground it is still pretty comfortable. The reason I bought it was because of the suspension and it does make a world of difference. IIRC, I paid $6800 out the door for mine last year and might could have found a cheaper deal but I liked it and it was at my local New Holland dealer. I also had them throw in an extra set of mower blades so I could just swap them out quickly, take off the dull put on the new and in 5 minutes with my impact gun, I have a sharp set of blades. I use my B26's FEL to raise it up so it is easy to work on.
Mine has the Kawasaki FS 690V engine and it uses half the amount of gas that my 26 HP Craftsman with a B&S engine does when mowing the same area with the same 52" deck. I wouldn't trade mine for any other brand regardless of cost.

Gary Fowler · May 31, 2014

OH and if you are springing for a high dollar suspension seat, why not get the Ferris or Simplicity and put a suspension seat on that on top of the good spring suspension already on the frame. The frame suspension helps protect the mower AND also the OPERATOR from hard bumps. I would think that with a suspension seat to go with the spring over shock suspension system on the Ferris, it would be like riding in a luxury car.

seethesun · Jun 1, 2014

Haha. You just made this tough on me again. =). I was just going to go ahead and pick up the Cheetah, but now you have me thinking, "Do I need that machine and is it worth the extra cost?"