PBinWA
Member
I'm thinking of buying a ZTR some time this summer and thought I'd just blog my thoughts here for others to give feedback on. This is a big purchase for me so it may not happen for months. I'll most likely over analyze the crap out of it.
I'm also scanning Craigslist and eBay but the pickings in the NW are really slim.
I'm aiming to keep it in the $4000-$8000 range which gives me tons of opportunities but does appear to rule out Diesel ZTR's.
Features I want:
1. 50" -60" deck - Deep is good but I'm not too concerned about the gauge of metal.
2. The ability to mulch thick dense wet grass (more HP the better) so most likely a 23-27 HP Gas motor.
3. Speed - It should be able to mow well at 8-10 mph on the smooth nice lawn. I think most low-end residential riders top out at 6mph so I'm looking at top-end residential or low-end commercial
4. Comfort - a decent suspension seat so if I decide to more the pasture areas with it then I won't have a sore back the next day.
The big downside to ZTR shopping in the NW is that for some reason ZTR's aren't that big here. When I was in the south a few months ago I would drive past dealer after dealer with rows of ZTR mowers. Up here, you are lucky if a dealer (other than the big Deere and Kubota Dealers) has 1 mower in stock. Not much competition or choice.
Price quotes I've had so far:
Kubota ZG23 - $7400 + $450(approx) for mulch kit.
Kubota ZD321 - $10,300 + $450 for mulch kit.
Deere EZTrack 445 - $4,649.00 (web site price)
http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductC....ProdCatProduct?pNbr=SKU21899&tM=HO&link=enav
Deere 727A - $9,009.00 (web site price)
http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductC...iew.servlets.ProdCatProduct?pNbr=0890TC&tM=GC
Toro 74248 (Last years model) - Probably a 500 - $6849
http://www.toro.com/professional/lce/zmaster/z500/index.html
That's it so far.
I'm also scanning Craigslist and eBay but the pickings in the NW are really slim.
I'm aiming to keep it in the $4000-$8000 range which gives me tons of opportunities but does appear to rule out Diesel ZTR's.
Features I want:
1. 50" -60" deck - Deep is good but I'm not too concerned about the gauge of metal.
2. The ability to mulch thick dense wet grass (more HP the better) so most likely a 23-27 HP Gas motor.
3. Speed - It should be able to mow well at 8-10 mph on the smooth nice lawn. I think most low-end residential riders top out at 6mph so I'm looking at top-end residential or low-end commercial
4. Comfort - a decent suspension seat so if I decide to more the pasture areas with it then I won't have a sore back the next day.
The big downside to ZTR shopping in the NW is that for some reason ZTR's aren't that big here. When I was in the south a few months ago I would drive past dealer after dealer with rows of ZTR mowers. Up here, you are lucky if a dealer (other than the big Deere and Kubota Dealers) has 1 mower in stock. Not much competition or choice.
Price quotes I've had so far:
Kubota ZG23 - $7400 + $450(approx) for mulch kit.
Kubota ZD321 - $10,300 + $450 for mulch kit.
Deere EZTrack 445 - $4,649.00 (web site price)
http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductC....ProdCatProduct?pNbr=SKU21899&tM=HO&link=enav
Deere 727A - $9,009.00 (web site price)
http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductC...iew.servlets.ProdCatProduct?pNbr=0890TC&tM=GC
Toro 74248 (Last years model) - Probably a 500 - $6849
http://www.toro.com/professional/lce/zmaster/z500/index.html
That's it so far.