Need Help buying Riding Lawn mower

[Esther]

I need to find a good inexpensive riding lawn mower for 1 1/2 acres of land.

Would prefer to be able to use attachment for tilling IF easier to use and not to expensive.

I have called John Deere. They gave me the following bids:

Snapper 12.5 hp 30" cut for $1,659.00.
John Deere 17 hp 42" cut for $2,899.00 with a Kasawski motor
J. D. 17 hp 42" cut $2,899.00 Zero turn with a Briggs/Stratton motor

Said the Briggs motor is not as good as Kasawski.

Went to the Snapper website and they have listed a couple with 1 cylinders or 2.

Which is better and why?

Thanks for your help.

P.S. It appears buying a separate tiller may be the better way to go.

[freeatlast]

I vote for Deere.

Inexpensive is not usally the one that is the cheapest at the purchase price.

We have had a Deere at church for @ 20 years. It rarely needs much in maintenance money.

My brother is still plowing snow and cutting grass with a 1974 Deere 140 i sold him when I bought my new one 8 years ago.

I'm mowing with a Deere 285 now with a Kawisaki water cooled 18 horse...It's flawless.

[Pressing-On]

Esther,
We bought a Troy-Bilt at Lowe's last year. My husband likes it.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

I vote for Deere.

Inexpensive is not usally the one that is the cheapest at the purchase price.

We have had a Deere at church for @ 20 years. It rarely needs much in maintenance money.

My brother is still plowing snow and cutting grass with a 1974 Deere 140 i sold him when I bought my new one 8 years ago.

I'm mowing with a Deere 285 now with a Kawisaki water cooled 18 horse...It's flawless.

20 years sounds great!

[OneAccord]

Go Deere. Expensive, but, as they say, "Nothing runs like a deer."

If you look at Sears Craftsman, run. Run away as fast as you can.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Go Deere. Expensive, but, as they say, "Nothing runs like a deer."

If you look at Sears Craftsman, run. Run away as fast as you can.

Glad to know this. Someone suggest I go to Sears.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Esther

Glad to know this. Someone suggest I go to Sears.

Go to Sears.

Now... If I was the dreamin' type I would get myself one of those sweet dual hydrostatic drive zero turn radius machines.

Whooooooooooooooooo Weeeeeeeeeeeee...

Now That is a mower.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Go to Sears.

Now... If I was the dreamin' type I would get myself one of those sweet dual hydrostatic drive zero turn radius machines.

Whooooooooooooooooo Weeeeeeeeeeeee...

Now That is a mower.

Would you have to trim the fence with one?

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Esther

Would you have to trim the fence with one?

You will get closer to trees, fences etc with more ease with that mower than you will with any of the others. That isn't to say that you wouldn't ever have to trim. I tend to spray Round Up a few inches from the fence line and around trees so there is no need to trim.

[Cindy]

Go with John Deere. It would probably be best to get a separate tiller. We have 2 Troybilt tillers. Easy to maintain.