beagleboy Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I am having a hard time choosing between lawn tractors. The models I have chosen are all in the same price range (around $2000) and 48in decks. Which would you choose and why 1. John Deere La 145 2. Husqvarna 3. Cub Cadet 1050 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 i'd go with the deere, only because i've had their products in the past and like them, and have no experience with the others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 JD nothing runs like a DEERE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 i would go with deere, i have been in landscaping for 8 years and the only thing we have ever ran have been deeres, never have any problems with them and they take some abuse, as for hasqvarna, only experience i have had with them is their chainsaws, they are rated good but never had anything but problems with them, as far as the cub cadet, never had any experience with any of their products Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Here's what Consumer Reports says: Husqvarna 2348 - score: 72 Highs Very good overall, this lawn tractor had excellent handling and bagging, along with very good ease of use and side-discharge mowing. Lows This model requires a blade change to mulch. Bottom Line This lawn tractor was very good overall and is a fine choice for larger areas. The model had excellent handling and bagging. It is backed by a 2-year warranty. ***************************************************** John Deere: LA145 - score: 70 Highs Very good overall, this lawn tractor had excellent handling and ease of use. Side-discharge mowing and bagging were very good. No blade change is required to either bag or mulch. Lows No significant lows. Bottom Line This lawn tractor was very good overall, with excellent handling and ease of use. It is backed by a 2-year warranty. ************************************************** Cub Cadet: 1050 - score: 67 Highs Very good overall, this lawn tractor had very good side-discharge mowing and mulching. Its high-back seat has arm rests. Lows This model was only fair in the bagging mode and requires a blade change to either mulch or bag. Bottom Line Very good overall, this lawn tractor was only fair for bagging. It is backed by a 3-year warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Kubota. Quality, performance and comfortable ride. Of the three you list, John Deere would be my choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Kubota. Quality, performance and comfortable ride. Yep. Think in your price range though, my best advice would be to find a mower that has a kohler engine, and one with a good quality heavy deck. The jd lawn tractors sold at lowes and elsewhere are not manufactured by john deere, think they are made by sable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 The jd lawn tractors sold at lowes and elsewhere are not manufactured by john deere, think they are made by sable. yep i forgot about that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I had a JD STX38 for 16 years, with only minor problems to it. I bought a Cub 3 years ago ( I believe it is the 1050) and it has been a good machine also. The only real complaint I have about the Cub is reverse is EXTREMELY slow. The main reason I bought the Cub the price for that size. I went from a 38" deck to a 50" deck and it was cheaper than the JD. We will see if it last as long. Can't help you with the HV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 My wife's grandfather has been a Cub man for the last several years with no problems at all. They are great mowers, like texastrophies said, extremely slow in reverse; but over all a great mower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I have always been fond of Cub Cadets. Good tractor. John Deere has a good track history as well. Both will cut that grass good and get the job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Yep. Think in your price range though, my best advice would be to find a mower that has a kohler engine, and one with a good quality heavy deck. The jd lawn tractors sold at lowes and elsewhere are not manufactured by john deere, think they are made by sable. Double ditto. Spend the money and get Kubota. The other ones are all basically the same, same engine, same gauge steel, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Double ditto. Spend the money and get Kubota. The other ones are all basically the same, same engine, same gauge steel, etc. "Spend the money and get a Kubota" basically means spend three to four times more on a tractor than what you are planning to. To some, that isn't an option. Got my Husqvarna at Lowes for just under $2K and have had little to no problems with it. I did have to replace the gas tank, but that was my fault.... Oil changes, blade sharpening, filter changes and no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 http://www.steinerturf.com/ I've had one of these for 14 years, with a 48" mower deck and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I use it for pulling, mowing and plowing. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 JD!!! We have mowed many many yard with the same JD for 15+ years:eek::cool:.....Other than new battery....resharpen blades and add gas it has been a GREAT machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QDMAworks4me Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I have a John Deere LT166 and love it. I have been mowing my grandmothers lawn with a John Deere 214 that was bought in 1986 and it is still going strong. I would suggest buying the John Deere due to the fact that they have a good track record, they stand behind their machines and parts are easy to get for them. Good luck on your purchase!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Consider a troy built! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowin_in_illinois Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 All three will get the job done...but when I was shopping for one a few years back one big difference I noticed was that JD had a more comfortable and back supportive seat. (gotta think about more than just the cut...lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 JD!!! We have mowed many many yard with the same JD for 15+ years:eek::cool:.....Other than new battery....resharpen blades and add gas it has been a GREAT machine. I have a John Deere LT166 and love it. I have been mowing my grandmothers lawn with a John Deere 214 that was bought in 1986 and it is still going strong. I would suggest buying the John Deere due to the fact that they have a good track record, they stand behind their machines and parts are easy to get for them. Good luck on your purchase!! May be wrong here, but think those models mentioned above were actually made by jd. The jd lawn mowers that lowes sells are not made by jd. My neighbor has one LA145 or LA146 I think, it has a kawasaki engine and is made by sable, and it is not near the quality of the old jd mowers. Any of them can last if they are not abused or worked too hard and if they are kept up with properly. We had a craftsman with a big single cylinder kohler and a 42 inch deck here mowing a nearly 3 acre yard for about 10 years. The engine with regular maintenance despite needing a starter and a new coil, was still running fine before those problems came up. I ended up buying a new kubota diesel compact lawn and garden tractor and gave that mower to my sister in law and her husband, with a new starter and coil they had it going back to running like a top. The deck on that mower on the other hand was not in quite as good a shape as the rest of the mower, and really was about wore out, had replaced the mandrels, and there were some other problems with it too. If I was looking at a mower in the price range you are looking at, I would look seriously at the deck construction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QDMAworks4me Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 The La 145 is listed on the John Deere website, I would assume this menas that it is made and produced by John Deere and not sabre like the ones that are sold at Lowes but not to sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 The La 145 is listed on the John Deere website, I would assume this menas that it is made and produced by John Deere and not sabre like the ones that are sold at Lowes but not to sure. Might check here, they give customer ratings too http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=288815-573-BG20447&lpage=none. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 "Spend the money and get a Kubota" basically means spend three to four times more on a tractor than what you are planning to. To some, that isn't an option. Got my Husqvarna at Lowes for just under $2K and have had little to no problems with it. I did have to replace the gas tank, but that was my fault.... Oil changes, blade sharpening, filter changes and no problems. Sorry Tom. Seems I'm ruffling your feathers a lot lately. I'm just trying to add that I've been down the Huskee, Cub Cadet, Briggs and Stratton, Kohler path 4 times and none of them lasted, and yes I took care of them. I will say that I mow probably 1.5 acres, so that's more than most. Yes a Kubota will run you $8,000 but if you take care of the liquid cooled 3 cylinder diesel, it's just going to last a lot longer than the air cooled gas engines. Like the Fram oil filter commercial, "pay me now, or pay me later." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I ran a Cub Cadet for about 5 years and it ran great. Finally just wore it out, think we put way over 1000 hours on it. Dont think you will be going wrong on any of the three Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 I am having a hard time choosing between lawn tractors. The models I have chosen are all in the same price range (around $2000) and 48in decks. Which would you choose and why 1. John Deere La 145 2. Husqvarna 3. Cub Cadet 1050 I wouldn't buy and of these three. I would buy a Wheel Horse! I have had my 18 hp Wheel Horse tractor for 20 years and it still runs like a beast! Over the years I have only ever changed the oil, occassionaly new belts, sharpened the blades and that is about it...basic maintenance. I simply gas it up and mow! I mow a ton from spring until fall too. My mother's property is 7 acres, 4 of it is mowed routinely, the other 3 is fenced in for horse, but gets mowed occassionlly. I also mow my clover plots with it and trails prior to the season. This tractor has seen it's wear and tear and still keep running. Starts up first time every time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 May be wrong here, but think those models mentioned above were actually made by jd. The jd lawn mowers that lowes sells are not made by jd. My neighbor has one LA145 or LA146 I think, it has a kawasaki engine and is made by sable, and it is not near the quality of the old jd mowers. Any of them can last if they are not abused or worked too hard and if they are kept up with properly. Oh the mower I have was purchased so many years ago directly from a JD dealer that I know it's a real Deere..... My mower has been great...and has seen a lot of abuse....Can you imagine was a 12 year old boy can do with a mower:eek:.....Yeah I did it.:D I mowed all my summer yards with it as well as mom and dads, and grandma's. And to this day I am still using it. It has been a GREAT mower. :cool: But you probably have a point on mowers sold by Lowes/HomeDepot.... I really do not know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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