What mower to get

[Sandberm]

My Toro is so old and requires so much patience and tricks to keep it mowing that if I had my wife mow the lawn, Id come home to her having spent thousands of dollars on a new mower.

I hate spending money on utilitarian stuff like mowers, washer/dryers, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators. I limp old stuff along as long as I can.

[n_mathews13]

May just go with a Craigslist buy for now. when looking at a mower how can you tell the difference between a lowes and a dealer mower?

Is the motor the only noticeable difference ?

[Alchase]

May just go with a Craigslist buy for now. when looking at a mower how can you tell the difference between a lowes and a dealer mower?

Is the motor the only noticeable difference ?

No, lots of quality differences,
Lowes and Home Depot John Deere are E100, E110, E120, ect...

[Buckmark]

May just go with a Craigslist buy for now. when looking at a mower how can you tell the difference between a lowes and a dealer mower?

Whats your budget and where are you at?

[hntrspud]

Box store John Deere also are D100 etc... Look for a Fab deck, not stamped. Stamped will have rounded corners. I wouldn't buy a Husqvarna if I were you. You won't find many Honda motors in riders, but you will Kawasaki. Avoid a Kohler and Briggs aswassaid before. Look for grease zerks on the mower. It may sound funny but that usually means they're more serviceable. At minimum with proper care they will last longer. Good luck in your search.

Good rule of thumb, pay now, or pay later. The latter tends to be more expensive.

[n_mathews13]

May just go with a Craigslist buy for now. when looking at a mower how can you tell the difference between a lowes and a dealer mower?

Whats your budget and where are you at?

Tri Citites
$2000 I think
Was willing to go more but new house and all, there is alot we would like to do to house.
Its only .55 acres so its not like its alot

[Buckmark]

hntrspud knows his stuff 

2k should get you a good used mower, heck you could hire a kid or juans lawn service for a few years and have more free time with 2k to spend 

[lokidog]

Get one with a cup holder.

top of the list

I love my zero turn, this is the only drawback... it has one but hard to use while moving....

[luckyman]

Well, A cheap mower gets the job done also. I have a D100 from lowes that's about 12 years old now with zero issues other then dead battery's.
You'll pay big money to get a quality built mower, 

[3cityhuntr]

I have a L111 John Deere that I bought new from home depot in 2004.  The transmission failed in under 100 hours, luckily John Deere dealer replaced under warranty ($900).  Dealers hate the cheaper box store mowers.  I replaced the blade spindles with new greaseable ones.  The mower now has over 500 hours and by no means have I treated it well and my 1/2 acre of grass and lots of trees and roots is hard on it.  At this point I think I’ve gotten my money out of it and will look to replace next season.  My whole neighborhood has mowers.  Mix of cub cadet and John Deere, they’re all box store versions and seem to hold up fine.

[usmc74]

There is a Honda/John Deere on craigslist right now.  Has greaseable fittings.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/grd/d/seattle-honda-john-deere-riding-mower/6958353399.html

[pup0025]

For under 2k you could get into a used 200 or 300 series Deere and be the last mower you ever have to buy

[dscubame]

11 years on x300 mowing 3/4 acre grass every 3 days during seaon.  Seat replacement $110.   Pully replacement due to lack of greasing zerk my bad $30.  Deck belt replacement $100.  Still running like new.

[kball4]

Find a good condition John Deere on craigslist.  I have a LT160 with the forward/reverse pedal no gears, now have 860 hrs on the motor.  I got my moneys worth out of it.

[n_mathews13]

Well, went to get septic pumped for selling house and its bad. So there goes mowers Money