What should I look for in a lawn tractor?

Buy something preowned then. Craftsman ain't a bad value buy.

def buy used. Look for a slightly used one for 70% of original cost.

A beer holder.
At least 48" cut.
Pto for attachments, maybe.
Hours meter.
Hitch & wagon
Maybe a grass catcher, fertilizer spreader, Ect or at least available attachment.
Covered storage.

Check out the cub cadets at tractor supply or maybe a Husqvarna at Stine

I bought the John Deere 130 Saturday. They sold it to me for the same price as the 125. $1843.00 tax and all. It's pretty good so far I only mower with it once though. Comfortable ride and a lot of power.

I am still using an exmark 48in cut that I bought in 1998.I paid about seven thousand then. Do the math and buy quality.If I was buying today it would be a scaggs tiger cat.

I have a JD LX172 thats 24 years old this year that I gave $2100.00 for new. It has 38 inch cut and a 14 horse Kawasaki engine that runs like a raped ape. The wife and boys cut an acre with it.

I have replaced the electric clutch that engages the blades $75.00, the belts a couple of times and 1 of the blade bearing assemblies $50.00ish. It only went out because one of my boys ran over some string and it toasted the bearing.

Buy a real JD and take care of it, not a big box store one.

I paid like 700 for my Ariens. Cuts grass. Pulls shite. 22 hp Briggs. 42 inch deck. Yippee. You want an arse massage and oohs/aaahs from your neighbors? Mine is 4 years old and oil is like new. Fuel pump thingy (22 bucks) went out.. replaced. Otherwise...vroom vroom, cuts grass.

I sell both cub cadet and Husqvarna low end and higher end riders.

You have some independents with service centers carrying them and both will give you more bang for your buck versus John Deere.

Cub Cadet dealers and Husqvarna dealers will carry the entry level lawn tractors and typically the next line up. Pricing is the same as the big boxes on the entry level ones, interest rates are better if you have decent credit, and you will get decent service along with most offer free delivery to compete with home centers.

I find the John Deere you are paying more for the name versus other brands that are riders while getting something that not any better. Now they do offer upper level products also.

Price versus value Cub Cadet and Husqvarna riders give you a better bang for your buck over Deere.

A true garden tractor will have a bigger frame, larger transmission, and some even drive shafts. Huge difference in pricing looking a LT (1,499 to 1,899), LGT (2,200-3,000), and true Garden tractor with drive shaft & PTO (3,599 to 5,000).

Its funny people put down MTD when MTD & Husqvarna are the only companies that can make a low end rider like Craftsman. Both companies make Craftsman it depends on who gets the bid for that price point. FYI, Murray does not make riders they job it out to Husqvarna or MTD whoever wins the bid for the design they come up with. Murray owed briggs money and briggs ended up taking them over.

High-end riders I will give MTD the top card due to their drive shaft cub cadet with electric PTO and EFI engine choices are solid riders. Husqvarna does have some nice higher end choices also just lack some of the options when you get to real garden tractors with drive shafts. I sell a lot of the XT3's and upper end Husqvarna to guys in the Midwest that have gardens and pull small disc, but don't want to jump to a Mahindra or Belarus.

What city do you live in? Or better yet, which cities would you be willing to drive to for a deal on CL?