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Message
Cheap riding mower recommendations
Posted on 7/16/25 at 8:40 pm
Posted on 7/16/25 at 8:40 pm
80 yo neighbor who we are close to was recently widowed and has been through a lot the past year. The guys mowing her lawn for the last 40 years or so, whom she taught in high school, are now experiencing health issues on top of reliability and overcharging her—$150 per visit.
I can line up some neighbor kids that would take on the job for $25 to ride a mower around for an hour and she has an outbuilding to store it.
What would you get for $2,000 or so? I don't want to recommend or deal with reliability issues for a year or two, so I am leaning towards a new mower with a warranty probably extend for a second or third year with a strategic credit card choice.
The lawn is not treated so mostly green weeds and maybe about 1/3rd of an acre.
I can line up some neighbor kids that would take on the job for $25 to ride a mower around for an hour and she has an outbuilding to store it.
What would you get for $2,000 or so? I don't want to recommend or deal with reliability issues for a year or two, so I am leaning towards a new mower with a warranty probably extend for a second or third year with a strategic credit card choice.
The lawn is not treated so mostly green weeds and maybe about 1/3rd of an acre.
Posted on 7/16/25 at 8:44 pm to agilitydawg
I just bought a used Kubota 42 inch zero turn, Kawasaki, 95 hours usage, for $2k. I’d say go by a Kubota dealership and inquire about a used ZT they may take on trade rather a cheap (not cheap money) ZT or rider from Lowe’s, IMO. Although if you just need a couple years out of it, maybe a Cub Cadet from Lowes would do.
This post was edited on 7/16/25 at 8:46 pm
Posted on 7/17/25 at 5:08 am to agilitydawg
quote:
1/3rd of an acre.
Get a used snapper riding mower or a 30" self propel push mower.
This post was edited on 7/17/25 at 12:48 pm
Posted on 7/17/25 at 5:49 am to agilitydawg
Facebook marketplace for the win
Posted on 7/17/25 at 11:58 am to agilitydawg
The older red Snapper is the Toyota Camry of riding mowers. Depending on the age of the driver, it can get away with you, however. I don’t let my wife or girls ride it.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 12:04 pm to Loup
quote:
30" self propel push mower.
This is your best bet, I've been cutting about .5 acres with one all summer and it's alot cheaper than a riding mower. It's good exercise without wearing you out and takes about an hour to cut everything.
Yeah a riding mower is easier, but you're already paying kids to do it & it would take a lot of cuts to make up the price difference
Posted on 7/17/25 at 12:49 pm to Bigdawgb
quote:
It's good exercise without wearing you out and takes about an hour to cut everything.
Yeah I thought it'd be rough due to the weight but it's not bad at all. I bought a Timemaster a few weeks ago. The wheels are actual rubber so the self propel works really well. Takes me about 35 minutes to cut my quarter acre.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 2:19 pm to agilitydawg
Get a quote from another lawn service. She's being robbed.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 2:52 pm to agilitydawg
$2k may get you junk new but used you can get an x300/x350 with around 100 hours. Would be less repairs over the next few years than anything new from the big box store.
Where you at? I’d let go of mine for a decent price because I have a free one waiting on me.
Where you at? I’d let go of mine for a decent price because I have a free one waiting on me.
This post was edited on 7/17/25 at 3:02 pm
Posted on 7/17/25 at 6:19 pm to Bigdawgb
quote:
This is your best bet, I've been cutting about .5 acres with one all summer and it's alot cheaper than a riding mower. It's good exercise without wearing you out and takes about an hour to cut everything.
Which one do you have
Posted on 7/17/25 at 9:19 pm to agilitydawg
I would just go to the Lowe’s and get one of the low-end John Deere lawn tractors. They get a lot of hate in here, but I got one and it has lasted 17 years so far without a bit of trouble. Change the oil and drain the fuel tank when the season is over and you won’t have a bit of trouble for the rest of her life.
This post was edited on 7/17/25 at 9:21 pm
Posted on 7/19/25 at 12:09 pm to agilitydawg
quote:
The lawn is not treated so mostly green weeds and maybe about 1/3rd of an acre.
You don't need a riding mower for 1/3 of an acre.
Buy a $250 basic push mower and pay some kid $40-50 a week to spend an hour or so cutting the grass and weed-eating.
Posted on 7/20/25 at 9:07 am to agilitydawg
Just a heads up on buying from 'big box' stores. I was in market for a small rider and in reading reviews on various mower a common issue came up frequently. It was that the 'big box' stores do a real sloppy job of assembly and display a real 'not my problem' attitude after sale.
After shopping around I bought a Cub Cadet. While kicking the tire and talking with the salesman I mentioned the above, specifically asking bout the deck being level, and was assured that it would be. well after 3 trips back to them I gave up and asked for my $ back. the store mgr was a schmuck, but got my $ back and have sworn off the big stores
After shopping around I bought a Cub Cadet. While kicking the tire and talking with the salesman I mentioned the above, specifically asking bout the deck being level, and was assured that it would be. well after 3 trips back to them I gave up and asked for my $ back. the store mgr was a schmuck, but got my $ back and have sworn off the big stores
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