re: What should I look for in a lawn tractor?

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.