As far as riding mowers, I only used Snapper rear engine riders for over 30 years (since I was 12). My own, recently blew the engine. I always liked the look of the front engine riders, but I did not like the complex electricals, thin guage metal alloys, less grease zerts, less user friendly frame that can not be stretched out if my belts get worn, complex transmission that I can not fix with a simple disk/pulley change like my Snapper , 2 or 3 blades as opposed to a single 33 inch blade that cutts the grass like a rug and most of all, I hated having to stop to shift and then get whiplash:biggrin:
With a limited budget to get an emergency mower until I rebuild my Snapper (which could take me several years since my Poulan Pro is so nice), I knew I wanted a Briggs single cyclinder engine, heaviest guage, real steel deck I could afford and shifting without stopping. Found out that Husqvarna makes Poulan Pros (supposely, Husqvarna, Poulan Pro and Craftsman are all made in same factory now?) . Although a lower priced rider (approx. $1500 new), the Poulan Pro has a real steel heavy guage deck and they use Briggs engines in some models (some Brands have decks that have thin curved rail type metal connecting the lower part of the deck at the discharge opening, including some higher end Poulan Pros, but the Poulan Pro 300 ex has more metal at the deck discharge opening for a sturdier deck).
A month ago, I found a guy who was moving. He had a Poulan Pro 300 ex that he said was a year old (I think it was 2 years old). It still had tire "hairs" in the middle of tires and I could tell it had been used very little. It has a nice and simple Briggs 18.5hp single cyclinder engine with a deck as tough or tougher than my Snapper's Hi Vac deck. I bought it at a VERY good price. The black looks good, but I still prefer Snapper red.:biggrin: But, it does not have shifting on the fly. As far as the shifting goes, a member on this site, "midnite rider" gave a me a technique for shifting (throttling down before releasing the clutch and no whiplash) that makes it fun to drive.
Now I have lights (I even added tail lights) and like cutting the grass at night when its cool, I have a steering WHEEL which I like better than the steering bars, a wider cut (I like the 42" for putting in the back of trucks), it has more power than the Snapper and can pull me up inclines easily and can pull a cart full of bricks. I even added a cool front brush guard and wax it like our vehicles:biggrin:
Coming from a long time use of a Snapper rear engine rider and knowing what I know now about front engine riders, I would keep my Poulan Pro. But, If I had not experienced my Poulan Pro and the help from this site and I wanted to spend $2000, I would get the new Snapper rear engine rider with the 17.5 hp engine or a Snapper front engine rider or a front engine rider with a heavy guage real steel deck, Briggs single cyclinder engine, and shifting on the fly (if that does not wear down the transmission) and also allows blades to be engages while in reverse .