Advice On A Sub $3000 Zero Turn Mower

[PVHIII]

I'm not getting personal with you. We are each allowed to have our opinions. Has Ric ever used one for his business? I don't think so. You have obviously based your opinion on a bad experience with a raptor. Not everyone is going to have a positive experience with a new mower. If they have a problem then their opinion will be that all of them are junk. I have however used residential mowers to mow large areas for 30 years. The smallest lawn I have ever had to mow was the one acre lawn that I had at my old home.

You have no idea what my back ground is. I grew up mowing my parent's 5 acre lawn, and my grand parent's 3 acre lawn. I have used everything from a rer snapper to commercial zero turn mowers. I don't think Ric mows anything that big. I have also worked for lawn businesses during the summer in my youth once the cotton crops were planted and sprayed. As I mentioned in an earlier post I worked for a man who used 2 42" murray residential mowers to mow a local ball park (consisting of 3 ball fields), and a fairly large cemetery. If low end residential mowers can handle properties that size then the raptor should handle 10 small lawns with ease. Just because we don't agree it doesn't mean that we should get into insulting one another.

Finally we agree on something...a Raptor "SHOULD" be able to handle that ;-)

 

[Shughes717]

I apologize if you took that personal like I did when "someone" said my post "didn't make sense"...let's not get to PC here...were talkin about lawn mowers for gods sake... I have owned TWO of'm not ONE..neither were worth the $3000 paid for them...deck performance ruins the mower...and this is JMO

I didn't mean for you to take my comment personal. I didn't understand your post because you copied one of mine and said Ric cleared something up. I understand that you are not a fan of the raptor. Every brand and model mower has its haters and supporters. I have always tried to maintain an impartial point of view towards mowers and companies.

The main complaints I have seen and read concerning the raptor was the recall from last year and that owners had to purchase a heat shield separately to prevent the exhaust from burning the turf when sitting at idle. Every brand will sell a lemon now and then. I also never said you were pushing the fastrack sd on the op. I was just pointing out that you are making an un fair comparison to the two. The fastrack is a commercial mower and is going to perform much better. If I had a raptor and a fastrack sd sitting in the barn side by side then the raptor would be collecting cob webs and dust from lack of use.

We have to remember that the op is a kid who said he was mowing lawns as a highschool job. We can't speculate as to his future plans. If he doesn't want to continue mowing lawns past highschool then he doesn't need a commercial mower. If he goes off to college he wont need the mower anymore either. If he is looking for a mower that will get him through 2 or 3 years of mowing while he is in highschool without having to spend $5k then the raptor will suit his needs. I am not suggesting that he purchase one for the purpose of starting a major lawn care business. That would be foolish.

 

[Ric]

I'm not getting personal with you. We are each allowed to have our opinions. Has Ric ever used one for his business? I don't think so. You have obviously based your opinion on a bad experience with a raptor. Not everyone is going to have a positive experience with a new mower. If they have a problem then their opinion will be that all of them are junk. I have however used residential mowers to mow large areas for 30 years. The smallest lawn I have ever had to mow was the one acre lawn that I had at my old home.

You have no idea what my back ground is. I grew up mowing my parent's 5 acre lawn, and my grand parent's 3 acre lawn. I have used everything from a rer snapper to commercial zero turn mowers. I don't think Ric mows anything that big. I have also worked for lawn businesses during the summer in my youth once the cotton crops were planted and sprayed. As I mentioned in an earlier post I worked for a man who used 2 42" murray residential mowers to mow a local ball park (consisting of 3 ball fields), and a fairly large cemetery. If low end residential mowers can handle properties that size then the raptor should handle 10 small lawns with ease. Just because we don't agree it doesn't mean that we should get into insulting one another.

Ya know I've gave this response considerable thought and if I said what I'd like to say.....Well lets just say I wouldn't be as apologetic as PVHlll so you'll have to excuse me while I take the appropriate steps.

 

[PVHIII]

I didn't mean for you to take my comment personal. I didn't understand your post because you copied one of mine and said Ric cleared something up. I understand that you are not a fan of the raptor. Every brand and model mower has its haters and supporters. I have always tried to maintain an impartial point of view towards mowers and companies.

The main complaints I have seen and read concerning the raptor was the recall from last year and that owners had to purchase a heat shield separately to prevent the exhaust from burning the turf when sitting at idle. Every brand will sell a lemon now and then. I also never said you were pushing the fastrack sd on the op. I was just pointing out that you are making an un fair comparison to the two. The fastrack is a commercial mower and is going to perform much better. If I had a raptor and a fastrack sd sitting in the barn side by side then the raptor would be collecting cob webs and dust from lack of use.

We have to remember that the op is a kid who said he was mowing lawns as a highschool job. We can't speculate as to his future plans. If he doesn't want to continue mowing lawns past highschool then he doesn't need a commercial mower. If he goes off to college he wont need the mower anymore either. If he is looking for a mower that will get him through 2 or 3 years of mowing while he is in highschool without having to spend $5k then the raptor will suit his needs. I am not suggesting that he purchase one for the purpose of starting a major lawn care business. That would be foolish.

I never even came close to comparing the FT to the Raptor... I simply stated I owned one as was/am totally satisfied with it...how you came to that conclusion I have no idea... maybe you should go back and read the post again.... Secondly.. I am considering the young mans age...a mistake is a mistake no matter what your age is...and for him to go spend his money on Raptor would be a mistake... Again this coming from a "Hustler Guy"...who's owned TWO.

 

[Shughes717]

Ya know I've gave this response considerable thought and if I said what I'd like to say.....Well lets just say I wouldn't be as apologetic as PVHlll so you'll have to excuse me while I take the appropriate steps.

As you know I try not to get personal with other members by name calling. You can take whatever steps you feel are necessary concerning this matter. I'm not going to complain one way or the other. We are having a discussion about a subject that we disagree on. I'm not the one saying another member doesn't know what they are talking about. You and I have disagreed numerous times in the past, but I have always felt our debates were respectful. I didn't personally attack anyone on this thread. I pointed out that the post didn't make sense to me. I did not mean to offend, however posting that I don't know anything and the sarcastic reply about my post on the ztr mower being faster and more maneuverable than a lt was clearly meant as a personal attack. I'm cool with it no matter how you decide.

 

[Shughes717]

I never even came close to comparing the FT to the Raptor... I simply stated I owned one as was/am totally satisfied with it...how you came to that conclusion I have no idea... maybe you should go back and read the post again.... Secondly.. I am considering the young mans age...a mistake is a mistake no matter what your age is...and for him to go spend his money on Raptor would be a mistake... Again this coming from a "Hustler Guy"...who's owned TWO.

Technically you apparently still own one if you are counting your mother-in-law's mower.

 

[PVHIII]

Technically you apparently still own one if you are counting your mother-in-law's mower.

And I am it might as well be mine...I maintain it and can go out there and hop on it anytime I get ready and Mom-in-law can hop on the FTSD anytime she gets ready and she sometimes does...we both love to mow and try to mow together when we can...our properties are conjoined.

 

[PVHIII]

Ya know I've gave this response considerable thought and if I said what I'd like to say.....Well lets just say I wouldn't be as apologetic as PVHlll so you'll have to excuse me while I take the appropriate steps.

Trying to behave.... this guy can really test a mans patience...and the proof is in the puddin ;-)

 

[Shughes717]

And I am it might as well be mine...I maintain it and can go out there and hop on it anytime I get ready and Mom-in-law can hop on the FTSD anytime she gets ready and she sometimes does...we both love to mow and try to mow together when we can...our properties are conjoined.

How many acres? Btw, I don't test anyone's patience. I just Speak my mind, give advice based on fair honest unbiased observations, and try to do it without insults. We can disagree, and most likely will not change the other's mind. It is up to others to read the posts and make their own conclusions about the different points. Just because we disagree it doesn't mean anyone should get angry and resort to insulting the other party. I have had numerous long debates with Ric in the past. Neither of us has ever changed the mind of the other, and that's not the point. The goal is to give a different perspective and let the members reading decide what they think is right. If your patience is tested its only because my opinion is different than yours and you are unable to change mine.