Hi....
I am considering purchasing one of these two mowers for mowing just under an acre of mostly flat residential turf which contains sections of Bermuda and fescue grass. There are some groups of trees on the property, but they should be able to easily be navigated with a lawn tractor. I have decided against getting a ZTR for this particular property. I am about to take over caring for my lawn mainly because I'm tired of the expense of having somebody else do it and I also now have the time since I just recently retired.
I have narrowed it down to two choices which I think will be adequate for weekly mowing during the season which runs about 8 months here:
1. John Deere S240 ($2299)
2. Cub Cadet Enduro XT2 LX46 ($1999)
Until about three weeks ago, I was completely sold on the recently redesigned John Deere S240 and was totally unfamiliar with Cub Cadet. This will be my first riding mower and I've always been partial to JD mainly because I like the way they look and they just seem to be a part of Americana.
However, after doing a lot of research, I thought it would be worth my time to consider Cub Cadet. I went to the local Cub Cadet dealer and drove the XT2 and that same day went to the JD dealer and drove the S240. I might add that it is almost impossible for a "newbie" to find any mower that doesn't have an equal number of positive and negative reviews. Regardless of the make or model, some swear by it and some swear at it.
So, that being said, I thought I would post similar messages on both the Cub Cadet and John Deere forums so I could get some additional information that will help me make a decision.
The Cub Cadet has a 46" deck with twin blades and anti-scalp wheels, is beefier and seems a bit more solid than the JD. I like where the fuel filler is located as the JD fuel filler is under the seat which makes it tough to fill if a bagger is attached and it is certainly a bit easier to remove the oil filter as the JD has a piece of plastic which gets in the way of getting a good grip on the filter. The CC also has a 3 year unlimited warranty vs. the JD which has a 3 year/200 hour warranty. However, in my situation, it is really a 3 year warranty as well because I won't exceed 200 hours in 3 years. I am aware that the S240 is based on a D series chassis.
The JD has a Kawasaki FS600V 18.5 hp engine which many people say is a superior engine (dependability, smoothness and quietness) as compared to the CC's 24 HP Kohler 7000 Series OHV engine with Smart-Choke. Some say it also helps the resale value as, for whatever reason, Kawasaki seems to have a better reputation with the general public. I'm not sure if that's true, but I've heard that from two different brand dealers who each sell tractors that come with Kohler, Kawasaki and Briggs and Stratton motors. In fairness, I also had one dealer tell me that all engine manufacturers go through periods where their products have both excellent and terrible years with the general public. Apparently, Kawasaki is enjoying a good period at this time. For a newbie like myself, it seems as if we're trying to find out which ice cream is better: vanilla or chocolate? There are millions of arguments for and against each one.
Both tractors have the Tuff Torq K-46 hydrostatic transmission.
The JD has a 42" deck with twin blades and anti-scalp wheels. The CC has armrests whereas the JD does not. Both have a great steering radius and turn easily although I might give the CC the edge in this area. The JD has a 2.4 gallon fuel tank vs. the CC having a 3 gallon tank. The JD has the floater type gauge on the frame whereas the CC doesn't have one at all but you can easily see the tank level through a slit.
I do not like the RIO switch on the JD. I think the CC is superior in both this area and the choke area.
The closest CC dealer is 23 miles away and I do not have access to a truck or trailer which means I'd have to pay the dealer to pickup and deliver the tractor for any maintenance issues. He will charge me $50 delivery and any future pickup/delivery will be $100 round trip. The JD dealer is 7 miles away and he will deliver it free and future pickup/delivery round trip costs will be $50.
So, reliability is even more important in my situation because not only will I have the hassle of not having the mower for up to 4 weeks at a time should it be in the shop during mowing season, but I'll also have the additional transportation expenses.
I have also read several posts where CC customer service is poor regarding warranty issues as everything seems to be ruled out due either normal wear and tear or user abuse e.g. hitting a tree root or using the mower for unintended purposes such as too large a property or rough terrain.
Between these two machines, I want the mower that will be the most reliable and will give the best cut. The JD is usually $2499, but there is a special offer of $200 off at this time. I also don't understand why there is a $500 premium with the CC to get the Kawasaki engine. If the dealer has a unit in stock with the Kawasaki, the price is $2499. The surcharge alone seems to indicate that the Kawasaki is a better engine, but then again this dealer said his mechanics have seen more issues with the Kawasaki engines vs. the Kohler. It should be noted that I spoke directly with the CC dealership owner for nearly 90 mins. regarding the CC.
I'm aware that this is being posted on the JD forum, but I would appreciate any impartial advice from your experience.
Thank you.
Scott
I am considering purchasing one of these two mowers for mowing just under an acre of mostly flat residential turf which contains sections of Bermuda and fescue grass. There are some groups of trees on the property, but they should be able to easily be navigated with a lawn tractor. I have decided against getting a ZTR for this particular property. I am about to take over caring for my lawn mainly because I'm tired of the expense of having somebody else do it and I also now have the time since I just recently retired.
I have narrowed it down to two choices which I think will be adequate for weekly mowing during the season which runs about 8 months here:
1. John Deere S240 ($2299)
2. Cub Cadet Enduro XT2 LX46 ($1999)
Until about three weeks ago, I was completely sold on the recently redesigned John Deere S240 and was totally unfamiliar with Cub Cadet. This will be my first riding mower and I've always been partial to JD mainly because I like the way they look and they just seem to be a part of Americana.
However, after doing a lot of research, I thought it would be worth my time to consider Cub Cadet. I went to the local Cub Cadet dealer and drove the XT2 and that same day went to the JD dealer and drove the S240. I might add that it is almost impossible for a "newbie" to find any mower that doesn't have an equal number of positive and negative reviews. Regardless of the make or model, some swear by it and some swear at it.
So, that being said, I thought I would post similar messages on both the Cub Cadet and John Deere forums so I could get some additional information that will help me make a decision.
The Cub Cadet has a 46" deck with twin blades and anti-scalp wheels, is beefier and seems a bit more solid than the JD. I like where the fuel filler is located as the JD fuel filler is under the seat which makes it tough to fill if a bagger is attached and it is certainly a bit easier to remove the oil filter as the JD has a piece of plastic which gets in the way of getting a good grip on the filter. The CC also has a 3 year unlimited warranty vs. the JD which has a 3 year/200 hour warranty. However, in my situation, it is really a 3 year warranty as well because I won't exceed 200 hours in 3 years. I am aware that the S240 is based on a D series chassis.
The JD has a Kawasaki FS600V 18.5 hp engine which many people say is a superior engine (dependability, smoothness and quietness) as compared to the CC's 24 HP Kohler 7000 Series OHV engine with Smart-Choke. Some say it also helps the resale value as, for whatever reason, Kawasaki seems to have a better reputation with the general public. I'm not sure if that's true, but I've heard that from two different brand dealers who each sell tractors that come with Kohler, Kawasaki and Briggs and Stratton motors. In fairness, I also had one dealer tell me that all engine manufacturers go through periods where their products have both excellent and terrible years with the general public. Apparently, Kawasaki is enjoying a good period at this time. For a newbie like myself, it seems as if we're trying to find out which ice cream is better: vanilla or chocolate? There are millions of arguments for and against each one.
Both tractors have the Tuff Torq K-46 hydrostatic transmission.
The JD has a 42" deck with twin blades and anti-scalp wheels. The CC has armrests whereas the JD does not. Both have a great steering radius and turn easily although I might give the CC the edge in this area. The JD has a 2.4 gallon fuel tank vs. the CC having a 3 gallon tank. The JD has the floater type gauge on the frame whereas the CC doesn't have one at all but you can easily see the tank level through a slit.
I do not like the RIO switch on the JD. I think the CC is superior in both this area and the choke area.
The closest CC dealer is 23 miles away and I do not have access to a truck or trailer which means I'd have to pay the dealer to pickup and deliver the tractor for any maintenance issues. He will charge me $50 delivery and any future pickup/delivery will be $100 round trip. The JD dealer is 7 miles away and he will deliver it free and future pickup/delivery round trip costs will be $50.
So, reliability is even more important in my situation because not only will I have the hassle of not having the mower for up to 4 weeks at a time should it be in the shop during mowing season, but I'll also have the additional transportation expenses.
I have also read several posts where CC customer service is poor regarding warranty issues as everything seems to be ruled out due either normal wear and tear or user abuse e.g. hitting a tree root or using the mower for unintended purposes such as too large a property or rough terrain.
Between these two machines, I want the mower that will be the most reliable and will give the best cut. The JD is usually $2499, but there is a special offer of $200 off at this time. I also don't understand why there is a $500 premium with the CC to get the Kawasaki engine. If the dealer has a unit in stock with the Kawasaki, the price is $2499. The surcharge alone seems to indicate that the Kawasaki is a better engine, but then again this dealer said his mechanics have seen more issues with the Kawasaki engines vs. the Kohler. It should be noted that I spoke directly with the CC dealership owner for nearly 90 mins. regarding the CC.
I'm aware that this is being posted on the JD forum, but I would appreciate any impartial advice from your experience.
Thank you.
Scott
