Well the reason I mentioned the HRX was because I think it's a lot better mower than the Snapper. Now this may sound weird but I've based my purchase decisions in this way, I learned a long time ago when riding bicycles if you wanted to know what the best equipment was on the market in the way of bicycles the thing to do is to see what the professional riders and their organizations competing in the TDF were were using because they had the best equipment money could buy so that was what you bought or tried to buy. So why not do the same for lawn care equipment, only makes sense. Take a look at some different lawn care businesses in your area, see what there running, ask some questions. Personally I think Honda is probably the top mower on the market and Toro is right beside it and with Toro starting to use the Kawasaki engines Honda may start lagging behind.