Hello All - Last week, I took deliivery on a new D110 which I bought from my local John Deere dealer (they ordered it for me) than from the local Lowes. I chose to do this for all the obvious reasons. I am very pleased with the quick starting, how easy the hydrostatic drive works and the gentle steering. My neighbor's Husqavarna (as well as the Yard Bug I had previously) steered like a tank. I had asked that a mulching kit be installed and it does a beautiful job of cutting but I found that the operating noice and vibration from the mowing deck is excessive. My thought was that the blades might not have been installed correctly; but then it did cut quite well. I called the guy at the dealership and he talked to the service manager and I was then told that 'this mower is not really a John Deere' and I shouldn't expect it to operate like one. I wouild maintain that it is a Deere and their name and reputation is in it and on it. If Deere chose to compete in the lower end market, that was their choice. I have read a lot of blogs now and I think that I have a general idea of where all they have lightened up on things with the 100 series. Some of the things that people gripe about; who cares if the gas filler is under the seat or on the fender. What I want to do now is to start making improvements so that my Deere ownership experience is more in line with expectations. Hopefully I can do this short of the 1500 dollar difference between the D110 and say an X300. Exhaust muffler and mowing deck I figure deserve some attention. My other choice of course it to get a better set of earphones and just mow mow mow. Any suggestions or comments. Regards, tallgoat