Need advice on small riding mower

[magimat]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a small riding mower. I have a small yard and I need it to be small enough to go through a 36" gate so my options are limited.

So far, I narrowed it to 3 models:

Snapper RE 28"
Weedeater One (26")
Craftman Smart rider (30")

I'm really interested in the last one from sears (CRAFTSMAN®/MD 12.5HP 30'' Smart Rider Lawn Tractor - Sears | Sears Canada) which I was able to see tonight at my local Sears and I was really pleased with what I saw. It's a 12,5HP Briggs engine and it comes with mulch kit. Overall it is only 32" wide, so it would go through my gate.

I saw the Weedeater one too, but it looks a little more fragile and I read a lot of bad review about this unit, so even if it's a little cheaper, I would be a bit afraid of buying this one.

As for the Snapper, I read only good review about it, but it's a lot more expensive than the others for what seems really similar. I even read somewhere that Sears once sold rebranded Snapper, but it doesn't seem to be the case anymore, but I don't know if snapper is still involved in Craftman riding mowers somehow.

Anyway... I was looking for some advice on those models or maybe on some other model I,m not aware that would be about the same size.

Thanks!

 

[BKBrown]

Simplicity makes one too - the Coronet. Just for you to check it out.

Just looked and the 30" is 36" wide -- not good for your gate -- Sorry !

 

[reddragon]

have you asked your self if you need a bagger?....this will change your choices.

 

[magimat]

I don't want a bagger... I want a mulcher. I have a mulching push mower right now and it does a great job.

 

[reddragon]

well then...the craftsman have always been a good balance between cost and quality

 

[djrussell]

This is the craftsman RER made by snapper. It's on the .com site. It's not available on the .ca site.

Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

I'd look for a used snapper if I were you. They seem pretty solid and show up used on craigslist pretty often. The craftsman that you linked probably isn't bad if you want something new. There was a manual version locally for $450 with very little use that I was thinking about but decided against in favor of a high-end push mower. It'll take up less space and require less maintenance. I also considered the weedeater and there seems to be kind of a cult following for it based on amazon and walmart.com reviews but quality is low and spending this much gets me into "investment" mode.

 

[reddragon]

its true that lawnmowers depreciate rapidly...and you can find bargains on used ones just a few years old...you might consider this

 

[djrussell]

...you can find bargains on used ones just a few years old...

you seem to demonstrate this weekly. :wink:

 

[reddragon]

guilty as charged!:laughing: