I have been through two mowers in three summers. Something's up right? I need your advice on the best of the best. I have had the MTD Lawn Man and Craftsman. The Craftsman is alright but the self propel broke and now the frat boys have adopted it.

Here is what I am thinking of. I want self propelled, mulching, easy turn around bushes and gardens, easy start and easy clean up and good for the environment. I would love to go electric but my yard is way too large for an electric mower.

My choices thus far are:

John Deere, which has a Briggs & Stratton 190 cc overhead-valve engine and lockable castors and rear wheel drive. The castors allow for easy turning around gardens and bushes/trees, mulches, side discharges and has a bag. $515

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or

Toro, which has a 6.75 TP Guaranteed-to-Start Briggs & Stratton Engine, recyclable features (good for the environment) and personal pace system that allows you to go at your own pace and not a preset pace. Also a rear wheel drive, mulch, side discharges and a bag.. $349

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I currently have a Toro snowblower and love it so much! I am almost afraid to try any other brand. John Deere does have a great rep but am I buying the name? I need something that's going to last and I have found that in some things, cheaper does mean cheaper. So, what do you all think?

How do you go thru mowers so fast??

keep oil level good and clean it well before parking it...
Maybe spray some WD 40 or such on it end of season and beginning of season.

we just get used ones and they last for years as long as it is dry & covered for winter.

I just looked at the one we got 2 used yrs ago - it is a MTD Yard Machine { but not self propelled}

It sat all winter in our covered dog kennel and started right up on the first pull with fresh gas this spring.

personally ide go with the toro , they both have a briggs and stratton engine which is a good thing and the unless u can find a kid to do it for a fair price that has his own mower each week why pay that much extra for the deer name cause i also have had good luck with toro products here

Do you mow on slopes? If so, you might be buying the wrong type of mowers entirely. We had to buy a particular kind of mower because a lot of our yard is sloped. It is a two stroke.

If you have slopes and don't have a two stroke, the oil doesn't circulate through the mower well enough (it shifts to the side when you are on the slopes) because there is no oil pump. With a two stroke, you mix the gas and the oil so it gets all through the system. My husband said the only way around that is if you buy a four stroke that has an oil pump. I guess those are really expensive.

He said a two stroke Lawn Boy would last a long time! Actually, he said it would probably be the last lawn mower you would have to buy if it was maintained properly.

I agree with Frank, Sandy. For the amount of money you are spending on lawn mowers, you'd be better of dollarwise hiring some kid to come in and mow your lawn!!

Personally, I have a Craftsman Riding Mower with a Briggs/Stratton engine. They're the best. Plus with Sears, you get warranty and service calls that you can't really beat.

I don't know how much lawn you are mowing ---

mulching is good, self-propelled is good, keeping the blades sharp is a must!!! Maintenance on the engine is also a must...even just keeping it clean.

I never even thought about that .. oil & sloped yards..
we have a sloped yard- I'll have to look and see which side my oil is on- the uphill side or the downhill side.
I mow across the slope usually.

Be very careful on slopes because my bro slipped and did manage to cut off 3 of his toes!!

I am very glad for this thread! I purchased my house in Oct and am in need of purchasing a mower, on my own. I just look at the ads in the paper and am so overwhlemed.

Thanks for all the tips! I will be keeping an eye on this thread for more.

This is my recommendation. The ultimate cost is equal or lower and adds value to your property: http://www.americanlawnandlandscape....ces/mowing.asp

I like your way of thinking AMN!!!