With everything you mentioned and at the price point you want, sounds to me like the Husqvarna 2346XLS that has a thread going on it (look down the page) would be the way to go. With locking differential, Briggs Vangard engine (for gosh sakes), plus the new design 2-blade 46-in. deck that bags very well (according to CR), I would think it was a no-brainer...but I could always be wrong!

reply by theodocus struck me as coming from the desk of the ad agency of MTD. No mention of the actual operation that involves rolling over uneven terrain and jarring action from bumps and uneven spots and the fragile fabricated axles that bend and crack easily. Oh, there is also the bushings used in place of ball bearings: bushing use requires higher horsepower to move the newer units. The Deere has points and condenser; cost $5.00 and 9.00 respectively and the sears is a solid state igntion. Newer technology is wonderful as long as it is coupled with quality assemblage in a product. I have a 1968 Sears GARDEN tractor with a 12HP Tecumseh Heavy duty cast iron engine with ball bearings and cut with a 42 inch deck and also have a 1976 John Deere GARDEN tractor with a cast iron 10 HP engine with ball bearings and cut with a 42" deck and use both alternately for mowing two acres and for tilling and moving earth, etc.. Each has cast iron axles and mutli-speed hi-lo transmissions and EACH is used for plowing, snowblowing, tilling earth, hauling 1100 lb loads in attached large carts. EACH will run circles around the new 20 plus HP light LAWN tractors made today. Spend 5,000.00 and you will have a comparable heavy duty GARDEN tractor. By the way, good luck on getting even 10 years of use with the new wonders.

Heather, I have a Craftsman DSG 6500 garden tractor that I really like. This is a garden tractor as apposed to a lawn tractor so it is able to use "ground engaging" equipment. It has a 54" cutting deck. I put a Johnny Bucket attachment on the front of it which acts like a front end loader so that you can use it to plow, move dirt, compost, etc. I have the manual transmission but the auto is easier to use. I use it to haul either with the Johnny bucket on the front or I have a dumpable cart that I haul around. You mentioned that you'd like it for a bigger place some day so this tractor would do everything you want and more. The tractor is right around $2200.00 give or take and for another $1000.00 you can get a 2-stage snow blower for the front which should help with your weather. I purchased the 3 yr. at home service agreement that covers pretty well everything for about $300.00 but I've never had to use it. This tractor is made by Husquvarna. My only concern is that if you have a dealer right in your neighborhood, that may be the better way to go. Craftsman 26 hp 54 in. Deck, DGS 6500 Garden Tractor Sears item# 07128750000 Mfr. model# 28750 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Availability of home delivery for this product varies by location Eligible For Store Pick Up Other colors available: Protect this purchase with a Protection Agreement see options Price Match Policy No Interest, No Payments until September, 2008, with your Sears Card. Sears Card. Add a Tractor Bumper (07124598) for Free. Offer ends 05-Sep-2007 See Details Overview Specifications Options Reviews(14) This is a Garden Tractor capable of using ground engaging attachments. Powered by a Briggs & Stratton 26 hp ELS (Extened Life series) V-Twin engine (includes oil filter) with overhead valves for cooler running and longer life. Match the speed with the job that needs to be done with our Extra Heavy Duty EZ Drive hydrostatic/automatic transmission . A 54" Precision Cut Plus deck system with four gauge wheels and more air flow for better cutting and bagging. Capable Of Using Ground Engaging Attachments Powerful 26 hp B/S Els (Extened Life Series) V-Twin Engine Exclusive 54" Precision Cut Plus Deck System W/ 4 Adj. Gauge Wheels Spring Loaded Deck Lift System Extra Heavy Duty Ez Drive Hydrostatic / Automatic Transmission Foot Pedal Drive For Added Convenience Large 23" Rear Tires Handy Cup Holder Wider Step Thru Area Automotive Type Slide Seat System 2 Year Limited Warranty __USERID__ Overall Rating 4.7 5 13 of 14 (93%) customers would recommend this product to a friend. Read all reviews Write a review Number of reviews: Number of reviews with ratings & comments:12 Number of reviews with ratings-only:2 Write an online review Product Reviews Product Reviews Review This Product Choose a sort order Featured Reviews First Buyer's Reviews First Staff Reviews First Top Reviewers First Date - Newest First Date - Oldest First Rating - High to Low Rating - Low to High Helpfulness - High to Low Helpfulness - Low to High Length - Long to Short Length - Short to Long FEATURED REVIEW Overall Rating: 5 5 April 28, 2007 By ChasfromBenld from Benld,Illinois Performance: 5 5 Value: 5 5 Features: 5 5 Reliability: 5 5 "I give this Tractor a 10 on scale of 1-10. The 26 HP Briggs and Stratton has plenty of power and very smooth operation, I love the hydrostatic drive. It is very convenient and simple to use. I have been mowing my property with a old mower and decided it was time to upgrade, This is my first experience with a Craftsman Garden Tractor. I can honestly say this is the best garden tractor I have ever owned. The price was right and the sales and delivery experience from Sears was outstanding. Prior to using this Tractor, I read and studied the owners manual, I work in the Heavy Duty Truck Industry and can honestly say this Tractor is put together really well. And you can get any part you need very easily from Sears. The Tractor came with an illustrated parts manual and every part used on the tractor can be ordered which impressed me greatly. I will be ordering both summer and winter accessories as this tractor can be used year round. I would expect this Tractor to last 20 years. Now I need to convince my wife to let me buy her one so we can have a his and hers tractor. :)" Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report Inappropriate Review) Overall Rating: 5 5 Upgrade from LT1000, August 21, 2007 By AFChief from Crestview, FL Performance: 4 5 Value: 5 5 Features: 5 5 Reliability: 5 5 "Had a great Craftsman LT1000 for 4 years without a problem, but needed something bigger that would take attachments. Researched different options and the DGS6500 met all the needs for a 1.5 acre yard, there is no greater capability for the price. Bought the scoop attachment for scraping and hauling, works great on flat surface but the mower deck can cause some drag on uneven ground. Starts easy, runs great, but I wish the reverse had better response, it's rather slow for going back and forth with a scoop. To get the full engagement you need to pull up on the accelerator pedal rather than press down on the reverse pedal--no reasonable adjustment option available. Relatively quiet for a 26 HP tractor with impressive power. Multiple attachment options avaialble--gets the job done, it's a keeper!" Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report Inappropriate Review) Overall Rating: 5 5 Little Workhorse, June 6, 2007 By Atliberty from Petaluma, CA Performance: 4 5 Value: 5 5 Features: 5 5 Reliability: 5 5 "This garden tractor is being used for mowing grass, lawn and field. It does well at all jobs. The only difficulty is if the terrain gets uneven and then I may need to push it by hand, I'm learning to use the reverse feature to get me out of certain situations. It seems to be very safe, easy to start, reliable and a little workhorse. I didn't buy the mulcher and don't think that my needs indicate it." Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report Inappropriate Review) Overall Rating: 2 5 WAS GREAT....AT FIRST, June 6, 2007 By thunderbolt from Virginia Performance: 5 5 Value: 2 5 Features: 5 5 Reliability: 1 5 "For the first 4 hours i loved this machine.at 4 hours the main drive belt came off front pulley.I called the service center,June 11th was as soon as someone could look at it,This was may 28th.The guy on the phone talked me through getting the belt back on track.Everything was fine untill it had 7 hours on it,the belt broke.I had to tow it to my shed.I went to the store Monday June 4th they got a guy to come out today the 6th to "fix it".He didn't have the belt with him.I have to wait 2 days for the belt to arrive then call them again.He said it was "to new" for him to have it,called the store 5 miles away they have it in stock,but can't have service people have it. I believe the belt broke because it wasn't properly set up at the store or the factory.Be sure if yout tractor has any problems go to store and make sure the service guy has the part .My problem is probly not the norm for this machine,I'm writting this to warn others incase it happens to them."

BTW, just be sure to get only a rear-wheel drive. I don't think Honda has a FWD but Toro does. I guess that falls under 'Make what's selling and don't ask why.' No doubt, the Honda plastic decks are good although a little twisty. One thing I loved about them is they aren't painted - the color goes clear through. So if you need to fix a scratch or something you just sand, polish it and you're done! But the flexibility started to get to me. Another thing; their premium mowers seem to be very much longer than others, counting the handle, and they're also fairly heavy, not a good combination for maneuverability. The Quadracut dual-blade set-up is an answer looking for a question. I had so much trouble with it mulching that I had to remove the top blade, after which it was much improved. The thing would 'puree' the cut grass and turn it into green slime that choked the deck and stuck in the wheel tracks so bad that it had to be manually raked out or it would kill the grass where it lay. Having a good old Toro is beautiful and basically boring after that. Toro has stopped making the 22156 which was the best mower in the world. It was the last commercial mower developed by Lawn-Boy, termed the 22271, and was only sold for part of one year before Toro started painting them red and selling them. They had the Honda 190cc GSX commercial OHC engine, aluminum deck and ball-bearing steel wheels with replaceable tires! If you could find one of those in somebody's warehouse you would never need another mower. I've had my 22271 now for nine years. That reminds me its time to change the oil in it!