I am one of the few people that actually likes craftsman, if they still make them the way they used to. However, I would have to take the JD. You have to understand , the craftsman specs have to be a bit better to compete. My theory has always been: all similar priced tractors are about the same (give or take). The motor is made by someome else and is the same model in most cases. Same for the tranny. If you factor out the cost of the motor, and the tranny, you now have a significanly less amount of money to attribute to the tractor itself. One model simply cannot be a lot better than the other (again keeping price the same). I would go with the dealer that is closest to you. It would be a REAL BAD THING to have to drive 200 miles to get a mower belt. Yes, you can get it online but when your belt goes YOU NEED IT NOW! If both sears and JD are near you, I would go with the JD. Stay away from HD and LOWES, they have no businines selling anything that cost more than $10.

The craftsman gives a lot more motor for the same price. 25hp Kohler vs the JD 19.5 briggs and stratton.

horsepower does not matter, it is just a selling point. most mowers are governed at a different speed than the engine was rated, so it may put out 24hp at X rpm, but only 20 at the governed Y rpm your machine runs.

before i coudl recommend any machine i would like to know more about your needs. lawn size, hauling, gardening, snow plowing/blowing, etc.

BTW, although i prefer JD machines i have to sya that the "100 series" sold in box stores and dealers are WAY over priced. Deere builds them as a lost cost unit to compete with Craftsman/AYP/MTD/Husq/etc and the problem is they think they should still charge a premium for the name. and sadly many consumers will pay that premium thinking they are getting a great long lasting machien when they could have saved a few hundred and got something else of similar quality.

I got about half acre of my own property and a couple acres of common area in the development I leave in (which we take turns cutting)...I prefer to have a little more than I need than less.