Sears, is a very good place to start, also the "big box stores" is not bad in your case either - Sears has it's own warranty service, just know(ask) where the service (warranty issues, if any) will be handled rom the big box stores.

If you have a dealer near by, I'd look at the Simplicity Regent also. They start at $2100. See link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Regent Link

how big is big?

when i was a teen my parents yard seemed huge as i push mowed it. now, i realize that the 1/4 acre lot with house, drive, shed, pool, and turn around on it is not that big a lot! my lot is 4 acres, of which i cut probably close to 1/4 acre with a push mower since the rider is too difficult to handle around the swings, pool, dog pen, etc..

if you are cutting several acres, you will kill a low end mower in a couple years times or so. i messed up and bought an entry level Deere 4 years ago. since that time it has regularly cut my 4 acres as well as an additional 6 acres most every week. it is now on it's last legs and i just hope it can make it thru the summer without either dying or my setting fire to it in a fit of frustration!

Starting at Sears is probably a good idea. It's a good place to kick tires and compare features. Most of their lawn tractors are may by Husqvarna and those are near the top when it comes to quality. A smaller deck between 38" and 44" should be perfectly fine. You don't need a garden tractor, you need a lawn tractor. Sears will have a few of these. However, Sears will probably not let you drive one prior to purchase.

I have only two concerns with your plan.

The first is that anyone buying a tractor of the type you are shopping is going to have the same fear you've cited: they won't want to buy someone else's lemon. So, if you ever decide to sell your runt-of-the-litter, the only buyers you'll attract will be those looking for a "good deal". Don't expect to get much for it or expect to wait a long time for the right buyer.

My second concern is that (on average) these machines require more maintenance than their beefier cousins. Are you mechanically inclined? If a bushing fails, would you know what to expect? Do you have a general repair shop in the area? (One that you can trust.) If not, you could end up spending big money just keeping your low price machine in running order.

Not trying to talk you out of anything, just presenting another point of view.

Good luck and keep us posted.

"Most of their lawn tractors are may by Husqvarna and those are near the top when it comes to quality."

I think you need to qualify that statement. They may have models that are better than MTD and maybe even the bottom of JD's line, but I would not say they are near the top in quality by a long shot.

Fair enough. The only data I'm aware of (aside from anecdotal evidence) is from Consumer Reports. They rank the brands as follows...

JD
Kubota
Sears
Husqvarna
Simplicity
Cub Cadet
Yardman/Yard-Machines
Troy-Bilt

The rankings are for lawn tractors (not garden tracs, apparently) and they are based on units purchased between 2003 and 2007. I'm sure that once you step out of the lawn tractor range and start to consider older models, the story will change. Since the OP is interested in a new unit strictly for the lawn, I didn't bother to post all the clarifications.

You left out the "according to Consumer Reports" part. That is a good enough qualification of the statement for me ; )

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when using Consumer Reports data and ratings.
First; They test the mowers, side by side, mowing many acres. They mulch, side discharge, and bag using every capability of the machines, including removing the decks, and performing general maintenance. They use multiple operators and they switch from machine to machine. Their ratings for ergonomics and ease of maintenance are generally acurate.
Second; The frequency of repair data,however, is affected by the method of data collection. They collect the data by manufacturer, so a LA105 counts the same to CR as an 2305, or a CC1042 is the same to CR as one of the new Cub/Yanmar tractors. The results of that method of data collection is that the "good" JD tractors, read X300 and up, help hold up the L100/LA series and make them look better than they are, while the cheap box store tractors that MTD builds helps to bring down the records for Cub Cadet.
Their maintenance records are also affected by sample size. It is relativly easy to get meaningful samples from JD, Sears, and CC. but what about Husqvarna, Simplicity, and other less well known manufacturers like Dixon, Etc.

A real sleeper this model year that shouldn't be overlooked is the Snapper (by Simplicity) that Sears is selling. Priced right. Saw one yesterday and it is a cut or two above the Husqvarna/Sears models in all respects. Doesn't have the Simplicity floating deck but appears to have Simplicity quality and QC.

click here for Snapper LT @ Sears

If your ground is fairly flat with gentle rolling slopes and no steep grades to climb. The Snapper RER is an old and reliable workhorse. The old ones can be had for $200-400 from a dealer/repair shop and normally you can't kill them with a sledge hammer.

Here is the new one.

Here is a link that might be useful: snapper rear engine rider

There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. So I am very much in favor of looking at the details when using stats. However...

To the best of my knowledge, Consumer Reports hasn't reviewed any CUTs or even garden tractors. They divide their reliability ratings into categories. I see no evidence to suggest that larger tractors are included in the reliability ratings. They even separate the push mowers from the self-propelled. JD is actually at the top of the lawn tractors, yet stuck at the very bottom for self-propelled mowers. So, yes, the X300 may bring up the ratings for the LA120, but the 2305 is not included in the data. The data is only for LAWN tractors.

If CR does not receive enough data to rank a brand, that brand does not appear in the rankings. Toro, for example, is not rated in the lawn tractor category because the sample was too small for statistical significance. CR says so in the same place where they post the data.

I actually have more issues with some of CR's recommendation methodology than I do with their reliability ratings. I haven't seen it come up with tractors, but when it comes to cars, they use some pretty silly units of measure. They also put a great deal of weight on things that are not so important. For example, they give kudos to the tractors that have wash-out ports in the decks. Yet, as I read forums like these, I'm finding that many owners/enthusiasts recommend against using them!

Bottom line: I don't think the OP is going run into any more trouble buying a Craftsman or Husky than they are with a Simplicity. Not when it comes to lawn tractors. I feel that most lawn tractors at the bottom of the pile are a risk no matter which brand you buy. The simplest way to mitigate that risk is to buy something a little more expensive, like the JD X300 or Kubota GR. The only other option is to make sure that either the buyer can effectively maintain it, or has access to good quality service. Which brings us back to my original post.

Something else to consider...fuel economy.

A single-cylinder engine will use noticeably less gasoline than a two-cylinder. All things being equal, a manual-gear transmission will use a little less than a hydrostat.

My Craftsman with a 20 HP single-cylinder Briggs engine is good on fuel. It has more than enough power for what I need. It's hauled 500 pounds up a good incline with no trouble at all.

Although my LT3000 is no longer manufactured, a similar one can be had at Sears for about $1250...

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/c_10153_12605_Lawn+%26+Garden_Lawn+Tractors

150 dollars more will get you the hydrostat.

Good luck!

Marco

what specifically makes the GT better than the LT as far as durability and build for the person who will only ever use it for mowing a flat 1 acre of land?

A GT must be made from sturdy parts in order to do the job it was intended for. The more sturdy the part, the more durable or at least you would think so. The mower that has the best motor and transmission along with a strong deck and frame should last longer.

Interestingly enough the CR lawn tractor reviews contain no Simplicitys this year . Simplicity probably got tired of the low rankings given them every year and didn't supply them with any models to test . Also interesting is that their top model is a JD X304 , since just a few years ago the sub 2K JD L110 was their top pick . Basically they heap praise upon JDs and Craftsman LTs and snub Simplicity and Kubota , two high quality brands that their owners here and elsewhere just rave about .

I do like some of their ratings of other products , but when it comes to LTs they are always heavily biased towards JD and Craftsman year after year . Maybe if the tests ran a couple of years instead of a couple of weeks they'd see things a bit differently ?

what specifically makes the GT better than the LT as far as durability and build for the person who will only ever use it for mowing a flat 1 acre of land?

I don't think a person who is mowing a flat acre really needs a GT. What they need is a good lawn tractor. The problem is that most lawn tractors are built on the cheap. In my opinion, the cheapness will show up in unlikely places. Wheel bushings will be of lesser quality... seats will be made from cheap fabric... transmissions will be light-duty units... plastics will scratch or crack easily... These inferior materials/components are used so the manufacturer can offer the product at a low price. They do the best they can, but they have to cut some corners to stay within budget. Which corner gets cut will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Good lawn tractors, like JD's X300 and Kubota's T class (I mistakenly wrote GR above) are well-built, but they are just as expensive as some of the competitor's entry-level garden tractors. That makes them a tough sell. Only a brand with strong reputation can compete against low price.

Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with a budget-priced lawn tractor. They aren't junk. It's just that the owner needs to be diligent about maintaining it. They have to accept that some parts may wear out prematurely. They should know the tractors limits and stay well within them. A wise owner can make one last a very long time. If they don't have "tractor smarts" or a very good service center, I think shoppers should upgrade to something more durable and less likely to fail. However, that needn't be a GT.

Really great informative posts guys, I really appreciate it. We're going to check out the snapper and the craftsman 28822, but regardless of John Deere's reputation and quality, it's twice the price of other lawn mowers, it kinda HAS to be better because of that. I'm not spending 3K on it, not at this time.

I totally understand we'll lose out when selling, I'm just trying to get our lawn cut now to keep up with the neighbors so we don't stick out like a sore thumb when my son tries to go a month without cutting the grass because it takes him 4-5 hours with the regular lawn mower.

Thanks all

We bought the Craftsman 28822... it was 200 cheaper than normal @ 1449, and well... it was pretty. Mock me privately, but it seemed like a good deal. Thanks all.

I think you will enjoy that LT.
What makes you think you will lose when you sell it? I have owned 2 Sears Tractors which I bought new, in 1973(approx $700) a 1973 ST10, which I sold($325) in 2002 still mowing. Bought in 2002 a new($2400) DLT2000 w/bagger I am currently mowing with - I might take a loss on this one if I would sell it now, since the LT new prices have dropped about 30% in the past 3 to 4 years. But then why sell it?

empatheticcharacter: For what you are doing you'll be fine. I own an '06 YS4500 with a 24 HP B/S engine - works great. Alot of people just don't have the $ 3 - 4 - 5K to spend on a higher end tractor. I wish I could be sitting on a Kubota but I'd be in divorce court if I brought one of those home.

Maintain it properly as suggested in the owner's manual and use it for what is was designed to be used for. Regular oil, oil filter, air filter and greasing will go along way to keeping that tractor working as it was intended.

Best of Luck!

empatheticcharacter: Make sure you do your first oil change at the proper interval. There will be fine metal shavings in the oil that can cut the seals and lessen the life of your engine. Probably do the first oil change around 5 to 10 hours or so, and include an oil filter change out also. This will put you right on course for good maintenance on your mower.

Not sure why anyone would recommend a Kubota. Ours is a TG1860 diesal, also known as a piece of crap. Have put a lot of money into repairs, but it always needs more and more, and still doesn't run right. Replacement belts are outrageous in price. All in all, its a pile of junk.