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It is interesting how much they share between these.

The deck on the White looks better. The deck on the Cub looks, well sort of like a deck on a Cub.

Said this may times. Most ZTRs are just copies of each other, with may be a cosmetic difference or a power deck lift or not, or something more inoccous or useless. Just different colors of plastic and paint and a different decal.

If you truly want a good machine, you can't get it chaseing the low end of the low end. You have to spend some dollars to get what you want and even then the above applies to some of them too, except at a different level of quality. You will most likely get 3-4 times the life out of a commercial quality unit than you will out of purchaseing 2 or 3 of the low end ones.

In the long run the better you buy, the less it will COST.

Price does not equal Cost. Low price most of the time equals cheap, cut corners, and poor performance in a short time.

Well, the comparison to the Cub is interesting, but talking about buying a mower that is a lot more, or commercial, inst what i asked about, when i post about a specific thing, that is what info i, and i am sure others, want to know about.
But since posts always head to bigger and better and more costly things, i guess i should explain why i don't want to know about those.
Its because a in law just went to Tractor Supply and bought the one i was asking about. To late for bigger and better.
He couldn't afford more than this anyway. And due to physical condition being bad, he wanted to try a Zero to see if he could use it easier..Got what he could afford, didn't ask for any advice.
I was just trying to learn what i could about that make and model to help him out in the future if need be.
if anyone knew any "good,bad,ugly" about them.Thats all.

MTD makes Cub and White so this isn't really that surprising.

The pivoting front axle is a nice touch, and are those real steel covers over the deck pulleys? You don't see that very often. The MTD deck is actually pretty decent. It's a deep deck design, allows good air flow and provides good bagging performance. If he likes it he may move to a higher end ZTR next time. IF he doesn't like it he hasn't lost a big investment, relatively speaking.

If your in-law already bought it, it's too late for outside opinions. Nobody can predict the future, so deal with problems as they arise rather than losing sleep over "what if" stuff.

I wish I had more lawn...I'd love to own a ZTR.

Well lets hope that the MTD ZTRs last longer than the MTD Tractors. Most of them are well on their way out of service in as little as 3 years.

Wouldn't that be a bummer if the ZTRs did the same thing?

Just think, now instead of another $3000 the price will probably be $3700.

I hope for his sake I am wrong.

It always comes down to short term low price vs long term true cost.

As i said, was looking for any info anyone may have had on good bad, strong, weak points of that make and model.
Things maybe i could tell him about, things to watch out for out of ordinary maintenance.Or is this model to new to judge?
Report from my son that used it, says it cuts and drives great, although is a bit touchy when starting out, jumps forward and goes with little stick movement.Maybe something that will lessen with some use? Or is this normal for a ZTR?
I am not loosing sleep over it, just doing what this message board is intended for, asking questions.
And the B&S engine on that, is that one that needs valve adj. at regular intervals ? I have never owned one so have no idea.But i see a lot of posts about problems with valves.

It's so easy to have an elitist attitude when you're driving around in/on something so much more expensive than most people have and could afford, isn't it? BMW's, Mercedes, Lexus, Walker's, etc. My 11-hp MTD lawn tractor, from Wards (remember them?) was a 1987 I bought new and served me well for 20 years until I bought a new JD EZTrak last year. It was excellent at bagging and the so-called 7-speed "shift-on-the-fly" transmission worked great too. If you take care of 'em, they'll last.

Sorry, I don't have an elitist attitude. I have just learned from experience that the most expensive thing you can buy is something that is cheap to begin with. Back in 87 the Wards MTD was probably not anything like what started showing up in Wal Mart and the like in the 90's. I spent $1495 for a new Yard Man at Wal Mart in 1993. It was my first yard tractor mower purchase to mow 3 flat acres with some road ditches and trees to go around. After 3 years the only thing still worth anything was the 18 Hp B&S motor. The rest was toast.

I am not sure when the current parent company of MTD bought up all the brands that they make now, but I am fairly certain that it was after you bought yours. When I bought my ZTR, I had to make pmts to the Credit Union to purchase it, even so it was well worth it for the long haul. I have had it now 9 years and it will most likely be around for another 20+. The kind I have routinely run 2500+ hours.

Based on 50-60 hours per year. It is very cheap to own and operate.

Thet are all good when well maintained.Many problems arise because of operator error.Be it lawnmowers,or 747's.jmho tbk

The picture of the Cub is not the comparable Cub ZTR model. That would be the Cub RZT 50 that is just $200 more at Home Depot.
The Cub RZT50 has a nicer deck than the White Outdoor ZT50 and a Kawasaki engine to boot.
It is not as good as a professional machine, but I would not mind having one.

Do i remember Wards? why sure i do, i have MW LT from 1975, 12 hp,38" deck 3spd manual. I still use it. All orginal except tires and a set or rings and gaskets about a year ago. I bought it used about 6 years ago for pennys. Its mainly a backup machine now.