I have been debating between the two for a long time. I came to conclusion that the Mantis has the same proven gear box for years where Honda is new. Also I am using it mainly for de-thatching. The video I post below show how good the Mantis work, I just want to play it safe. I just order the Mantis with Honda engine with de-thatcher and aerator tines. Mantis have promotion. $449 for tiller, they kick in the kick stand, edger, free shipping, one year refund. Just can't refuse this. I mainly use it for de-thatching. If you have doubt of how well this little thing work for dethatching, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU7kUDcOhiU I choose Mantis over Honda FG110 because of the promotion and also the gear reduction ratio. Mantis is 42:1 vs Honda 35:1. Higher gear ratio of Mantis meaning the tines turn slower and have better torque. For de-thatching, slower turning should be better for the grass so it won't damage the grass as much. Also higher gear ratio means it won't labor the engine as much. I choose the Honda engine because the Echo is rated only at 0.9hp where as the Honda is 1.1hp. 0.9hp for the Echo engine is published by Mantis. Honda GX25 is rated 1.1hp in many documentation. I hate mixing oil. I have HC151 hedge trimmer with the same Echo engine, it is loud and harder to start. I have the Honda HHT31S trimmer and the engine is so quiet, the sound of the trim head spinning is as loud as the motor. You almost can get away without ear plug.( don't even think about it). I'll post my experience after I use it. It should be here in a week.

Your old mantis probably has a dirty carb. and a weak diaphram. Which is common among two strokes after years of use. You can try to spary carb. cleaner directly down the carb as a primer it should start of it immediately. You will get some cleaning action by doing this but the best way it to take the carb apart, gas tank off and clean them. A carb kit cost about 8 bucks plus a can of carb spray cleaner. If you keep the air filter clean and the gas tank clean then you may get away with adding carb cleaner to the gas tank and it may remove any tarnish or guu inside the carb. but after years of use and storage IMO you have a low precentage chance of this working. As for the elect. If battery pack I would check on how much the battery pack costs, you might have to replace the battery pack ever few years which would be the only cost involve. If 120V then you have to have and extension cord or a portable gen. I would think they would last a long time provide you didn't get them wet and leave them wet.

I would second the advice of lasagna gardening, depending on where you are in Oklahoma. My parents lived there for a while when my dad was in ROTC, and my mom talks a lot about the red clay soil there and how hard it was to get things to establish. I've also read that parts of the state have periods of excessive drought (although if you got the rain TX got this year, perhaps that's broken for now). If you have the clay, amending the soil with organic matter (and maybe even some sand) would help with drainage issues around the plants. Lasagna gardens end up being slightly raised, so that helps with the drainage too. Nonetheless, I would recommend looking into xeriscaping plants and prairie varieties that do well with intermittent or little water. Things with long taproots once established will also likely do better than some other species. I would also recommend spacing your plants closely so that they shade the soil between each other and using mulch as well. Both of those things will help limit water losses. With your blank slate, I would also consider burying soaker hoses in the beds to enable more efficient watering and less evaporation (and less mildew). Lastly, if you want to keep a lawn, my friends in Texas and Colorado grow buffalo grass lawns instead of Kentucky blue grass lawns because it doesn't require hardly any water or fertilizer to stay looking nice. Supposedly the most economical way to get that going is by planting plugs of the stuff and letting it spread. I think there's an Oklahoma and/or Texas forum, but if you're looking for ideas, here are some suggestions of a few things that might do well for you (do your own research to confirm): echinaceas (lots of different colors, long taproots) liatris rudbeckias ornamental grasses gaillardia lavender (in very well-draining soil) agastaches salvias bougainvilleas (depending on your zone) crepe myrtles (depending on your zone) Texas bluebonnets morning glories Russian sage wisteria penstemons (in good drainage) rosemary Mexican hat asclepias (different colors) sedums roses ( if you're not bothered by grasshoppers or other pests that will defoliate them) yucca

Love my lil' digger. The legendary SC clay is no match for this buckaroo. Have been using since last 3 years, belive me it is very easy to go overboard with this machine. Making perfect veggie beds, digging holes for planting trees, incorporating soil amendments have never been so easy. It's a pleasure to garden with mantis. Last weekend I had to install 150 feet of cement edging (using 18" scalloped pieces) around the flower beds. I marked the lines with chalk powder, and made perfect 4" wide and 4" deep grooves with mantis (using tines on one side only). The entire job was finished (including the cleanup) within 2 hrs, without breaking a sweat.