You should also consider a Simplicity...they make good tractors and ZTR's.

Here is a link that might be useful: Simplicity Website

Kohler has experienced several problems with the Courage
engine. I (personally) don't like it. Given the 2 choices
you've given....I'd buy the Deere...UNLESS...the TimeCutter
can be bought with a different engine than the Courage ??
BOTH would be equivalent in quality and durability, but
the Briggs engine has a "better track record" than the
Courage engine. The Toro product has several seasons of
dependability while the Deere zero-turn residential series
is "NEW" in 2007. It never hurts to go with...."experience"

T-Man

Thanks, there is a simplicity in my price range, I will check for local dealers and take a look:
http://www.simplicitymfg.com/Simplicity-AxionZeroTurnMower.php

I thought the brand new Courage engines resolved the issues?

I don't have any firsthand experience, but you might benefit from the experience of one of my neighbors, also with a 1-acre lot. He decided to by a Timecutter Z to replace his old Yazoo RER. I saw it the day he got it, in the back of his pickup truck.

Next time I saw him mowing, however, he was back on the old Yazoo. When I asked him about it, he said he got frustrated with the ZTR and took it back because he had a hard time maneuvering in part of his yard and got stuck. If your yard is free of obstructions, this might not be an issue for you, however. Don't know why, but in our neighborhood of 37 houses on acre lots out in the country, there are no ZTRs.

John

Anyone else hear about or have experience with ZTR?

I went through a similar experience last year with my 1 acre lawn. I decided on a Agco 522 (same as Simplicity Regent) rather then a ZTR. Other then personal preference for tractors, the other reason was the ability to pull a broadcast spreader, aerator and light hauling. The Regent has a very good 12" turning radius. Not zero like a ZTR, but still very nice.

just found this fairly comprehensive list of ZTRs w/ price and general features:

http://www.hortmag.com/ope/charts/ztrmowers.asp

I had a Troy-Bilt®
22-HP V-Twin 50" Hydrostatic Zero-Turn Radius Mower delivered Sun eve.

With less than .5 hour on it, it threw the drive belt.

Fearing ongoing belt problems, I called Lowe's where I bought it, and they picked it up today.

Sue

I have yet to read anything bad of the Courage motors...Whats the problem(s) with them???

chemocurl---after ya get ya money back...skip the box stores and go to a dealer(JD for instance)--look at the Z225 or 425...test ride it...it should put a smile on ya face..or ya can try simplicity..IMO those would be ya best options...

I had looked at the John Deere 225 residential but thought that the Cub RZT50 was a better deal with the Kawasaki engine.
If you can finance a bit more (about $3700 or so) the Hustler mini Fastrak with Honda 16 h.p., 42 inch cut is quite a bit nicer than all of the above.

I can see buying a specialized mowing machine when you have a lot of grass to mow, but with only 1 acre, it is a bit much. With a small tractor with a 38" deck, you are only mowing for about 45 minutes tops and you still have a machine that can plow and tow. I would buy a ZTR if I had a 1 acre lot and a landscape business.

I have 2 acres and just got a new Simplicity Regent 2450 just over a week ago and love it. I have 50+ trees and parts of the yard are pretty bumpy and hilly. My mowing time went from nearly 4 hours to just under 2 hours (had a 15 HP Murray with hydro and 42" cut that has a new home now). A neighbor with a similarly hilly yard always complained how his ZTR would get stuck, so he bought my old push mower to do those parts. Bottom line, for 1 acre I suggest a lawn tractor. That way you can haul a wagon with a load of mulch and such.