I love both my Snappers and have used them for years. They are quality machines and simple to work on with easy to find parts. I have had my Snapper 28" rear engine rider for 15 years(bought used). It is the perfect size for my yard and I am able to drive thru all the gates. The walk-behind mower I bought used for $35 dollars at an auction in 1997 is still going strong. When the time comes, I am buying Snapper again. I keep the oil changed, add stabilizer at the end of the season, and keep the blades sharpened. Just like a car, if you take care of it, it will stand by you. And as said above, every once in a while, my rider pops a wheelie.

People in Gardenland are very nice until you need service!!!! I don't have any recommendation on other dealers. I bought my back pack blower from MMI in Sunnyvale since. But no experience on service. I am planning to fix everything myself. I made the mistake of letting Gardenland took care of the trimmer thinking it is under warrantee. I know it is the carburetor already, figure why fix it if it is under warrantee. The mading thing is even after paying $85, the trimmer never got fixed. I have to end up doing it after all!!! Gardenland make a lot of fuzz about old gas, they make you watch a video about old gas before letting you go after buying stuff. And when they know I am a home owner, they just don't even borther to listen anymore and came back claiming old gas. They did get very rude when I started arguing. I am actually consider buying online if the price is a lot cheaper and maintaining it myself. Mower do cut grass, cheap or fancy!!! That is the reason I make two suggestion, one of them is buy cheap and use it as dispossable. My TroyBilt is MTD which I believe make Craftsman and Cub. The deck is very thin, you hit something, you bend the deck!!!. YOu can try the Toro lower model in Home Depot. It all depend on whether you just want to mow the lawn or you want to get a fancy mower. I want a fancy mower so I am going for the commercial one, if you are not, save the pain of dealing with the dealer service and get dispossible one. 3 of the $229 mower only add up to one decent mower, you are not going to get 7 to 8 years on one mower without any service. That would be $150 on top of the mower!! I like fancy and I am handy, so I have the commercial option. Trouble free for years is over rated. With cheap mower, have trouble, buy a new one, still come out ahead. A lot of LCO use cheaper mower also, I don't think anyone can argue about 5 Craftsman out last one of the best commercial mower and much cheaper before you consider the maintenance. If you worry about warrantee, go to Sears and Lowes, they might sell extended warrantee. I bet they do honor the extended warrantee much better than dealers. I have a lot of experience using extended warrantee from big stores and I found them all very very good. They have to, they are in consummer market, they can't get away what the dealers can. If you want commercial stuff, you have to get it from the dealer or online.

I notice several people have problems with motors dying and/or not putting out full power. Besides the choke issue, there are 2 others I've noticed. On a used Troy Bilt mini tiller I bought (2 stroke Tecumseh), I could start it, but it wouldn't rev adequately or keep running (I got it really cheap). Pulled the tiny hose off the tank, and not a drop of gas came out. Ran a wire up the barb, and still nothing. Cracked the fill cap a bit, and gas shot out. A plugged air vent on the cap--that's one reason they won't keep going. But that didn't solve it. Still wouldn't rev. Then I remembered that in the manuals for every engine I've used ever used (big old Tecumsehs and Briggs 4 strokes, little 2 strokes, etc.) they always say to screw the main jet down to seat it (gently), then back out 1 and one-half turns. You're then supposed to turn it back in (with the engine running) until it runs rough, then back out til it's rough, then go to half way between--that's the sweet spot. But try to do that with a tiny engine buzzing and hopping around. So I just left it at 1 1/2 turns out, and it runs like a champ. I know this won't solve everybody's problem, but it's cheap and quick and easy to do. I do agree with the people who prefer 4 strokes, and they've somehow figured how to make them work even with trimmers, which obviously aren't level much of the time. I wonder how they do that?

if you've not had seat time on ZTR's, strongly suggest you do so. Some dealers will provide such. ZTR's do handle differently - some like them, some don't. ZTR's are relatively limited in handling attachments when compared to a garden tractor, so if you are thinking about snow-blowing, tilling, etc. then ZTR's prolly are not the best ticket. Some other info - Simplicity has gone out of business for all practical purposes even tho B&S is currently handling the line. Also, look for other name brands - but do not recommend buying such from a big box store. Add'tl research will help familiarize you with the products. Don't forget service after the sale (a good dealer). good luck