If you really want to buy new, and a JD, you may want to look up to one of the X500 series models. It is not the HP you need to be concerned about, it is the tranny and the differential locking you will get w/one of these models. You may want to take a look at a good used model like one of the John Deere GT or GX models. You will save some money and get the tranny you will need. No differ lock in the GT models. The X324 in my opinion will do the job for now, but the question will be with long term hard use, how long will it last and for the money you would be paying, I would look at a different model! Good luck.

mbs, Up until now, I have only used Gator blades. I became intrigued with all the chatter about mulchinig and decided to purchase the mulch kit for my 2210. After the first few mows, I was prepared to discard the kit. After a few more, I am undecided . . . although less so in favor of the discarding. A mulching deck is different and operates differently. Conditions are important, as well as intervals between cuts. You mention the picking up aspect. In this regard, the mulching setup fails miserably. Plain Gators will suck up everything you want and don't; the mulching kit just clips off the top of the grass. Although I have another set of Gators on order, I'll continue to play around with the mulch kit. Cheers JDFANATIC

"I dunno about that one Justalurker, when I look at both the X-300 and X-500 specs, the X-500 is 3" longer overall (75" vs 72"), and the wheel-base is 51.2" vs 49.4" for the X-300" Look at the parts lists... the frame on the X500 and the X300 both sub to part # AM137099. you the hood is also the same. "With a 48" deck, the X-300 weighs 616 lbs, vs the X-500 at 760 lbs. No doubt though, the X-500's larger tires/wheels, larger engine and trans-axle, account for some of the 144 lb difference" Wheels, tires, K72 with larger oil capacity and 1" axles, larger engine, and the two piece body on the X500 instead of the smaller one piece body on the X300. "The X-500 is also 3" wider (approx), but that's probably due to the wider rear wheels/tires" X500 has hubs on the rear axles with bolt-on rims AND the offset of the 12" rims.

My local JD dealership has alot of used mowers and I'm trying to understand all the different models. The salesman has recently quite and the parts guy is trying to do his job, answer the phones and help people out in the yard. So, he's trying, but not too helpful. I know the differences in the engines and the transmission in the X300, but is the LX 280 just an upgrade from the LT180? The LT does not have cruise control, but everything else appears the same. I do not know about the transmission or the frame size. I was not sure if they were basically the same. My other question was, how does the X300 differ from this two. Same frame, durability, transmission? I previously was trying to determine the difference between the X300 and the LA140, but after reading here I find that it is the frame and engine? The X300 is more durable? I have about an acre to mow, that has somewhat of a grade. I have a walk-out basement, so my sides are not flat. I want a machine that is not overkill, but will also last me a longtime. I cannot spend over $3000.00. So, I have been looking at both used and new. The garden tractors just seem to be out of my range, since I would like to have something with low hours. I only plan to mow and pull a wagon. Thanks!