I'd think about a Deere x300. It's the right size for your lawn and it's a high quality unit with that Kawasaki engine. You'll
be happy with it for the next 15 years, and probably longer.
Why did the dealer recommend the x304? It has a stronger transmission but your lot is flat so you probably won't need it.

I'm in the same boat as you. I also live in NC and just purchased 2.79 acres of flat land. I am getting the John Deere X300 with some attachments. I don't have hardly any trees so I don't need the X304 with all wheel steer.

I looked at the Craftsman but wanted a better quieter engine and stronger frame and so I opted for the X300. You should too!

I think it might be in both of your best interests to look at garden tractors.
If your new NC home is anything like my new NC home (five years ago), just because your lawn is new, doesn't mean it's finished. I ended up tearing up the weed infested 'contractor's mix' rye/fescue grass and reseeding the back with Pennington Bermuda and Hybrid Bermuda sod in the front. As you see bare spots develop as the grass comes in, you'll be tempted to loosen the soil and reseed. Using a rake this is an incredibly tedious task. With a tractor-mounted tiller, it's almost enjoyable. At least your contractor put down Bermuda sod instead of centipede. I removed the centipede sod placed along the road by my contractor and it's still popping up through my bermuda in places. It's an incredibly invasive grass which I don't find the least bit appealing. All my neighbors have centipede and it's slowly encroaching on my lawn from the property line. They all look at my grass and say it's like a carpet. Compared to the weedy centipede, it is.
A year after the lot is graded, it's pretty much settled into its permanant state (except for the buried tree roots which haven't completely rotted away yet). That's when I'd tear up all the grass that's not propogating successfully, and start over with good seed or sod. You will need to loosen the soil with a tiller (easy enough to rent or borrow one if you don't have a garden tractor which can accept one). A blade and a roller are good items to have when it comes time to regrade. You'll also want to get a good plug aerator to reseed areas which don't need complete renovation. For pushing a blade and pulling an aerator, I'd go with at least an X304 if you're buying new. If you want to find a good older John Deere, the LX series is slightly more rugged and the GT or GX series will pull/push anything. The X300 has the same light duty transaxle as the LT180 and some LA series (tuff torq K46), which is not designed for manual labor. The K58 transaxle used in the X304 is very similar to the K62 in the LX series. They are not ground-engaging rated transaxles, but close. You'll have to weigh down your aerator significantly to get it to penetrate the clay. That takes a lot of pulling power, probably more than the X300/K46 is designed for.

Here is a link that might be useful: tuff torq

**ervie** - Think the John Deere rep recommended the X304 based on the information, marineguy mentioned. I told him my situation and then he proceed to tell me the difference between the LA130, LA150, X300, X304, X320 and the X324. About an hour (at least it felt like an hour) presentation, even down to how the brochures were done to sell the X series vs the LA.

Thanks for the input, marineguy.

I have to say, my BIGGEST concern is buying something, like the X304 and, it being an OVERKILL for my needs. Especially, knowing NOTHING about tractors and lawn maintenance.

I just didn't want to jump into all of this with a $3500 tractor, when maybe a $1500 tractor could do the same job.

I know it won't end once, I make a decision. I'm still trying to figure out the difference between all these aerators and different equipment. What I'll need, won't need, or what I can rent (like a tiller, mentioned above).

Looking over the JD website, I see about 4 different aerators. One with tips, one with spikes, and the other with plugs. More research, I guess. LOL!!

Going to try to swing by a Kubota dealer today or tomorrow. I believe the T series is equivalent to the X? Plus, a Simplicity dealer, where the Regent should be in the same group? And a Toro dealer to look at their GT series.

But, going off the stuff above (or the forums in general), talking to reps, and asking others I meet out and about...it appears, I'm better off buying something on a higher scale than what I would find at a Lowes, Home Depot, or Sears? Or, am I overlooking anything on that level?

Thanks again.

Having read through this brief thread, I'm not convinced that the poster really wants to get into ripping up yards and replanting ground engaging yard work!

With that in mind I'd say spend $2k out the door (inc sales tax) on any big box JD or Sears product, plus spreader, aerator, trailer.

If you want a heavier duty unit that can take ground engaging toys er attachments, get the Sears garden tractor and know that you've spent less than many people have on JD (Including me many years ago) but can do more.

vox,
from what you are saying you don't need much to pull an aerator. If you want something that can plow (ground engage) get a garden tractor. I have a Sears DSG 6500 garden tractor that does well but if you don't need this much tractor you are better off with a good lawn tractor. The mulching thing is no biggie. The mulching blades that come with mowers just chop up the grass finer so it rots faster and puts nutrients back in your lawn. You can often get away with a regular blade though depending on where you live, how often you cut, etc. You can get this LATER if you need. Try out the dif tractors. Sit on them, drive them, see how they fit you. Which one makes you smile? Ultimately any of the quality brands will do a good job.

I'll chime in with some alternative advice. We've all been new at the grass cutting chore at one time or another. Nothing beats experience for figuring out what the right tool is for each person. I drove myself silly over the wide range of choices and price ranges and it looks like your headed down that road. I'll assume that you intend to cut your own grass vice hiring it out. All the other chores just make the grass look nicer. Not knowing how much or little you are going to enjoy the yard work is what makes a tractor recommendation very difficult. They tend to last a long time, at least good ones do. An alternative to a riding tractor is a good commercial design walk behind mower. In your neck of the woods Better Outdoor Products (betteroutdoorproducts.com) makes a spiffy mower that I would recommend if all you want to do is cut grass (with a sulkey of course). If you follow an organic routine for lawn care (and there is an organic forum here at gardenweb) you will have no need of an aerator. You could get by nicely with a good mower, walk behind spreader and hand tools for several years until you learn your level of interest. Now that Quick 44 is not necessarily cheaper, but it would probably outlast any riders in that price category and take up less storage space.

No, it doesn't seem like he'll be spending a whole lot of time doing major ground-engagement, but pulling an aerator though solid clay (which will need to be significantly weighed down) is no slight task. Plus he has the typical good-enough-for-occupancy-inspection lawn, which probably won't be good enough for someone who cares enough about having a good lawn to consider buying a $3k mower, so he'll probably find himself moving some dirt around at some point in the next year or two. For that reason, I'd recommend a heavy duty lawn tractor (X304 or older LX) if not an all-out garden tractor.

Vox,
If you're concerned about jumping into a large purchase without really knowing what you need or what you're buying, then don't. You only have at most two months of mowing before the bermuda goes dormant. I don't know what kind of house you have, but with the house and driveway, you probably have less than 3/4 acre of actual grass to mow. It is possible to mow 3/4 acre with a push mower just to finish out the mowing season. That will leave you with all winter to research, or even browse eBay for a good deal. There is a feature on eBay where you can receive an email if an auction gets posted which fits specific criteria you've set. For example, you can search for a "John Deere," in "Home and Garden" / "Outdoor Power Equipment," from $500-2500, within 100 miles from your zip code. Then to really narrow it down, you can have eBay not alert you until a certain number of bids have been placed (say 5 or so) so you don't get bothered by items which are obviously overpriced. I'd save a few searches like that in "My eBay" and see what comes up over the next few months. Remember, with buying used, you can pretty much sell it without taking a loss if it doesn't fit your needs.

I live on NW Georgia, say clay as NC....I also happen to live on .83 acre, slope and some flat, being I am on the mt top. 2/3 of it is grass, and the rest is woods with small trails ...I own an X304 and wouldn't trade it for the world...You might want to take a ride to your local JD dealer and see what he might have in the used department..,maybe you might get lucky and find an X320 or 340 for the same price of a new X304...It never hurts to have a little more than ya need so as not to put a strain on semething that might work to save a couple of bucks now, but end up payin more for it down the road. The 320 and 340 can handle a mechanical tiller where the 304 cannot because of the AWS..(just thought I'd throw a screw into it)..a little research, sit down with ma, discuss it over some coffee and a dozen roses..GOOD LUCK on ya venture...

Thanks for the follow ups, everyone.

I'm in no rush to buy. I'm already planning to hire the landscapers around here, working on the other unfinished homes, to mow my grass for the time being.

I do have a B&S push mower, if I need to get out there myself.

But, to respond to the large purchase. I'm not really concerned about a large purchase, I'm just concerned about buying something that may be an overkill.

Say, like a computer. Joe Consumer goes to Dell and buys the most sup'd up computer money can buy. Only to use it to check email and to surf the net. Did he need the latest and greatest to do this? Of course not. The two models below it would do the same job and, he'd never noticed the difference.

However, if Joe decided to venture into imaging, gaming, etc.. then he could tap into the power of his computer.

I guess that's where I'm coming from. Just trying to find a good machine to fit my needs.

I'll see, if I can take some pics of my yard to give a better idea.

Thanks again.

vox,
are you planning a garden? with the right tractor and garden layout tilling, weeding, harrowing can be a snap. Just depends on how much you plan to do. As far as going "overboard" if you were to buy too much tractor, it would just mean it would last longer. If you buy too little, you have to trade it in and buy something else which is probably going to be more expensive.

Vox: We are similar in 2 ways. I've been through the same painstaking hunt for the right rider, and I live near the center of the Old North State. Proud to be a native, too!

I have just over an acre to cut. Through my research and test drives, I have narrowed my choices to 2: JDeere X304 and X320. I've not purchased one, yet, as we've just gotten enough rain to magically wipe the brown from my lawn! I tested the X300, but as a large person, felt it was inadequate. It struggled pulling me up a large, steep hill at the dealers.

Some words of advice: Shop around. Prices vary and some JD dealers want MSRP or a paltry $100 off the retail. I have found a dealer, with a ton of locations, who has quoted some great prices. I expect to save $350 or $400 off the suggested retail when I finally decide which JD will sit under my garage.

Hope that helps!

GO HEELS!

Vox,
I hear you about the excess capability, but unlike computers, tractors don't become obsolete. They either break down, or stay in service indefinitely.
The only time I've ever heard anyone say their tractor was more than they needed was after moving to a smaller property. And even then the bond between man and machine is difficult to break. Take for example my grandfather: after selling his 10 acres in the mountains (3 cleared), and moving to his .2 acre in-town plot, did he sell his Gravely 8123 which has served him for 20 years? Nope. He paid a mechanic to overhaul the 12hp cast iron Kohler (at about the cost of a new riding mower).