thanks, all questions answered. rio I LIKE THAT! my mtd $800 tractor manual xmission requires that i disengage the mower deck to backup. it is a pain really, i often wondered if any tractor allowed you to mow in reverse, not that you want to but it is just eaiser to back up 2' w/o having to disengage then re-engage the deck. as for cruise control apparently keeping your foot on the pedal at a steady pressure is not hard. i don't know, my mtd being a manual i can move both feet any time anywhere. it seemed that cruise control was a huge benefit, appearently not. as for gas consumption, as i stated the difference in these 2 engines is almost 50% more displacement so i was curious about how much more gas that would consume even tho the hp is a small difference. frankly, i doubted the gas usuage would be noticed but i wanted to ask. i plan on mowing tonight, my mtd has been acting up. i'm not sure if it'll mow or not. tomorrow i plan on going to the husqvarna dealer again and to the jd dealer 1st time. the home depot yard machine for $800 is almost the same as my mtd walmart $800 mower that i've used for 7.5 years and it has been a good mower. if it does require serious repairs i think it is money spent that may not be worth it. $800 vs $1500 vs $1650 the husqvarna and john deere have to out last the yard machine for twice as many years to justify the cost. not sure what to do other than hope my mtd runs another season! :) thanks, tom

Rick I'm a lefty too and I could do it... but then I realized I was using my left hand for the 6. Tried it with the right hand and I had to think so hard about how to make a 6 with my right hand that my foot stopped. LOL. I think most lefties are a bit ambidextrous, we learn to be because the world is not made for us!

Sorry not to have included the provisos about the braking. I found that in my earlier car, I could get two or three brake pushes before tha residual pressure left and I had to push hard to get the same effect. Same regret for the steering, but that takes more strength iommediately. Which doesn't bother me, as I was driving small cars and I'm stronger than quite a few folks. My car has an intermediate "Off" position that leaves the radio operating, steering unlocked etc. (don't know about the horn: I seldom drive in a manner that requires it, but I'll have to try it, next time). (I had a risque comment ... but forebore). I should also have mentioned the illegal part - best to check as to that aspect of it, in your jurisdiction. But if I got such a ticket, they'd see me in court. I'm a bit careful where I do it - I want there to be good visibility. And, if something develops, I can have that engine running in one second. My main concern is braking capability, and, as I said, I have 2 - 3 usages before I lose the boost ... in which situation, I usually start the engine, or if there are obstructions nearby from the other side of which a kid might run out, with seeing him/her being impossible for me until the last second. It seems to me to be a worthwhile proposition in rural areas, where there are not a lot of roads or traffic, though sometimes crops growing close to roadways reduce visibility somewhat. Thanks for your additions, folks. We should have been paying more for gas - they've been paying $5.00/gal. or so in Europe for a long time ... and they're the ones who, seeking alternative low-cost energy sources, have developed wind- and solar-powered equipment that is more advanced than we have. I remember two agencies that sold wind-powered generators years ago on the Prairies before the power became available in a number of rural areas - Wincharger and Jacobs. I think that I heard that they went out of business, years ago. No market. And we hear today that our province is talking of building several new nuclear-powered electrical generating facilities. I hope that you're all enjoying this new week, with interesting opportunities for personal advancement/growth. Try to learn something, every day. (Haven't heard whether we can take knowledge with us into the Great Beyond. Do you think that everyone knows everything, there? Like God, so to speak?). ole joyful

My island is 9' X 5' all counter height I love it. Sorry, I do not know how to post photos. But others' photos give you the picture. I have seating on one 9' side, and the sink on the other. I have plenty of walk space all around and it is open to the family room. The TV is visible from the sink. It is the hub of my home. The disposal switch is inside the sink cabinet. Yes, the kids tend to throw everything on the island and it is the landing spot for groceries, so I have to be diligent about making sure it stays tidy. It is a gorgeous showstopper so I wouldn't change a thing.