I think the LA series are very well built and if they aren't abused and are maintained will provide many years of service. They are not like the deeres of old but what is made like the days of old these days? not too many things. I took a LA165 home and used the 30 day promise to trade up to a x320 and am glad I did only due to having 3.5 acres of hills and inclines and I didn't think the LA series was enough tractor. I pull a 850lb yard roller and it's effortless and I weigh 240lbs with 90lbs of ballast in the tires. I think the john deere quality shows in all of their series but you can't compare them to the deeres of the past it's not a fair comparison. I spoke to several of the techs from several dealerships that said they have not seen a x320 in for tranny service in forever if that helps.

Scott, I'm not sure about the 235, but my 225 did not come with an hour meter. I had to install it (even though the cutout was there in the frame). Just because it shows less than 100 hours doesn't mean it was installed since new. Also, even if it were, they're pretty easy to replace. While "rolling back" a car's odometer will get you in hot water, I don't think the sheriff cares much about guys selling lawn mowers with bogus hours. That being said, check other things for signs of wear. With less than 100 hours, they should both be in like new condition. The only wear you should see is some paint scraped off the sides of the deck. If you see excessive wear on the tires, pedals, seat, lots of play in the steering, noisy deck bearings, etc, those are some things that might make you question the low hours claim. If you decide that both tractors do in fact have less than 100 hours, and move on from comparing the condition of the tractors to the features of the tractors, it's a no-brainer, the GT is an upgrade. The tractors handle and operate identically, with twin-touch pedals and a manual lift deck. Does the LX have the foot pedal lift? You might prefer than over the hand lever. As far as cutting grass goes, you won't really notice a difference. But if you ever want to branch out from there, the GT235 is a real garden tractor, which is basically a miniature farm tractor. While the LX is one of the more rugged lawn tractors, capable of pushing a snow blade, it's still just a lawn tractor. You'll never use sleeve-hitch attachments (plow, disc harrow, cultivator, planter, blade, box blade, rake) or a tiller (which are cheap on eBay). And if you tow a cart full of firewood, soil, mulch, whatever, you'll need to take it easy on the transmission.

When I was a teenager, my mother thought chipmunks were cute. My Aunt next door cut down on the amount of cats & Mom was feeding them (the tree rats). The next thing we knew, there were chipmunks EVERYWHERE. Dozens of them, digging up all the bulbs & everything we planted. Emptying all the bird feeders. Running & playing & most of all multiplying. My Uncles were poisoning, trapping & shooting them until they finally got down to a manageable number. In later years, I had a Sheltie who thought it was her job to be on chipmunk patrol & she took it very seriously & kept them away. My Newf isn't that excited over such a small mouthfull but we have an Eskie who likes organic dog toys (mice & such are organic cat toys). Linda

Tnx corrine... I have the motion sensors set on 'test' mode. When they activate they only stay on for 5 to 10 seconds unless there is constant movement then they stay on until no movement is detected. I doubt the deer will ever get used to the lights, the radio, the noise and the swinging lights on the DeerScare... no signs of deer for six weeks now. Last year I tried ammonia in containers hung around, soap bars hung around, scare crows, and a radio playing all night long. Nothing worked for longer than a week. Star... The machine is powered by a 1.7AMP electric motor that is under the square metal box I built for over it as a weather protector. The motor could have been bigger (2 or 2.5 amps) since the arm that beeps the horn would hang if the arm stopped on the steel band that beeps the horn, the roller I made for the end of that arm helped. I might hunt for a larger motor over the winter, used washing machine motors are plentiful. I bought 2 electric motors at a metal recycling center for $5, disassembled both motors, cleaned them, oiled the bearings and reassembled them. They both worked. The one I used in the DeerScare is $90 new. View the DeerScare photos in the link below. For my application I had to grind down the the end of the motor shaft at an angle to start a piece of gas line hose over the shaft, rubber on rubber yields super traction. I used a 2"X1/2"ID piece of rubber gas line hose and started it over the shaft. I had to lightly heat the shaft with a propane torch to soften/nearly melt the hose to get it to slide over the motor shaft. The motor shaft/rubber hose is held pressed up against the bike tire with adjustable spring tension. The motor turns at 3750RPM which worked out to be a good speed for my application. I will try to post up current garden photos next week. We have over 32 bell peppers on eight plants, some peppers 6" long and turning red. We had many 40* nights the beginning of the season which caused a slow start for out tomatoes budding and setting fruit. Here is a link that might be useful: DeerScare Photos