Yes, the OHC Honda engines use a resin cam and a polymer cam pulley. Then there's the timing belt. But, the GCV160 has proven itself here in the USA. I've owned one for several years and I'm now using a mower with the GSV190 - same thing but bigger and commercial-rated. I've been associated with two other GCVs, both heavily used and neglected. Neither one had any engine problem of any kind, although the one I still see from time to time will be scrapped soon because of a rotting deck. The previous owner didn't do any maintenance or cleaning and the grass build-up has nearly corroded away the discharge box on the rear. Nevertheless, it still doesn't burn or use oil and it continues to perform with full capability. The Honda OHC engines are tough. They're also quiet, fuel-efficient and strong for their size. Personally, a Honda OHC engine on a Toro makes a premium mower in my book. BTW, the Honda multi-purpose power equipment engine facility in Swepsonville, NC, makes over 1.5 million engines a year. Honda also makes engines and mowers in other parts of the world to the same standards. These are the most advanced mower engines available, period.

There is no problem making turns or turnarounds with the RWD mower. This comes up from time to time and I cannot understand why. With Personal Pace you just push down on the handle to raise the front wheels, pivot, then push off in the new direction. When approaching the turn or turnaround, you can slow down if you wish, and Personal Pace also slows with you. When pushing the handle down to raise the front wheels to pivot on the rear wheels, be careful not to push the sliding handle down which engages the drive. Basically you simply use the mower like a push mower without trying to 'control' the drive. This is what gets people in trouble with Personal Pace. Plus, there is a general misunderstanding about making turns with a RWD mower. There is no difficulty or problem involved, and no real trick to it, particularly with PP. With a control bail as with 'Variable Speed', you simply let go of the bail at the point of making the turn and pick up the bail to go in the new direction. All mowers pivot the same, whether push, FWD or RWD; you raise the front wheels off the ground as you pivot the mower. I understand that many people seem to have some kind of 'mental block' about using a RWD mower. I've been trying to get my neighbor to switch over for years, but he keeps buying the crummy FWD mowers over and over. I suspect with him it's the same thing - he can't picture how he would make turns pivoting on the drive axle. All I can say is, it's so easy even a cave man could do it. Maybe I need to make a video. I mean, do people really have to be shown how to turn around a mower?

For anyone needing some help replacing the Toro Personal Pace belt the attached link should help. Although I found it impossible to slip the belt between the rear pulley bracket and the pulley even with the front belt guard removed. Instead, I removed the wheels and the spring attached to the pulley bracket, turned the axle, removed the pulley bracket, replaced the belt and put everything back together. Took some doing but it works fine. Here is a link that might be useful: Toro Personal Pace Belt Replacement

'Let me know when someone designs a mower that's perfect in every situation, and I'll buy three of them!' It doesn't have to be perfect, just not aggravating most of the time. I concur 100% with the original poster - it was like he was talking about my yard and my mower. Personal Pace, Easy-Stride and Sensa-Speed all can be nightmarish in certain situations. Plus, the big point for me was you can't turn it off. Once I discovered 'Variable Speed' which is simply PP with manual bail control, I knew I had found the 'drive of my life', to coin a phrase. PP can be great under some conditions, but I don't know how many times I got enraged with mine. I came close several times to throwing it out in the street and shooting it until it caught fire. It's not about 'not liking new things', being 'set in one's ways' or not 'giving it enough time'. It's simply that PP is a marvelous drive system except under certain conditions. If you do not encounter those conditions where you mow, you may really like it. Even if you do have some of the problems, many people just aren't that bothered by them - others are.