Ride-on mower advice please.

murphydog999

Am going to need one and have no idea where to start! Can anyone offer a few what-to-look-out-fors?

The area is flat, approx 1 acre, would really like to keep costs no more than £1000.

T.I.A.

lostinrates

I have experience of two makes, an ancient westwood and a slightly less ancient john deere. We had the westwood from new and the john deere second hand, so the comparison is a little unfair, but i would take the west wood every time. It was a tougher beast, though less fancy. The john deere has more safety features, but that might be due to being younger.

peter_the_piper

£1k is not a lot to pay for a good rideon. Take a look in google and see any reviews, then go to a reputable large mower showroom for a look at a wide range. Don't be swayed by the cheapness of the big sheds, you get what you pay for.

murphydog999

Thanks, I have looked at google reviews, but it doesn't help when you've never had one before and there are so many variations, makes and models!

Leif

I understand your problem, having wasted money on a Flymo, and now a few months later I have bought a second better mower. In your case the money involved is 10 times as much. Can you hire one or two? £100 spent hiring a couple of models is surely worth it. Or narrow down to one, then hire it to see if you like it. Alternatively you might get a sale or return deal on a used model. Not that I know.

glasgowdan

You'll only be using it fortnightly in dry weather I guess, so find something cheap and cheerful. £1k is the very bottom of the pile so don't worry about choice, just whatever you can get your hands on

lostinrates

You'd have quite a good choice of makes second hand at that price.

murphydog999

lostinrates wrote: »

You'd have quite a good choice of makes second hand at that price.

That's what I'm thinking but coming to the end of the season there are some good deals about, ex-demo's and showroom stuff. It's the features and benefits more than the price that need consideration. :huh:

Davesnave

The first choice is surely whether you want a mulching deck, or a machine that picks up, or the option to do both.

I have a walk-behind with a twin mulching deck, which is fine for my not-very-pristine grass. It uses less juice than a ride-on and I get fitter than if I just sat on my bum and rode around.

Two friends bought Stiga twin front deck mowers and they only say rude things about the repairs and replacements they've had for those. Could be bad luck, but it certainly isn't bad maintenance or harsh conditions.

lostinrates

Oh, i would say ime of two, the pick up is the first thing to fail. I don't bother, just top regularly. I have been doing the garden with it too, where leaving it lying is a less good option, even done regularly, so dh rakes it for now.