So, you've heard that John Deere sold at Lowes/Home Depot are crap?

[CorCentral]

I keep hearing the crap that John Deere gets and it's not as good as the "real thing" as sold at John Deere dealers! How does John Deere fair to the other brands sold at Lowes and Home Depot?

So, out of the 42" yard tractors bought at Lowe's, Home Depot, Sears and other LARGE chains............... what's the best?

John Deere, Ann "Murray", Cub Cadet, Troy Bilt, Yard Man, Craftsman (others)

 

[waggy]

yeap heard the same.

 

[Conky]

I've only heard that here. Everybody I know with a Deere lawn tractor seems to love it, no matter where they bought it.

It's not that big of a purchasing decision. I have about a half acre to cut and went with a Craftsman lawn tractor and it still runs good 4 years later. Go figure.

 

[TerryMathews]

Ok, you see you're not getting the problem.

The JDs sold at Home Depot are not any worse than the ones you listed. The problem comes in when you get idiots who think they're getting JD Farm Equipment quality and reliability for half (or less) the price.

A Home Depot JD will last you 5-10 years given decent maintenance. A 'real' one will last double that, easy although they do start to get rough at 17-20. We've got a 214 that's still running great although it drinks oil.

 

[conehead433]

Of the models listed I would probably choose Cub Cadet over the John Deere. The John Deere I owned was difficult to repair yourself. It was made like they didn't want you to be able to work on it yourself. If you want a good mower check out an X-Mark or Toro. Also Yahoo makes a good walk behind self-propelled mower. Regrettably it's not as good as a Kee mower, a company Yahoo bought out.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Ok, you see you're not getting the problem.

The JDs sold at Home Depot are not any worse than the ones you listed. The problem comes in when you get idiots who think they're getting JD Farm Equipment quality and reliability for half (or less) the price.

A Home Depot JD will last you 5-10 years given decent maintenance. A 'real' one will last double that, easy although they do start to get rough at 17-20. We've got a 214 that's still running great although it drinks oil.

Ok, so you're telling me you can buy the same John Deere MDL at Lowe's that you can buy at a JD reputable dealer? We are talking 42" lawn tractors, not HUGE COMBINES for huge land lots!

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: CorCentral

Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Ok, you see you're not getting the problem.

The JDs sold at Home Depot are not any worse than the ones you listed. The problem comes in when you get idiots who think they're getting JD Farm Equipment quality and reliability for half (or less) the price.

A Home Depot JD will last you 5-10 years given decent maintenance. A 'real' one will last double that, easy although they do start to get rough at 17-20. We've got a 214 that's still running great although it drinks oil.

Ok, so you're telling me you can buy the same John Deere MDL at Lowe's that you can buy at a JD reputable dealer? We are talking 42" lawn tractors, not HUGE COMBINES for huge land lots!

Yes. And I don't appreciate you treating me like I don't understand what you're talking about, when you don't have a clue.

John Deere has two distinct product lines. The 100 series and the X series. The 100 series is what is sold at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. The X series are 'real' John Deeres, but they are home riding mowers. They aren't "HUGE COMBINES".

100 series

X300 series (lowest of the real JDs)

The 100 series is available at John Deere dealers as well as retail outlets, but a real John Deere dealer will try to direct you away from them strongly, since their resale value isn't anywhere near as good, they aren't as reliable, and don't last as long. It's John Deere for the Wal*Mart generation.

 

[Bryophyte]

Most lawn tractors you listed are just rebadges, made, I think, by MTD. John Deere makes real tractors, those lawn tractors aren't of the same quality. That's not to say that they're necessarily any worse than others, just that they're priced higher because of the green paint and the Deere logo. I personally have a Cub Cadet lawn tractor and found it to be superior to others, especially the Sears ones.

 

[Pacfanweb]

The John Deeres at Home Depot are still far superior to the Murrays at Home Depot, regardless of whether they are as good as a "real" JD.

I've got an old Scotts by JD, had it for 7 years so far, and it runs like a champ. No problems, other than I replaced the muffler once.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: TerryMathews

Originally posted by: CorCentral

Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Ok, you see you're not getting the problem.

The JDs sold at Home Depot are not any worse than the ones you listed. The problem comes in when you get idiots who think they're getting JD Farm Equipment quality and reliability for half (or less) the price.

A Home Depot JD will last you 5-10 years given decent maintenance. A 'real' one will last double that, easy although they do start to get rough at 17-20. We've got a 214 that's still running great although it drinks oil.

Ok, so you're telling me you can buy the same John Deere MDL at Lowe's that you can buy at a JD reputable dealer? We are talking 42" lawn tractors, not HUGE COMBINES for huge land lots!

Yes. And I don't appreciate you treating me like I don't understand what you're talking about, when you don't have a clue.

John Deere has two distinct product lines. The 100 series and the X series. The 100 series is what is sold at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. The X series are 'real' John Deeres, but they are home riding mowers. They aren't "HUGE COMBINES".

100 series

X300 series (lowest of the real JDs)

The 100 series is available at John Deere dealers as well as retail outlets, but a real John Deere dealer will try to direct you away from them strongly, since their resale value isn't anywhere near as good, they aren't as reliable, and don't last as long. It's John Deere for the Wal*Mart generation.

I did'nt mean to be the way you were saying **LOL**

If you could lead me through the 100 series from Lowe's/HomeDepot and the X series ones
on the same price points and tell me the differences and what's better.

 

[RCN]

forget all of them......buy a lesco or toro



out of the ones listed I'd probably choose a cub cadet though........

 

[BoomerD]

Almost everything sold at Lowes is crap. Why should these be any different? Where are they made? Wouldn't be surprised if it was China. 99% of everything sold at Lowes is made there.
Either accept that you're buying a sub-standard piece of equipment to save a few $$$, or go buy a quality one and spend the $$$ for it...

 

[TerryMathews]

X300 42 inch cut
$2800
17HP engine Kohler OHV (super reliable)
16" turning radius
Deck converts between side discharge, mulching, and bagging
Automatic transmission. Bidirectional pedal for forward/back travel. It's super easy to use
3.5 gal tank with oversize filling port
Wet disc brakes
Heavy duty PTO clutch
Cast iron axle
2yr warranty
foward speed 0-5.5MPH
cruise control

155C (compares on price)
$2600
25hp engine B&S (more power, less reliability)
18" turning radius (wider turns)
Deck supports same three modes, but conversion not as easy
Same automatic transmission controls
2.1 gal tank (more fillups)
Standard brakes (harder to use)
Standard clutch (wears faster)
Cast iron axle
2yr warranty
forward speed range 0-5.5MPH
cruise control

102 (compares on power and deck size)
$1400
17hp B&S (Murray engine)
18" turning radius (why so big on a small tractor hmm?)
Deck supports three modes, conversion not as easy
5spd manual
2.1 gal tank
standard brakes
standard clutch
cast iron axle
2yr warranty
forward speed range 1.5-5MPH
no cruise control

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: RCN
forget all of them......buy a lesco or toro



out of the ones listed I'd probably choose a cub cadet though........

Agreed. I'm not sure why anyone wants a riding lawn mower. They drive like tanks.

 

[LeadMagnet]

American Electrolux makes most of the other brands (Sears Craftsman, Poulin, WeedEater, Husqavana, ect.....) and they are NOT as good as the Deere's sold at Lowes. (L1xx series)

 

[sourceninja]

My riding lawn mower is a JC Pennys. Its 26 years old and still works perfect. I am also 26 years old. I grew up mowing my grandfathers law with this exact same mower.