John Deere or Cub Cadet?

[mikecjn]

After 4 years of complaining about push mowing my 1 1/2 acre yard I finally got the green light to go get my riding mower.<br />I have been looking at the John Deere L110 and the Cub Cadet LT1018. I was pretty set at getting the John Deere but now after seeing the Cub Cadet I am stuck. Both are sitting at $1799. Both are hydrostatic drive and have the 42" deck. Cub has the 18.5 B&S and the JD has a 17.5 Kohler.<br />Quality wise is one better than the other or is it just a flip a coin decision? I do have more JD dealers around me that I am aware of so service I think would be better in that aspect.<br />Any opinions or experiences? I gotta do it soon before my wife changes her mind!<br />

 

[popuptarget]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

Mike just my opinion but I bought a used riding Deere for myself. I have nothing but good things to say about it. I have owned it for four years and this thing will not die. I have been gone for two of the years and my wife used it. She was able to melt a pair of jumper cables(jumping it off with our car), drive over a stump in our yard, and ran into enough walls to destroy the engine cover. That said the Deere guys were more than happy to pick it up, fix it and drop it off for a very reasonable price. It sits outside year long and the only thing the Deere guys did was replace the battery, sharpen the blades and do a basic service on it. I would not trade for anything but another Deere. Popuptarget

 

[JB]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

Both are good mowers, Mike.<br /><br />Of those two, I would go John Deere. I like the green paint and the Kohler engine. <br /><br />I have had too many mowers/tractors that are good for several years and then start to fall apart.<br /><br />When I had 2 acres or less I had a Gravely convertible (Kohler 10HP) that refused to be used up, and I used it for everything you could use a tractor for for 10 years, then sold it for more than I had paid.<br /><br />I currently use a Kubota Diesel B 2150. Too big for 1.5 acres, but they make riding mowers with diesels and HS drive, too. Might be worth looking at.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[mikecjn]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

That' what I was hoping to hear. Everyone I have talked to speaks highly of John Deere service and reliability. I just wasn't sure if I was paying for the name or if I was actually getting a quality lawn tractor.<br />It's been a long time coming and now that I am actually getting the ok to go get it I wanted to make sure.<br />Thanks again.

 

[dhammann]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

Mike, I don't mean to bust your bubble but both that model JD and the Cadet are made by MTD who makes Murray, Craftsman,Husquarvna,K-mart and many more. The vast majority of mowers are made by MTD located in Tenn. Good mowers but look at other brand names made by MTD and you will get the same machine for much less. The JD model can be substituted for $1100 at Wal-Mart!!

 

[mikecjn]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

BigDee...hmmm that kinda changes things, but that's why I am asking.<br />I knew that MTD did Troy Bilt and the Cub Cadet but I wasn't aware of the John Deere part.<br />I have looked at the Murry, Craftsman and some of the others. The big difference I have noticed was the solid front axle on the John Deere and the Cub. Seems like better quality. I also like what I am hearing about their service. While I don't necessarily dislike Sears I don't find them impressive with their service. The closest Craftsman mower that had what the JD had was only $200-$300 less. For that much I would just as soon go with the Deere...

 

[DJ]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

mikecjn,<br /><br />My father in law is on his second Deere in 27 years using it commercially for a Floral/Greenhouse business. Not to mention blowing snow and surviving my wife and her sister. My dad also owns a little seciond hand Deere rider (not a tractor). <br /><br />The old one didn't wear out, just got a little wheezy. Who knows how many hours that engine (Kohler) had on it.<br /><br />In either case, Deere or Cub, they are made here and the money stays here in the US.<br /><br />He also swears by his local Deere dealer. So does my dad. One cannot complain about that.

 

[dhammann]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

27 years ago JD made good stuff and they still do on thier high end....but they outsource on their residential products. The solid axle is better and it probably has zerk fittings but functionally thier is not much of an advantage...it is a cheap shot at making you think that you are getting more for the money...for 700 more I don't see the value. The drive train is identical to the ones used in the $1000 machines. The extra service care may be a plus but it comes with a hefty price after the warranty expires.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

They are both good but I am hooked on Orange and will never have anything but.<br />They do make a good lawn tractor and it is a 3 cylinder diesel which is a big selling point for me.<br />I have owned Kubotas for the last 15 years or so and they do just no wear out.<br /><br />Has over 2000 hours on the last one when I traded it in on a new BX2200.<br /><br />Go here and see it. TG1860 <br /><br />48 or 54 inch decks that will cut grass all day long with no problem.<br />I have a 60" on the BX2200 and cut around 15 acres or so ever week.<br />Just my .02 worth.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

And BTW, at $1800 each for the JD or Cub, you could buy 4 of them before you would wear the Kubota out. IMHO.

 

[RadioWaves]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

I bought my JD 185 with hydrostatic drive in 1989 used. It is a 1988 model. It just keeps on going and going and going.....still going.....still going....<br /><br />I'm not planning on replacing it anytime soon. It still runs great, reverse is a bit slow but that's about it. After all these years I don't guess that's too bad...

 

[JRJ]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

My wife likes her JD. The neighbor lady rides a Sears. The color she likes works the best

 

[dhud64]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

I bought a Deere LT150 last fall. So far I love it.

 

[lund17]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

I'm drivin' a Husky with the Kohler Command. Also like the looks of the cast axle but Bigdee is right about functionality. What I most like is that the Kohler has full pressure lubrication and a filter. Beats the snot outta splashers IMHO. Have had mine for 4 yrs and also have the snoblower attachment whic is sweet. Open the door and drive out blowing two stage. Snow is twenty feet from drive. No banks.

 

[mikecjn]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

Thanks for all the replies guys. I think I am going to go with the John Deere. Sounds like nothing but good experiences with them. If it lasts as long as it sounds like it will, I think it will be money well spent.<br /><br />BigDee: I emailed John Deere and asked about MTD making that series of tractor and they replied that they do not. They said that MTD does not make any tractors for them. That makes me feel a bit better. I was worried there for a minute. Also the problems I have with buying the Walmart brands are the quality and the service. The $1000 ones I am finding also don't have the hydrostatic drive. That was also the case with the Craftsman.<br /><br />SBN: I can't pull off getting the Kubota. My wife is still a bit touchy about major purchases since I bought my boat 3 years ago without telling her. You should have seen the look on her face when I pulled in the driveway with it. Priceless!<br /><br />Oh by the way, does anyone know what the 'real' difference between buying one at Home Depot versus going to the John Deere dealer is? They both have the same model for the same price. I am thinking it may be better to go thru John Deere but if there isn't a difference does it matter? They are both about the same distance from my house give or take a couple miles.

 

[JRJ]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

I've had good luck with the JD dealer. They can work with you on price, throw in a hat or two, and at some point you will need service. They also give good trade-in value when or if you need a new one You are gonna save so much time on mowing that you will get out on the boat more

 

[dhammann]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

Sorry Mike, you are correct, JD is not affiliated with MTD. In fact they are manufactured in Cary NC . However, both companies outsource to the same parts suppliers. That explains the striking resemblance. The JD plant is an assembly plant that does very little manufacturing as it subs out parts and assembled components.<br />$1800 is fairly competitive >300-400. If your yard is sandy or dusty like it is here in NC, your deck will be sandblasted into oblivion before the drive train goes regardless of brand. I have had 2 cheap Murrays, one lasted 10 years and I sold the other(still running)after 8 years. That is 18 years for an investment of $1500 or $83 per year. So your JD will have to last for 21.6 years to equal the value of the cheapie. Is the JD better? Yes it is…is it a better value? Not really!

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

I have had a JD175 for the past 9 - 10 years.<br />It had 2300 hrs on the clock when I got it from a county auction and I have put another 400 hrs on it since.<br /><br />Only once has it died on me when it took all of a new spark plug to bring it back to life.<br /><br />Most of the other brands are available here in NZ but the build quality and service is most suspect on some brands.<br /><br />I know my 175 is an old model but my JD dealer is still happy to help when we need parts.<br /><br />Regards all<br /><br />Peter

 

[DJ]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

mikecjn,<br /><br />I think you are making a good choice. <br /><br />IMHO, buy it from a small business, local dealer. They have a huge incentive to keep you happy. Nothing against Wal Mart, Home Depot, etc., but I appreciate small businesses and frequent them whenever I can. I am fortunate to have an Ace Hardware here that is the "best of the best".<br /><br />Glad to see you buying American. American workers, American Company. Even foriegn named stuff built here does not keep the money here in the US. That's something that most people do not understand.<br /><br />Enjoy. Think Green'e'!

 

[dogsdad]

Re: John Deere or Cub Cadet?

I'd buy it from a JD dealer. John Deere has historically been very jealous of its reputation and they are serious about their connsumer products line---not that they haven't made some real blunders in the past. Anyway, I think a dealer would be way more willing to give you the best service possible if you buy your machine from him, and I'd rather have a Deere dealership working on my stuff than any Sears or what have you.<br /><br />Of course, I may be a bit biased. My grandfather was a Deere dealer for about 55 years. I am well acquainted with the Long Green Line.