"fj" wrote in message
...
Cheers, and thanks for your input - I am arrangong a demo next week, and
yes
I knew stiga was Scandinavian and quality seems excellent

Stiga is part of GGP (Global Garden Products) and machines can be made any
where within the group and are not necessarily made in Sweden. Also to use
an 18" machine to cut 2/3 on an acre is not in anyway remotely suitable. Yes
Stiga make professional machines but they are ride-ons with out front cutter
decks, what you are buying will be a domestic machine.

For the size area you are cutting you will need a ride-on - which Stiga do
(28" about £1,500) and will mulch or collect. If you purchase the walk
behind machine you will spend a good part of your life cutting grass, until
that is the machine reaches a premature end

Alastair