"Larry" wrote in message
...

"John S. Colton" wrote in message
...
Hi, all,

I'm thinking about getting a riding lawn mower to help with my ~0.6
acre lawn. After reading a bunch of internet reviews, I'm thinking
about getting a John Deere L110 although it's a little pricier than I
was originally intending ($1500 max, original limit).

I'm wondering a couple of things:

1. Will I will be able to get a much better deal than the list price
if I wait until the end of the season?

2. Should I be considering used mowers?

I bought a used JD SRX70 and absolutly LOVE IT.

It was advertised in the local paper and turned out to be located on the
next street over. He bought it two years before (about $1750) and she was
asking $750 after he passed on. It's been going strong for me now for over
5
seasons.

I went the 'used mower' route before and really don't like the 'unknown'
and
possible 'nasty surprises' of going this route. What you usually find is
somebody elses problems.

My 2 cents.


(¯`·._.· £ãrrÿ ·._.·´¯)




And if so, any tips on how to
get a good deal? There are so many models/options available out
there, I feel no confidence in being able to accurately say how much I
should be paying for a used mower. (In particular, last week I saw a
~1987 Honda HT 3813, 2 cylinder, liquid cooled, with bagger
attachment, at a garage sale for $750. No idea how many HP or what the
cutting diameter was. Seemed to my amateur eye to be in good
condition. It may still be available, for that matter--would it be a
good deal.)

Thanks for any help,

John

Sounds like good advice to me. I've bought a bunch of used mowers and even
though I service my own and have experience I still will only go bargain
price with a stranger and never top dollar, even from a "friend". And, BTW,
I've still gotten burned a time or two anyway. I would figure on spending
another hundred for fix-up after I got it - ya know, maybe a bearing, tie
rod end, belts, tire (slow leak), battery, blades, fuel filter, general tune
up, or whatever. But I would rather take a chance buying from a widow -
better chance that the reason to sell is not because the machine has a
problem.

There is a general guideline (not sure off the top) but something like -
mass market machines lose 1/2 thier value in 3 years and the better ones
take a few years longer.