g'day graeme,

i'd have to see your situation to be able to suggest any particular
machine and as for independant reviews there is only possibly choice
magazine and how the evaluate a thing like a mower without first hand
experience in using many makes and models and without repairing many
makes and models astounds me.

i saw one of ther very erly reviews when i was still a mower mechanic
to me it was laughable all they seemd to be doing was supporting
someone who sponsered the review.

anyway for the main ride on mowers are just that mowers you ride on
they don't generally cut long grass on uneven rough ground. if you
want to cut rough stuff you need some sort of slasher mower and they
are generally walk behind models, unless there is something on the
market that i am not aware of.

might be you may ahe to get a person in with a slasher knock it into
shape then look for a rider mower.

when you do look for a rider mower it needs to be a model with a
variable speed mechanism eg.,. gear box or the like. these single
speed touch and go high maintenance models are not quiet as robust and
the engines get over worked on them let alone their driving mechanisms
imagine how long a car would alst with a similar drive.

and the end of the day seek out a specialist shop where there is the
experience to be able to offer good advice.

the reliable models from my day where the snapper 5 speed, the
deutscher 5 speed(?) and the rover rancher then had 6 speed.



snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.users.bigpond.com/gardenlen1