Buying a new GT
 

Since I got no spare time to work on my QL 1650, it needs a engine rebuilt, a new paint job, and the deck need major restoration. I already decided to purchase a brand new Massey Ferguson SCUT, but my son needed a car for school travel, and my house roof needa to be done. Long story short. My wallet is a bit "Thinner", I need to make a smart budget choice.

I take a look at Cub Cadet offers and the GT2148 looks interesting, 9 gauge steel frame, Kohler Command engine, shaft drive, Iron cast diff, electric deck lift and fab deck. Not bad! MSRP in Canada $6200....Holy cow!

Looked at John Deere offers and only the X320 may fit the bill but for a MSRP of $5300. I expect more then a K56 tranny...

All left on my list and available in Canada was the Husqvarna GT52XLS and the Cub Cadet GT1054, they are about the same price ($3499 MSRP) but the husky got a better engine (Kawa) and a G730 diff. I wonder what's under the GT1054...A K46 or a K56 like the John Deere X320? I wish the husky frame was stronger like the one on the Cub but nothing is perfect in this world. I still have no idea what to do so all suggestion are welcome as long they are for a brand new tractor. Thank you

Not sure about the models in CAN but I think the cub GT your looking at is the GTX2148. Its the same tractor as the GTX2100 I own. This year they added the deck size to the model number. If you want a 48" deck its a 2148, 54" its a 2154. Anyway the GTX 2148 is in my opinion one if the best GT on the market for the money!! Shaft driven, power steering, serviceable rear end and the Kohler command well enough said! The fabricated deck is built to last for ever if taken care of! Not sure about mark up up north but you can get that same tractor in the states for around 5 grand out the door with 0% interest for 4 years! Oh and I forgot the tractor also has a 5 year 500 hour bumper to bumper!!! My neighbor just bought the KW 1042 about a month ago he's cut a couple times and just loves the mower! Says the engine is super quiet and very smooth! Mower turns very tight and cuts super nice!! And the Kawasaki engine one of the better small engines on the market today. I looked at several different makes before buying mine last spring and couldn't find anything close to the GTX2100 for the money. I wanted to buy something that I could use for the next 25 years or so and I'm pretty sure I got what I wanted! But only time will tell. By the way I love the tractor cuts like a dream, quiet in the seat, and turns on a dime!!! And power to spare!!!

FWIW - (and don't want to get banned from this site for talking green... ) If I were buying a new garden tractor today, it would be the John Deere x530. It has a tough, reliable K72 tranny in it, diff lock, power steering, 48 or 54 inch deck, hydro lift, sleeve (JD calls integral) hitch available and two things that are IMHO very important these days. One is resale. The other is the deck has four casters/anti-scalp wheels on it, one at each corner. You can turn them 90 degrees, lower the deck, unhook it and ROLL it out from under the tractor.

Good luck,
Bill

I second this. The X series deeres are a force to be reckoned with...I myself am not s fan of newer equipment but these are as close to the older gts and close to being an actual compact tractor.

Unfortunately the more I look at them (and I try not to :biggrin2:) the more features I like. Drive shaft driven deck, 4x4, heavy duty frame, transmission, the attachments look well built, and to be honest, if they weren't green, I'd like 'em a lot more!:biggrin2: Then again, I don't like the price tag. I looked at one I'd like to have, 4x4, diesel, dual hydraulics, rear PTO, 3pt hitch, etc and used it priced in at around $9,000! :bigeyes: That's more than I paid for my truck :biggrin2: Here's a link to the newest version, the X758 which rings in at $13,400 starting

http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/....page#viewTabs

A little more pocket friendly, and more to the topic of this thread, might be the GTX2000. 20hp Command, electric steering, cast iron transmission, sounds like a good buy to me, if you can find one at the right price up by you. :beerchug:

http://www.cubcadet.com/equipment/cu...rs/series-2000

The x530 is a lesser machine than the x700 series and would cost much less too. I think once you get to the x700 machines a SCUT becomes a player for the $$$'s you have to spend.

One of my things about a "garden" tractor being labeled a "garden" tractor is that they (IMHO) must have or can have the ability and provision for pulling a moldboard plow. Probably not a good definition, but I'm stickin' to it - LOL.

The latest Cub Cadet GT2000 and 2100 series machines are VERY nice and IMHO, they are price competitive with the x500 series type JD's. You'll get a Kohler Command and a quality tranny/drive train. What you don't get is a sleeve hitch, so until they address this, I'm thinking they are a very high quality lawn/yard tractor. Probably for 99% of the buyers - a moldboard plow is never a consideration, but a quality machine that might last 10, 15 or 20 years without a bunch of fuss is a big deal. I feel the new Cub Cadet GT's fit this perfectly. What you don't get is hydro power steering, hydro lift and a deck that can roll out from under the tractor and a sleeve hitch option.

My brother did not buy the Cub Cadet GT, but instead bought an LTX1050 lawn tractor with a 50 inch deck figuring if he wringed 10 years out of it for half the price of a GT, he would toss it and buy an other lawn tractor. For him, so far, so good.

YMMV!

I can't help but add my 2 cents to this topic. I got the GT 2000 last fall, and I have been very happy with it. I previously had an 1863, and the only thing I miss is the hydraulic lift. I do wish Cub Cadet had options for hydraulic power steering, hydraulic deck lift, shaft driven deck, and locking differential, but I also realize the market is changing to zero turns. I think John Deere are great tractors, but you pay for the name. Most of the parts on these tractors are very similar, and with Cub, you get more for the dollar.

There's an aftermarket sleeve hitch for the GTX series cubs. I can't remember the maker but someone on the site has one and they are very well built. Hydro power steering is nice, but I'll tell you what after have electronic power not sure if its better. Electric deck lift is really nice to.

Holy moly you killing me guys! A X500 really? I just bough a car and redone my house roof. My wallet almost look like a thin aluminum foil! I try to be smart and don't spend to much but you just keep pushing me down the cliff! :ScrewLoose:

I have to admit you have good taste guys but even if I still got enough cash in my pocket I never spend the asking price for a X500 or X700 on a GT, I get a SCUT instead.

My budget is just over $3000 CA add the 15% taxes I have to pay to our 2 "Gobernements" and my total goes to $3500 CA for that amount of money all I can get is a 2014 GT1054 with, a plated deck, Hydro gear G730 tranny and a 26 HP Kohler, well I can get a 2013 GTX1054 with power steering, a G730 tranny and a 27hp B&S for the same price, but both are belt driven hydro.

Cub and Husqvarna offer 3 years 0% interest here in "Crapnada", no similar offer from Mr Jean Chevreuil! (The green machine) this may help stretching my budget but it's not smart to spend more just to piss your neighbors isn't it?:ROTF2:

Thank you guys, now I have to go feed the hamster who spin the wheel in my brain... see ya!

Is it possible within your budget to get a couple year old used machine. That would open your options up quite a bit :beerchug: