[inspectorudy]

I am. I rebuild and sell John Deere tractors here near Atlanta simply because that is the most popular brand and they sell easy. I have learned a lot about the JD garden tractors and have come to admire them for the period that they came from. The early garden tractors had front auxiliary hydraulic outlets and two sets of levers for their control. They had hydrostat trannies and hydraulic rockshaft lift systems all of this in the early eighties. Some like the 318 had power steering as well. They also came with all steel parts and no plastic until the nineties. That was some accomplishment for the period. I have now bought, rebuilt and sold about 7 JDs and have learned a lot about them. But when it comes to mowing my yard and hauling my wagon around I prefer my 1811! The tranny is smoother and there is no "Creep" when I put it in neutral like almost all of the JD's have had. Now that I have added power steering to it it drives as good as the PS JD's do. And even though I have had many engine types including two Yanmar diesels I still like the M-18 for its power and response. Fuel use not so much. The Yanmars are sippers compared to the M-18. I also think that the CC 1811 has a better seating position than most of the JD's that I have used. Although the latest one that I just finished,JD 455, has adjustable steering wheel and a nice adjustable seat. I guess if I had ever gotten to see one of the CC GT's I would probably see how much they are like the JD's. Here is my latest product a JD 455 diesel. One thing for sure is that if I had not traded in my JD130 for the 1811 I would have never gotten into this mess!