Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Equipment Shed => Topic started by: Maison Lammonite on May 20, 2011, 23:34

Title: Ride on mower
Post by: Maison Lammonite on May 20, 2011, 23:34

Bonjour, Hello,

We have about half an acre of grass, not what I would call a lawn, clover, grass & everything else, its reasonably level but grows at an alarming rate during April & May until it gets scorched in June, July & August as we live in the Vendee region of France..

Im researching into ride on mowers with a budget of about £2000 & considering a Mountfield T35M as it is recommended for up to 1 acre, so is this OK or are there other more suitable models that would do the job?

I would prefer something slightly over specified to provide better service through life.

Thanks in advance, your thoughts appreciated

N

Title: Re: Ride on mower
Post by: Gwiz on May 21, 2011, 06:50

I don't know much about the Mountfield, I used to sell them years ago and I wouldn't say they were fantastic, I don't suppose they have improved much over they years.
Stihl have recently brought out a new small ride-on machine called the MR4082 in their VIKING range. I haven't seen one up close, but if they are willing to put their name to it, you can bet it will be pretty good. I think it may be a little over your budget, but a good haggle should bring it down to near what you want to pay.

Title: Re: Ride on mower
Post by: smud6ie on May 21, 2011, 08:43

I reckeon the quality of mountfield as well as some other brands has gone down over the years gwiz,
I haven't seen the stihl in operation or know much about it but I would be looking at the the option to mulch as well on a machine to use in  hot conditions.
smud6ie

Title: Re: Ride on mower
Post by: Gwiz on May 21, 2011, 14:49

Smud6ie,
Glad it's not just me who thinks things have been "dumbed down" over the years.
I used to sell a lot of Mountfield machines they were quite well made. The new ones I wouldn't have in the shop, you can get far better machines for not much more money.

Title: Re: Ride on mower
Post by: Maison Lammonite on May 21, 2011, 22:22

Thank you all for your replies so far

It seems the world over that some manufacturers offer inferior goods on the back of a good name & I had a sneaking suspicion that they might not be as good as they used to be, im sure there are lots of satified customers out there but I need to make the right decision rather than be told "you shouldnt have..." along with the intake of breath through the teeth (in English or French!)

I had noticed the Stihl Viking mower so will be looking closer at that, I have a Stihl chainsaw and its first class.

N

Title: Re: Ride on mower
Post by: Maison Lammonite on May 21, 2011, 22:25

Quote from: Gwiz on May 21, 2011, 14:49

you can get far better machines for not much more money.

Many thanks, what brands would you recommend then?