Though my walk-behind mower experience is very limited and my Snapper even more-so, I must co-sign with the princess. I've only used my mower twice since purchase, bagging both times, but I can honestly say that 1) it left no clippings on the yard even though I overfilled the bag the first few times, and 2) the clippings in the bag looked as if they'd been mulched... and I haven't even put the Ninja blade on yet.

Judging by the performance thus far, I'm sure I'll be just as happy when I start mulching. So, if like me, you look at value over price, the Snapper should be at the top of your list.

BTW... I bought the push model because I'm a fat-a** and need all the exercise I can get. :-)

Whereas I like Honda engines I still like the good old basic Snapper mower. As mentioned, this thing has only seen minor mods to the deck and drive system in the last 30 something years.

Actually it goes even further back but the early drive although similar had some whackey things like a reverse and a troublesome belt engagement system.

The mower was simply done right many many years ago and someone was smart enough not to tamper with a good thing.

Agreed. They had a good thing going and knew not to mess with it. I find the bag system a little awkward but otherwise they are a great mower.

I don't much like the newer door style bag. The old Z closer style is a dandy though. Pop open a large yard plastic bag, drop the Z end into the bag, reach down and pull the clip and pull the mower bag out while clipping drop into throw away bag.

A good full mower bag is about all one of those large yard bags can handle. I know some folks complained of the Z bag closer which is why they came up with the door style but once you learn how to fold and use it, it is great.

We still get old timers who want the Z bag on their new Snapper and we just put the door bag in stock, it will sell over the counter later on, and install the Z bag.

I had a 1985 Snapper Mower that I gave to a good friend who fell on hard times. It is still running perfect for him but he doesn't take as good a care of it as I did. I have a 2004 Lawn Boy now that I really like but I still miss that Snapper.

As you all can tell by my user name, I'm definitely an old-school Snapper fan. I grew using my dad's 1975 aluminum-deck self-propelled Snapper, and inherited from him when I bought my first house. Great mower! I finally replaced with Hi-Vac steel-deck Snapper to get better mulching performance. As a bagger, the V210 series was great, and the only challenge these days is finding a new engine to fit them when the old one craps out. The new big motors don't clear the tunnel in front or the chute on the side most of the time. You're pretty much limited to an L-head engine with some creative fuel-tank redesigning, or a two-stroke if you can find one.

BTW, I also agree with N_W about the bag. I like the z-style closure better. I also like the fact that those bags hold half a bushel more than the door-style bags.

Yesterday, a customer came in looking to replace his late 70's Snapper with a self propelled. He says the old machine is prone to plugging but he has never replaced the blade!!!! I can imagine what it looks like LOL. He did change the wheels once. Try getting 30 years out of most of today's offerings.

Funny you guys should mention the "Z" closure bag.

The Snapper I picked off the curb had that particular bag with it.

Since I don't bag my clippings but dump them on a compost pile behind the shed in my back yard the large dump door style works better for me.

My large dump door bag comes off easily enough for me and the biggest concern is to have the mower engine shut off to avoid a face full of grass from the chute.

I use a modified "sling shot" casting system of dumping the bag similar to casting a lure under low hanging branches.

I hold the dump door closed with the left hand and with my right hand holding the handle on the chute gate part of the bag I start swinging the bag to the right over the compost pile and at the correct moment let go of the dump door handles.

The inertia of the swinging bag causes the mass of grass in the bag to come flying out of the bag onto the mulch pile.

While I like the fact that the "Z" closure bag holds more, it just isn't as easy to empty in my application.

Oh well, to each their own and since I have both bag styles and they both fit either machine, I can always switch if I decide to bag or need the more accurate method of dumping that the "Z" closure bag affords.

Fairyprincess