What will they think of next painting them to match your siding.I guess that explains that non glossy gold paint they keep bringing back year after year.That has no shine to it what so ever.Just like house siding.Wonder if the Martha Stewart K-mart special edition will have the no gloss paint or not?

Is Deere worried Blahhaaa hahaaaahaaa you are kidding right?

"Puk" Green an't all that. Real JD's better be worried some of there lawn tractors are getting higher than some new cars.

Now, getting back to the thread. I'm not fawn of the single, but that's me.

Pretty sweet looking, although I always wondered what the point of an aerodynamic vehicle which has a top speed of 6 mph.

It almost has that 'bota GR2100 look to it. I just don't understand why they continue to put black seat's on 'em. Doesn't that get burning hot in the summer sun?

Anyway, if you like it, buy it and enjoy!
-gh

Deere is probably flattered as Craftsman pretty much copied and cheapened every part of the old L-Series for these new ones. Steel and plastic still cost everyone the same, so if Craftsman can squeeze out a tractor with these specs at $1,399 something is missing somewhere. You still get what you pay for. I will say, on paper, it's a lot for the $$$.

I think Sears/Electrolux Reverse-Engineered the Deere design, in the same spirit of the Japanese camera makers reverse engineering the early German camera designs.

It would be fun to go over this model in detail along side of an LA Deere to see whether there is anything less well built..it could turn out that the build quality detail is better on this tractor than on the Deere. Does anyone see anything Sears missed on this one?

We haven't seen the full line of 07 Sears models yet. For Sears, the idea of painting tractors in popular metallic automobile colors strikes me as an emerging trend, and Deere obviously won't follow them there (tho years ago they did try that once!). It could be that wives are the final decision maker on the new tractor purchase and this option might be favored over a garish primary tone offered by the other players.

I love my Deere but this new tractor did capture my attention.

D

Sears has the luxury of painting it's tractors any colour it wants because Sears doesn't have trademarked colours like Case, Ford, John Deere, IH Cub Cadet and so on. Brand loyalty and trademarked colours go hand-in-hand.

If you are driving by a a field of corn or wheat at harvest time and see a combine taking it off, you don't need to read the nameplate on the combine to know who made it.

I don't see the beginning of any trend here. Dedicated LT/GT owners WANT people to know the brand of tractor they are operating and the colour scheme sends that message loud and clear. Next year, Sears' stylists will debut new colours and that too is a mistake. You can't tell the year of a Deere by looking at the colour. Owners like that fact.

Forgetable tractors get painted forgetable colours but for the price asked, this Sears tractor should sell well.

They also have a new $800 LT1000 (or something like that.) It has no lights and looks like some kind of insect pupa that lives it's entire life underground in the dark. About as bottom-end as you can get.

Nope, that bug eyed Murray IMO was the bottom of the barrel. Gezz, if I had one of them I would run it with no cowling. I would smash the cowling and put it out of it's misery. IMO cheap tractor's don't get alot of design thought. Like about 15 Mins maybe!

"Pretty sweet looking, although I always wondered what the point of an aerodynamic vehicle which has a top speed of 6 mph"

in terms of looks, i would take a 70's/80's GT anyday over ANY brand of new tractor.

dont get me wrong, i love my deere. but just like cars and trucks, they looked so much better back in the dat. even 15 years ago.

I don't know if the designers do that aero thing just to make them look more modern, but it does have a practical function: less damage to shrubs or trees with low, easily injured branches (like crepe myrtles) as you get up tight against them.
But that wouldn't help my problem. I usually keep the nose of my JD clear of the delicate branches, then turn left and whack them with the bagger sticking 2' out the rear and offset to the right. Ironically, the non-Pflow collection system allows me to trim with the right side as well, which sets me up to sideswipe things with the bagger when I turn left without thinking.

Kind of reminds me of the streamliners the railroads
created in the 30s & 40s.. Beautiful trains, but proven
to be almost 100% eye candy, and made no discernable
difference in the trains performance...
Paul R...

Is this a box store JD?

Here is a link that might be useful: Box Store JD

I suspect that the styling is intended to make the tractor look more accessible (usable) to a wider audience. If it looks too much like 'power equipment', many sububanites may think it too complicated or may be intimidated by perceived mechanical complexity. Like most other things, many purchasing decisions are based on styling/looks, not utility/substance.

t

I remember when most Craftman tractors were mostly all silver (light grey or pewter)...I tend to prefer colour matching brand like: Ford ,J.D. C.C. etc; (the perception is heritage). As for aerodynamics; the only advantage I can see is that it can be easier to wash...(for those who want to do that).

I assume this is the new twin blade 46" deck GREAT!! Two blades are better than three, I'd like to see a twin blade 48", but don't expect to see it soon.

Does Deere offer a twin blade 46" deck? It is ok with me if they do, and being green and yellow (ug!) doesn't add anything for me. My Craftsman DYT4000 is Red and my GT6000 is silver/light-grey, makes it easy to tell them apart from afar.
Do I car if a "drive by" knows what tractor brand I'm ridding? NO!

hmmm... I still like my Craftsman YS4500 Limited Edition.
Runs smooth, starts every time, great cut. I like the twin cylinder motor. The "step through design" is nice for us 'bigger fellas'. Twin blade is great, mine cuts nice & even.
A "Pedal Hydrostat" - I don't know, I've gotten used to the one on the fender. I don't like the pedal on my BIL's Deere - but I have a right leg limitation due to deep vein thrombosis.

This is only the start of my second season with mine. It ran great right out of the gate, very pleasant after spending years having to 'get the lawnmower running' every spring.

One thing I found over the winter storing it out in the 10'x20' canvas shed (on a concrete slab): I had to store it with the hood raised otherwise outdoor creatures make their home under the cowling!

>> I think Sears/Electrolux Reverse-Engineered the Deere design, in the same spirit of the Japanese camera makers reverse engineering the early German camera designs.

Lets hope its not the way the Russians did the same thing.

It may look snazzy and attract home owners but like people said you get what you paid for, cheap engine, cheap plastic, decent transmission. The craftsmans are basicaly the same as the cheap "L" series John Deeres that you can get at Home Depot. I would prefer my John Deere LT160 over any craftsman any day.

Justin, enjoy, but don't got to "bed" thinking you've got it over any one else, your just happy with your decisions, great.

That's funny. Some of you guys sound like you are "going to bed" with your lawn mower.

I don't know what someone is talking about when he says - "cheap plastic" - is that somehow saying the plastic on his JD is more expensive plastic? My Craftsman has a steel frame and a steel body, including a steel hood and fenders. It has a plastic (3 gallon) gas tank. Is my gas tank made of cheaper plastic than his? It has a plastic gas cap, seems to be well made, heavy gauge plastic fits good & snug too.
Maybe these "you get what you pay for" comments are made by people who feel they paid more and therefore they hope that they got more? I guess we will have to wait 10 to 20 years to really find out if that was true.

When I was looking for a new lawn mower my budget said I could either get a used JD or get a box store JD or get something else. Once I found that the box store JD's were made by MTD that pretty much ruled them out.

I had bought used riding lawn mowers in the past and the best of them only lasted me about 4 seasons. The new 'coast to coast' tractor I bought at the hardware store across the street in 1994 lasted 7 years, but that was shared between my BIL's property and my own. That was an MTD. It finally fell apart, down to nuts & bolts.

The best of the used ones I owned was a 20 year old Craftsman. It's engine, frame & deck are still great but I can't get a new transaxle for it so it sits under a tree.

When I went looking for a new tractor I compared what I could get at the box store with what I could get for similar or less money at Sears.

Sears was having a sale ( when are they not? ).
So I looked at the low end and the high end and the middle.

In the middle they had the YS4500 Limited Edition in that awful harvest gold color. Strangely it had the body lines of the Husqvarna sitting next to it that had a sticker price about $500 more.

What I wanted to know about was the engine, hydrostat & build quality. I found the metal frame and body parts to be a welcome surprise compared to what I had seen at the box stores. With a larger gauge frame and deck and all the parts put together in a way that looked like it just might last.
The 2 cylinder engine with pressurized oil system was also welcome.

As I was not looking for something that would be used for ground engaging work (that's what my 4WD Mitsubishi diesel tractor was good for) this little yard tractor seemed to pack a lot more punch for the dollar than those at the box stores or for that matter the less expensive Craftsman units sitting next to it. I was also looking for something that did not have the foot pedal hydro due to my right leg health problem. Oh, and the key position reverse mowing is a great deal better than the pushbutton idea.

My tractor has been completely trouble free from the moment it was delivered by truck to my property ( with free delivery ).

I pull around a steel dump cart I bought at the box store.
I mow my hilly half acre and I cart heavy stuff around.

So, all I'm saying is that there are good machines out there that don't have green and yellow paint. Also that there are options other than Lowes or Home Depot.

There's a lot of space in the middle of the market, between what I consider the low end of the big box stores and the high end dealer shops. You can do a lot worse than a Craftsman or Husqvarna.

You folks who have $5k (or more) to spend on a lawn mower are not the people I'm speaking to. Go to the boutique and pick out a shiny new green & yellow lawn mower and be happy with it. But for God's sake don't look down on those of us who want to get good value for the sub $2k budget we have to spend. Most of us try hard to get the best value for our money, and like I said there's a lot of room in the middle - where the vast majority of us live.

rbastedo, what you say is all absolutely correct. However remember: if you go out and cut your grass with a $2K mower and it looks good, then your neighbor goes out and cuts his grass with his $5K mower and it looks good too, he really needs to feel his large extra expenditure does something for him other than cut the grass with a good looking lawn as a result. So sit back and allow him this, whatever he chooses to rationalise, maybe that 30 yrs. from now his mower will still be identifiable to drivers by, but your mower will have been replaced 5 yrs. earlier with a transparent hydrogen powered Craftsman so 'ha!'
Just let the other guy be happy that he outsmarted you and grin as you cut grass with your lowly machine.

rbastedo, the L/LA Series John Deere (which you call big box) are manufactured (and always have been) by John Deere, not MTD.

John Deere = John Deere
Craftsman=Husqvarna Group
Cub Cadet MTD
TroyBilt=MTD
Toros at HD =MTD
Yardman, Yardmachines-MTD

Looks like it is worth the $1399 you pay for it.

My Deere is worth the $4800 I paid for it.

Who is happier?

John Deere is happier. They got the $$$

rbastedo
Well said, and I think the point the "feel good" crowd in yellow and green are missing is they leave the recommendation to all readers that one has to buy the same machine they did, or they are being a fool. Many, I suspect most, just can't afford the higher priced machines. And, if they have to replace their Craftsman in 10 years, so what, they again have a new tractor. In addition to my 1993 GT6000, still running strong with all original equipment (plus new belts and oil) I have a 2005 DYT4000, purchased for $1,039. It is a great mower and I'd strongly recommend to anyone on a budget to look for an end of the year "sale" at Sears to get a great deal. As I may have said earlier in this thread, I like the bright red color too.

"the L/LA Series John Deere (which you call big box) are manufactured (and always have been) by John Deere, not MTD"

Not what I was told when I was shopping. Hmmm... I was told it here on this board too. Oh well, they were wrong or you are wrong. Who knows? What I know from testing those machines is that they seemed flimsy. My Craftsman did not seem (feel) flimsy. Too much plastic on the BB Deeres, not enough steel. Just my humble opinion.

BTW I believe that everyone has the right and the freedom to feel great about the tractor they own. You really don't have to put other peoples equipment down in order to do that. If you have a green & yellow and you are happy that's great. If it makes you feel superior to your fellow man who perhaps has a red tractor or even a harvest gold tractor - well good for you. Whatever gets you through the day, its important that we just give people a little respect once in a while, which is really what I'm getting at.

In various locations I have a Deere L-110, a Sears GT5000 and an MTD Yard Machines and like all the tractors.

So there!

"Oh well, they were wrong or you are wrong."
They were wrong. The L/LA Series are built in John Deere's Manufacturing Facility in Greeneville, Tennessee.