Sorry if this is a duplicate post. i tried to post yesterday, but don't see it. I am looking for input on the options I found for my initial riding lawn mower. I currently use a Toro personal pace 21" and it takes 45-50 minutes to mow less than 1/2 an acre. Yard is mostly flat except for one corner where the subdivision makes a step change. In that corner it drops 4ft over about a 10ft run. This area if need could still be handled by the Toro. The overall switch to a rider is due to age and knee issues creeping up. I also have a limitation of a 46" shed door - so a 42 in mower will need either a mulch kit or fit with the chute upright.

Local dealers have the Cub CadeT 2XT XL42 at $1,800; the Husqvarna 22V24 at $1,800; the Simplicity Regent 23/38 at $2,100; and model year 2017 Simplicity Regent 23/42 at $2,000. Please don't respond to purchase something at $5,000 as budgets don't allow that. I realize you get what you pay for - just wonder which option above maximizes that.