Thanks for all the input gentlemen. I'm going to keep my research going and my eyes looking for a good used option until my Murray finally gives up the ghost. If I haven't found anything by then I may be forced to look at other options. I enjoy reading everyone's experiences with various manufacturers, keep it going.
I told my sister-in-law and her husband to go to a good dealer and buy a mower when they bought their first house. Of course, they went to Lowe's and bought some pos, with no clue on how to maintain it. Like, never ever checked the oil, because it was new. When it wouldn't start in the spring, they had to locate someplace to take it for warranty work, which happened to be the dealer I told them to go to in the first place. They got it running again, but carb cleaning isn't covered under warranty... After the second time, they bought a 40v Kobalt, which is fine for their very small lot. They're tickled with it for now, but it's only on its third season. Good timing on the thread. If everything goes to plan, I'll be moving in a couple of weeks, and buying a new mower. My new place isn't big enough for my 60" zt, but maybe bigger than I want to push. I haven't even started looking to see what's out there.
How about a trade for an mtd 42" 16.5 HP hydro tractor? Only sorta kidding I really need a bigger mower for my acre of grass.
Consumer reports just came out with a new report. I will post it from Denver Colo news when it's available.
I love CR. They can tell us all the best mowers to buy after they spend 45 minutes with each model. Their recommendations are all over the place. Sometimes they are close to the mark and other times I wonder if they are actually serious.
All that said, somebody in Husqvarna's engineering department got serious about their push-mowers. They're a far cry from what they were a few years ago. Now if they could do the same for their snowblowers.....
Yeah, I'm not one to put much faith into CR's opinions. They are totally all over the place. 2013 they gave one nav/info center on a car a best of, and the next year they said it was difficult to use. That particular unit hadn't changed at all.
Grand Bahamas, shark feeding class, tonic immobility . sharks have electrical receptors on their nose and when you put your hand there they freeze instantly. it overloads their senses.
Got a buddy who surfs north of Santa Cruz, Ca. a bit. Doubt he'll ever want to get close enough to try that- Great Whites.
Former boss was a big free / scuba diver. He spent, and still spends, his winters down in the Florida keys sailing and diving. That free diving always impressed me. He claimed that in just a few afternoons he could have me diving x feet on one breath. I was always a bit skeptical.
I'm not sure how much you are mowing but even though we have a couple acres there isn't much lawn to mow. A small front yard, a little piece here, a patch there... I ended up buying a used 36" commercial walk behind. It makes short work of my mowing and will likely last me a lifetime with my limited use.
I went and looked at the 80v kobalt at Lowe's today, because my family thinks that is what we need. It would probably do okay for me, but I just can't do it. $500 for a bunch of plastic and a little bit of metal seems wrong when it comes to a mower. And I'm not sure about replacement parts ten years down the road, if it lasts ten years. For $500 (probably less, we didn't really talk turkey), I can get a Gravely with a Robin engine. Not their fancy commercial push with the cast aluminum deck, but a residential unit. I've heard that heavy deck is hard on the 3 speed drive system anyway. Until then, my 81 year old neighbor continues to mow for me. He's gonna be a little disappointed when I actually get a mower.