I need a lawnmower

[AngryAmish]

Not a very big yard and I do not want one of those motor free, push-only types. I want a quiet mower because I think I want to do my yardwork early on the weekends and do not want to wake up the neighbors.

Any brands? Suggestions? I have had a lawn service for such a long time (then moved into a condo) I don't know what are the good brands. Had a Toro in high school, self propelled, mulching. Not sure what is good nowadays.

Suggestions?

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. Have you thought about going electric? n/t

[AngryAmish]

2. Yes

The corded models are a P.I.T.A. but I'm thinking about battery - but what about battery life, charge time, etc? Upside: quiet Downside: power

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. Check this out...

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/cordlesselectricmowe

[Greyskye]

4. I love my corded electric

I had the same misgivings originally, but have found it to be much less of a hassle then keeping a standard mower in gas.

I've had a Black & Decker corded for 3 or 4 years now, with zero problems. It does a good job both rear-bagging and mulching.

[evlbstrd]

5. I have a Neuton

http://www.neutonpower.com/ContentPages/CSTM_52_Overview.aspx

A little pricey off the top, but an excellent mower. Quiet, no cord, no gas.

[Bravo Zulu]

8. me too

I bought an extra battery and blade,it has an attachment for a weed whacker, you can wait until they run a special and get a good price, I'm going on my third year using it!

[evlbstrd]

10. I got the bagger and trimmer.

Haven't used the trimmer yet, though.

[NewJeffCT]

9. $299 (the cheaper model)

isn't an outrageous price. I paid about half that for a PITA corded electric mower last year. It's not bad, but it's not all that quiet and the cord is often a PITA

[sammythecat]

6. I really can't say anything about the others,

but I've had 2 Toro's (self-propelled, walk behind) in the last 30 years and they're both used hard and still going strong. I think they used to guarantee them to start within 3 pulls. I'll back them up on that. Neither has ever failed to get going and usually on the first pull, even after sitting all winter.

By used hard I mean two lawns of roughly an acre each and the one at my house is on the most incredibly fertile ground in the universe. In the Spring that yard MUST be mowed twice a week and looks best if mowed 3 times a week (which is one reason I'm fond of summer droughts and winter).

Next one will be a Toro for sure. Toro's and Toyota's for me. I think both are extremely reliable and that's the most important consideration for me.

[sammythecat]

7. Just want to add one thing.

You mentioned not disturbing the neighbors on Saturday morning. Naturally, an electric mower is practically silent and the only drawback would be the cord. However, I think you'll find that almost any good quality gas mower will be quiet enough not to disturb anyone. You might even be surprised how quiet they are.

The reason they're so quiet is they have a muffler, and just like on a car, the muffler eventually needs replaced. Few people bother to replace them and after 2-3 years the mower turns into "that goddam mower he's running every Saturday morning". Mufflers are cheap and if you replace them every now and then noise will never be an issue.