Stuck between two low end mowers

morning!

hope everyone has had a good weekend

i'm looking to get a cheap'ish self propelled mower just for small maintenance jobs, its got to be light to lift in and out the car until i get a van in the next few weeks

i'm stuck between these two mowers

Mountfield

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mountfield-sp185-45cm-125cc-self-propelled-rotary-petrol-lawn-mower/9722f

ryno

http://www.therange.co.uk/ryno-158cc-self-propelled-petrol-lawnmower/garden-machinery/the-range/fcp-product/112449

now i know hte old adage of 'buy cheap buy twice' but this is only to get me started and i cant afford an etesia or decent honda just now, its only for small gardens, well only 1 so far but hopefully the start of something good

i'm leaning towards the mountfield just now as its the more recognisable make but the ryno with side discharge looks decent aswell

just looking for advice, ive scoured gumtree and seen etesia's etc but getting one with a grass box is as rare as rocking horse sh*t !!

if anyone else can find anything decent at this price then im all ears, got a strimmer etc all my other gear is stihl but a viking is out of my price range aswell! these two mowers are small aswell so will fit in the boot of the car with any hassle and they arent any heavier than a bag of fertiliser so should be fine for me!

TIA

I'd still go for the same advice as always with gear: go local. Even at the lower level you need to have a relationship with your local supplier.

Mowers break, and always at the worst time. You need to know you will get a same-day repair if possible, so that means the guy knowing you buy everything from him, and you will have a long-term relationship with him.

Most dealers sell cheaper ranges as well as the pro stuff (my local dealer stocks the cheap Mountfields at similar prices to online offers), and might also have used kit that could be a better deal. I picked up an Etesia for just over £100 on ebay from a guy near me, and a new grassbox was about £70. That's an Etesia for less than either of these two.

Personally I'd go for the Mountfield out of those two, as they are widely sold and pretty reliable, or try to find a used Honda Izy or something similar.

Replies

James Brett May 3, 2015 at 12:13pm

What about a small Honda? Non self propelled as they are so light that doesn't matter
- PRO
  
  Richard Gadsby > James Brett May 3, 2015 at 1:32pm
  
  That's my thought as well and exactly what I use for small gardens. Just over £300 will get you the smallest one. Good little mowers and reliable:)
Paul McNulty May 3, 2015 at 12:54pm

I'd still go for the same advice as always with gear: go local. Even at the lower level you need to have a relationship with your local supplier.

Mowers break, and always at the worst time. You need to know you will get a same-day repair if possible, so that means the guy knowing you buy everything from him, and you will have a long-term relationship with him.

Most dealers sell cheaper ranges as well as the pro stuff (my local dealer stocks the cheap Mountfields at similar prices to online offers), and might also have used kit that could be a better deal. I picked up an Etesia for just over £100 on ebay from a guy near me, and a new grassbox was about £70. That's an Etesia for less than either of these two.

Personally I'd go for the Mountfield out of those two, as they are widely sold and pretty reliable, or try to find a used Honda Izy or something similar.
Graeme @ BGS May 3, 2015 at 5:36pm

If it's only a question of waiting two weeks before you get your van and you only have one very small lawn, why not strim the lawn on the next visit and by the time it is ready for it's next mow you will of had your van and hopefully a suitable mower to go with it.
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  Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd > Graeme @ BGS May 3, 2015 at 7:00pm
  
  The last etesia pro46 I purchased (2nd hand, and from a home owner) cost me £112 on eBay last month. It included a glassbox and required a minor repair (cost me £25 at garden machinery place I use).
  
  The mower is likely to have a few years life left in it and if it doesn't I can strip it for parts for use in the 'rest of the fleet'!
  - Paul McNulty > Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd May 3, 2015 at 10:04pm
    
    Crikey. Nick, that's an absolute steal even if it's only good for parts. It's effectively a grass box, with an Etesia thrown in for free.
    
    Just goes to show it's worth setting up searches on ebay and checking regularly. You might not find a real bargain if you need something urgently, but if you plan ahead you might just spot a local sale that you can get a great deal on.
    
    If you're in this game for the long-term you need to think in a different way sometimes.
    - PRO
      
      Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd > Paul McNulty May 8, 2015 at 9:16pm
      
      There are definitely machines that are worth a punt...
      
      http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Outils-Wolf-Etesia-46cm-self-propelled-Mo...
      
      I do believe that etesia and wolf are the same company but sold in different brands depending on which country you live in....although please correct me if I'm wrong!
      - PRO
        
        Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd > Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd May 8, 2015 at 9:18pm
        
        By punt I would bid up to about £100 and make sure it was reasonably local for collection!
      - Peter Davis > Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd May 9, 2015 at 12:21pm
        
        They are the same company
        
        http://www.landscapejuice.com/2012/12/etesia-and-wolf-tools-factory...
        
        I would love to know if they are actually the same machine.
Colin Hunt May 4, 2015 at 6:30am

I'd go along with the 'go to your local dealer' route. First step would be 'what part ex's do you have in or coming in'. Although our mowers have been used to death by the time we have finished with them, this isn't the case with private owners - their part ex's have years left in them and many go for Hayters or Hondas.