simply put, in my experience, john deere machines will work for you longer than almost any other. and most parts on them are interchangeable with their large farm equipment, which has a hundred years of research and development behind it ,not to mention that makes parts extremely easy to just go pick up at the dealer. my uncle has a john deere zero turn, a dixon zero turn and an exmark zero turn......the exmark is three years old and has had the engine replaced along with the downtime ordering parts for it, the dixon cant keep bearings in the deck or belts to run it, but the deere runs and works wonderfully....oh and he still has a 10 year old hydrostat rider by deere that was used every day for about 7 years, too.--but that is all just my experience, and you'll have to make your own decision, considering the price difference.