whatever you do, DO NOT buy a john deere L series or D series from home depot or lowe's. those are a buy-and-throw-away mower. the transmission lasts all but 2 years in those. if you get a john deere, get a LX series or X series or LT series. just dont get the ones they sell at home depot and lowes because those ones dont last long. but john deere is a very good mower. just not the l series or d s