You should be able to find a good one in that price range. The cheap parts
will be things like wheels and handles, both of which can probably be
replaced with better quality when they finally die.

If you have never used a self-propelled mower, particularly the less
expensive models that don't have a clutching mechanism in the drive gear,
you will probably find yourself digging a few divots the 1st few times you
use it. Generally you can't push/pull in the way you would a
non-self-propelled model without lifting the drive wheels off the ground.
Of course that means you are doing more of the work you were trying to avoid
with the self-propelled to start with! The best way to use it is to pretend
it is a riding mower - that is follow it around and avoid having to stop and
back up any more than you have to. You might end up walking a little
farther than you would normally as you maneuver around the trees and shrubs,
and even going back over areas you already cut as you go, but it ends up
being easier in the end run.



wrote in message
...
Looking for a new self-propelled mower for hopefully less than $300.
I'll be mostly bagging on a flat lot less than 1/4 acre with lots of
turns around shrubs and trees. While performance is important,
reliability is the most important consideration. Not being
mechanically inclined, I need to know that whatever I get can do the
job it's supposed to do without a lot of messing around or running to
the repair shop with it, warranty or not.

Any suggestions for reliable mowers in that price range?