We Tested a $10,000 Riding Mower to See if It’s Worth the Cost

Home improvement and hardware stores sell inexpensive zero-turn mowers, but a cheap mower could be more costly in the long run. Fast mowing increases stress on a lightweight frame and stamped steel deck. Cheap mowers have an expected working life of fewer than 1,000 hours. 

All of that may be fine for an acre or two–1,000 hours might equal a decade of mowing–but if you mow more than 3 acres, or if you’re in the mowing business, you’ll want a stronger, faster mower, and a more comfortable ride. For example, I tested the professional-grade Bobcat ZT3500 zero-turn mower for this review. If you want to know why it costs so much, and if it’s worth it, keep reading.

Bobcat ZT3500 Zero-Turn Mower: At a Glance

Rating: 5/5

Bobcat ZT3500 Zero-Turn Mower

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Testing the Bobcat ZT3500 Zero-Turn Mower 

I had ten days in early August to test the ZT3500, and I made the most of it. I mowed my yard, my nextdoor neighbor’s yard, and a field on the other side of my house, for a total of about 3 acres, twice. The areas include quite a bit of terrain variety, including short steep-ish slopes, undulating ground, flat areas, and a long gentle slope. There are also obstacles like landscape beds and tree mulch rings, gates, narrow corridors, and a consistently wet area. The grass is a combination of southern warm season grasses (centipede and bermuda grass mostly), along with some weedy fescue areas in the field.

I have had the opportunity to test and compare several other zero turn mowers in the same area, which has helped me streamline my testing approach. The first time around I took it slow and easy, familiarizing myself with the controls and nuances of operating the mower. I noted the noise level of the engine and cutting deck, ease of adjusting the seat position and deck height, smoothness of acceleration and deceleration, how easily the mower tracks a straight line, whether or not a hard turn tears up the lawn, and the like. The second mowing was all about speed and efficiency. I mowed as quickly as safely possible, given the terrain and grass conditions, and noted the smoothness of the ride, ease of steering control at higher speeds, and cleanness of the cut.

A Pro-Quality Zero Turn For All Day Mowing

The Bobcat ZT3500 is designed as an entry-level commercial lawn mower, and makes an ideal choice for large private properties. This mower features heavier-duty components and offers faster, cleaner mowing capability than the light-duty zero-turns at the big home improvement stores. Some of the standout features include a beefy 7-gauge steel frame, large 23-inch drive tires that improve control and soften the ride, and a plush highback seat with adjustable spring suspension and armrests for maximum comfort. It also comes with a rollover protection system (ROPS) for added safety on rough terrain.

Some of the practical differences between the ZT3500 and a cheap zero turn from a retailer come down to the pro-grade Kawasaki engine, deep profile welded cutting deck, and the fast and durable Hydro-Gear ZT-3400 transaxle. The 726 cc FX-series engine produces 21.5 horsepower and is known for its durability. FX engines have an average working life of well over 2,000 hours. As for fuel efficiency, I mowed a total of 6 acres on approximately 3 gallons of gas.

Bobcat’s patented TufDek Pro cutting system is a chain-mounted design that adjusts between cutting heights of 1.5 inches to 4.9 inches. The deck has a 10-gauge steel top with 7-gauge spindle supports, and 7-gauge side curtains. The bullnose shape maximizes airflow for a cleaner cut and better distribution of clippings.

As for the hydrostatic transaxle, it enables the ZT3500 to travel up to 3 miles per hour faster than retail zero turn mowers. Not only that, but it runs smoother and quieter than many of the other zero turns I’ve tested over the years. As an added bonus, the lap bars were perfectly calibrated for just-soft-enough pressure sensitivity and straight-ahead tracking.

Fast Mowing With A Smooth Ride

What stood out on paper became obvious in real life as soon as the Bobcat dealer delivered the unit to my house. Right off the truck, I took it for a quick ride around my sloped front yard without mowing. It accelerated and decelerated smoothly, even when I forced the issue. On a straightaway, I held the ends of both lap bars in one hand and it tracked as straight as an arrow. It took the curves just as smoothly. 

On mowing day, I adjusted the seat and deck height and got started. For the first mowing, I ran at a moderated pace. The engine noise level didn’t stand out as especially quiet or loud. In anticipation of the test, I had allowed the grass to grow extra long, but the results were beautiful. I followed the traditional pattern: 2 initial perimeter passes then alternating parallel passes to mow the body of the yard. At the ends of those long parallel passes, I was impressed by how smoothly the mower made 180-degree turns, and the wheels didn’t tear up the grass. The deep deck produced plenty of airflow to stand up the individual grass blades for a clean cut, then ejected the clippings evenly across a 20-foot swath. The clippings did not clump or form windrows. It looked great. 

The second mowing, a week later, was all about speed. Again, I was impressed by the smooth handling and clean cut, but the fast travel speed may have been the most impressive feature. Or, the fact that it handled and mowed so well at that speed. This time around the grass height was more typical for a regular mowing, but mowing at or near top speed didn’t seem to take away from the crispness of the cut. It left none of the stringy weeds that sometimes avoid mower blades, and the clippings pretty much disappeared. Also, the simple mechanical seat suspension did an incredible job of isolating my body from the jarring effects of the terrain. 

Extra Clean Cut

When I was a landscaper, cutting my lawn at home was frustrating. The mowers we used for work cut fast and clean, and my well-used riding mower at home was just the opposite. I had to slow my pace well below the mower’s maximum travel speed or double mow in order to get a clean cut, no matter how sharp the blades were. I have experienced similar results from cheap zero turn mowers. The big difference was blade tip speed. Pro-quality mowers are designed to maintain optimum blade speed (17,000 to 19,000 feet per minute) while travelling at or near their top travel speed. The Bobcat ZT3500 does exactly that, and I could not have been more pleased with the results.

The ZT3500 features a 3-blade deck with a blade tip speed of 17,365 fpm. It may seem to be on the slow side for commercial equipment, but it also travels a bit slower than some commercial zero turn mowers, which may be able to mow up to 15 mph in ideal (flat, straight, weed free grass) conditions. This machine cut my overgrown grass perfectly when I was running between half and three-quarter speed (approximately 5 to 7 miles per hour), which was faster than the top speed of my lawn tractor, and at top speed when I was just cutting off a week’s growth. 

Why I Think The Bobcat ZT3500 Is Worth Every Penny 

After taxes you’ll pay close to $10,000 for a new Bobcat ZT3500, and I believe that’s a really good deal for what you’ll get. This is an entry-level commercial grade mower that is built for years of dependable service and minimal maintenance. On a large residential property where weekly mowing is the norm, expect the heavy duty engine, frame, and deck to last 20 years or more. 

I was able to mow my 3-acre test area in just over an hour, including the time it took to open and close gates and navigate around numerous landscape obstacles. In wide-open spaces it exceeded a pace of 4 acres per hour. At that rate you could mow 25 acres every week, year round, without exceeding the 1,000-hour maximum before the 3-year warranty expires. The ride was comfortable, the mower maneuvered easily around the landscape, and the grass looked great.

Buy the Bobcat ZT3500 Zero Turn Mower on Bobcat starting at $9,319.

Product Comparisons

So, is the Bobcat ZT3500 Zero Turn Mower right for you?

Not everyone needs a big specialty mower, but those who do would do well to invest in quality and durability for the long term. If you’re running a small business or own a large property, the Bobcat ZT3500 could be a smart investment. With its heavy-duty frame, low-maintenance pro-grade engine, and quick clean-cutting performance, it checks all the boxes in terms of durability and performance. It’s also a comfortable ride. The adjustable highback spring suspension seat comes with deep padding and armrests to minimize jarring, and the large tires smooth out the ride over most terrain. With a life expectancy up to 20 years or longer, this could truly be a buy-it-for-life mower for midsize and large property owners.

Meet the Tester

Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester who spent 20 years in the nursery and landscaping industry. For more than twenty years he mowed, edged, planted, pruned, cultivated, irrigated, and renovated beautiful landscapes. Now he tests and writes reviews about the latest outdoor power equipment, hand tools, lawn care products, and other outdoor living goods.

 

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