OK.   YOU HAVE DECIDED TO BUY A JOHN DEERE MOWER, CONGRATULATIONS , WITHOUT A DOUBT IT IS THE BEST MOWER AVAILABLE, NOW, HOW TO YOU TELL WHICH ONE TO BUY? THIS IS HOW.  THERE ARE THREE SERIES TO CHOSE FROM 1 L SERIES 2 LT SERIES 3 LX SERIES. THIS IS THE TRUTH, BUY AN L SERIES IF YOU HAVE A  SMALL YEAR 1/4 TO 1/2 ACRE. BUY AN LT SERIES IS YOU HAVE A 1/2 TO 1 ACRE, BUY AN LX SERIES IF YOU HAVE MORE, NOW HAVING SAID THAT BUY YOURSELF AN LX SERIES IS YOU WANT A MOWER THAT CAN HANDLE WHATEVER YOU THROW AT IT. MY LX SERIES MOWER IS 14 YEARS OLD AND I WOULD NOT TRADE IT FOR A NEW L SERIES EVEN TRADE. I ALSO HAVE AN LT SERIES THAT IS 8 YEARS NEWER THAN MY LX SERIES AND I HARDLY USE IT BECAUSE THE LX SERIES RUNS CIRCLES AROUND IT. THE LX SERIES RUNS SMOOTHER, FEWER REPAIRS, PICKS UP AND CUTS GRASS CLEANER AND SMOOTHER THAN ANY L, LT CAN POSSIBLE DO.  IF YOU WANT TO BUY YOUR LAST MOWER TODAY BUY AN LX MOWER. THE BLADE SPINDLES CAN BE REPAIRED INSTEAD OF REPLACED, ( $30 DOLLARS INSTEAD OF $60 DOLLARS.) YEAH ITS GONNA COST YOU  $500 OR MORE TO GET AN LX BUT I REPEAT WITH PROPER SERVICE ITS THE LAST MOWER YOU WILL BUY. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS AN OLDER MODEL THAT IS EQUIVELANT TO AN LX  AND IT IS 18 YEARS OLD AND STILL IS CUTTING GRASS. NOW LISTEN...... YOU MUST KEEP IT SERVICED ANNUALLY. HAVE YOU EVER KEPT A CAR 18 YEARS? OK I'M THROUGH, HAPPY SHOPPING