u/LTA31

Cub Cadet Ultima Z2 50 vs Toro TimeCutter MAX 50 — Is MyRIDE worth the extra $500?

I’m getting ready to buy my first zero turn and have narrowed it down to three options. Curious what you guys would pick, especially anyone who has owned or used these mowers.

Here are my out-the-door prices:

• Cub Cadet Ultima Z2 50" — $4,300
  • 3 years at 0%
• Toro TimeCutter MAX 50" — $4,400
  • 42 months at 0%
• Toro TimeCutter MAX 50" w/ MyRIDE — $4,900
  • 42 months at 0%

All three have a 50" fabricated deck and Kawasaki engine, so the prices are close enough that I’m more concerned about getting the better mower than saving $100-500.

I’ll be mowing about 1.1 acres total. My regular yard is around 0.6 acre and has some slopes, but nothing crazy. I also mow roughly another half acre beside my house between the house and a detention pond. That section is shaped almost like a shallow valley, so it’s definitely not perfectly flat.

One thing I’ll add up front: I know moving up to a commercial-grade mower with serviceable hydros would be better, but that just isn't in my budget. I’m trying to stay around the price range of these three mowers, so I’m mainly interested in which is the best choice among these options.

A few things I’m trying to figure out:

• Which mower would you trust more long-term, Cub Cadet Z2 or Toro TimeCutter MAX?
• Any meaningful differences in the deck, frame, cut quality, maintenance, etc.?
• How do they do on moderate slopes/uneven ground?
• Is Toro MyRIDE actually worth another $500 for roughly an acre of mowing?
• Does MyRIDE make a noticeable difference on uneven/rolling ground, or is it something you could easily live without?
• With the prices this close, which one would you buy with your own money?

The financing isn't a huge deciding factor, but getting 42 months at 0% on the Toros versus 36 months on the Cub is a nice bonus.

Right now I keep going back and forth. The Cub is $100 cheaper than the regular Toro, but then I start wondering if I should just spend the extra $500 and get the Toro with MyRIDE so I don't regret skipping it later.

Would especially like to hear from people who have actually owned a Z2, TimeCutter MAX, or TimeCutter with MyRIDE. What would you pick?