April 26, 2013, 12:41 p.m. EDT

The Rolls-Royce of riding mowers

Big Spender: Is this lawnmower worth $17,000?

By Charles Passy

John Deere

The pitch:

With the grass beginning to grow in many parts of the country, a little weekend yard work may be in order. But why settle for a labor-intensive push mower when you can ride around on the Rolls-Royce of lawn tractors? Thats pretty much how John Deere bills its X758 Signature Series Tractor and at around $17,000 for the fully decked-out version (with the snow-blower attachment and an extended-service plan), its one of the most expensive of its kind.

But what do you get for a tractor that costs as much as a Honda Civic? Well, you get a lot of car-like features: Think four-wheel drive, cruise control, tilt steering and a powerful 3-cylinder diesel engine that provides extra torque and durability, according to Deere. Oh, and you also get cup holders and a port to plug in your cell phone (just in case you need you need to talk to your stock broker in the midst of your mowing, a cynic might suggest). But perhaps the key element, say Deere execs, is an auto-connect feature that makes it extra-easy to snap on the all-important mower deck (the part that actually cuts the grass).

The reality:

Sure, it might be fun to drive, but it wont necessarily make your yard look that much better, say lawn pros. For starters, unless you have at least half an acre of yard to maintain, you can probably get away with a standard motorized push mower, which can cost well under $500. But even if you have a large lawn, you need no more than a basic lawn tractor the sweet spot for models that can do the job and last through several seasons of mowing is between $2,000 and $4,500, pros suggest. And they recommend any number of manufacturers that offer models in that price range, including Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt and, yes, John Deere. Pros also says the snow-blowing, gardening and other accessories can make a lawn tractor an extra-essential purchase. Simply put, it is a machine designed to do more than mow, says Hank Will, editor in chief of GRIT, a rural lifestyle magazine.

But what to look for in a lawn tractor? The key is a solid engine, but experts suggest that the X758 one, which has 24-horsepower, could be overkill. Carl Eickenberg of Power Equipment Plus, a New England-based retailer that also sells online, suggests that for the average suburbanite, 20 to 22 horsepower might be all thats needed. And while a diesel engine indeed provides plenty of torque, no homeowner needs a diesel, says Mark Sodja, outdoor equipment specialist for eReplacementParts.com.

Still, theres more to a mower than the engine. Pros say its a good idea to look for a hydrostatic transmission, which makes it easier to shift speeds. And, yes, thats the very type of transmission found on the X758, but it can also be found on much cheaper models. As for some of the other features on the X758, theyre more about the show-off factor than the mow factor, pros say. You buy an X758 because you want your neighbor to watch you mow your lawn, says Mark Sodja.

And to a great extent, John Deere officials dont dispute that, when it comes to their top-of-the-line model. Its not about, Do I need it? Its about, Do I want it? says Greg Weekes, a Deere marketing manager. But thats why Deere has lawn tractors at all price points: For a quality tractor at a lower cost, Weekes suggests consumers consider their 300 series models, which start at $3,000.