Strengths Built tough.Weight makes it sidehill great, much better than dads john deere. Suspension is sweet. JD will jar your kidneys. Makes dads comparable JD look like a toy. Ferris is definately built stronger. More fuel capacity than JD. twin 6 gallon tanks.

Weaknesses Has 30 hp kohler engine wich is underpowered for mulching deck. Needs 5 more hp. Have to play with choke when engaging blades as others have stated. engine is cold blooded and must be choked to start even when engine is hot. Backfires if not allowed to cool before shutdown. will climb very steep slopes but not as confidence inspiring as JD. Belt driven drive system at this price is crazy, should be shaft. Needs shaft to deck as well.

Overall Great machine with a few flaws. Definately better than dads 757 John deere (think thats the model #). Looking t trading for a diesel. Had it 6 years and nothing has broken. Almost 200 hours on it. 30 hp kohler with 61 inch deck.

Strengths Suspension and well, that's about it. This is for Ferris Mowers, My ill fated purchase was the IS500. BUT, yeild in buying, cause it could happen to your new prospective model as well.

Weaknesses Using defective bolts and parts for NEW assembly which breaks and can not get parts do to backorder.

Overall Loved at first, but after 21 hours of usage the clutch BURNED OUT. Yep, Paid $7,000. and used for 4 weeks and now has been in shop for 2 weeks waiting for a part. What no clutch to send???Nope. of course they did not make extras, so, you my dear consumer, will be screwed right in the peak of mowing season with a $7,000. piece of crap waiting for for a part just like me.

Strengths Rugged mower deck.

Weaknesses Electrical seems to be the major weakness. Within 4 months I have replaced the timer module and now the RELAY BOSCH 0 332 209 159. I have a total of 111 hours. Lately, I spend more time troubleshooting and repairing the electrical than mowing. Like others, the engine stalls when engagin the mower. The motor is too small for the 3000 IS. I would not purchase a liquid cooled engine again. Machine is overpriced and suspension system is over-rated.

Overall Average - I would not purchase anything from Ferris again. When orginnally purchasing the 3000 IS, the Ferris distributor tried to force me to buy the mower from the local dealer in my town at a much higher price, mafia like. They blocked me from buying it from another dealer. The dealer I purchased the Ferris from no longer sells Ferris products. However, they do carry Snapper Zero Turns, whis is now essentially the same line of machines

Strengths Great machine all around, purchased 3 years ago, home owner used to mow 5 acres, built like a tank

Weaknesses have had fuel problems from the start, starving for fuel after mowing for about 2 hrs some new fuel lines were replaced as factory recall, fuel lines inside tank broke off, I replaced one myself, (paid $29 for 2ft of hose and screen) then it failed again along with other 3, called factory they sent me 3 new ones to install myself (I am GM Master tech) I bypassed the fuel tank switching valves, it worked great for a while, now one line inside the tank has failed again, I changed brands of gasoline long ago, changed fuel filter I may have to re-design the system myself, will call factory again to see what they have to say

Overall

Strengths owned it for 2 years able to cut small trees! cuts 5 acres a week sometimes more in spring 25 horse kaw engine great running!

Weaknesses first season had the problem with it having a very hard time engaging deck without choke (being a ase master tech) i removed the carb didnt want to haul it 25 miles back to dealer the carb had fuel filter elements in it called dealer they gave me a new filter fixing problem apperently ferris got a run on cheap filters

Overall absolutely love it been on others in my yard and the suspension rocks would buy another if had to allthough dont think i will have to oh yea i have updated the idler pulley that wear out with greaseable units I designed

Strengths Great machine. Everything heavy duty. Independant Suspension is great for fast mowing on bumpy lawns.

Weaknesses Easy to turf, especially on hill sides.

Overall I mow 6 acres of Pennsylvania hillside with this machine. I have over 100 hours on it with out a problem.

Strengths Mower is designed for commercial operation. Super heavy frame and mower deck. Very large blade spindles and bearings. Deck lift is by foot/leg - no hands needed Convenient fuel tank switching. Suspension is a very nice feature.

Weaknesses Haven't found any

Overall Very excellent machine

Strengths Love it. I used to use a 48" John Deere Garden tractor to mow my 4 acres. Althougth I loved that tractor, this Zero Turn blows it away in mowing time and quality of cut.

Weaknesses It does require the use of the choke to start and does experience "some" slowness of engine speed upon start of the mowing deck. I purchased this unit with the Liquid cooled Kawasaki engine and that "might" be the reason that my engine does not stall when I start the deck.

Overall Love it and would buy it again.

Strengths Suspension makes all other mid-mount zero turn mowers seem obsolete. Very heavy built and a reasonable ride for a mower class that generally beats the snot out of the operator.

Weaknesses Bad problem with the engine dying when you turn on the mower deck. The mower has died up to 20 times in a row when trying to engauge blades.

Overall It is annoying to have to choke the engine to be able to turn on mower blades. Otherwise, this mower represents the class of the mid-mount mowers. Ferris needs to address this issue.