Strengths Kick ass little unit!!!! I use it for cleaning out chicken barns, it attacks any job you throw at it! I would HIGHLY recommend this tractor, you'll be blown away at its performance and refinement. What can I say, its a Deere!

Weaknesses None! It lives up to its name

Overall I LOVE this machine!

Strengths Diesel,4wd,pwr steering, liquid cooled, front hydraulic blade attaches quickly, moves snow nicely when it will start

Weaknesses Fuse box has no cover, fuses corrode, leads to starting issues, 3 point not included, parts and accessories over priced, deck belts wear into belt guards, belt guard studs spin make removal difficult, throws belts, poor customer service, John Deere does not honor warranty, jeery rigs repairs, poor diistributorship! Mows poorly,leaves strips of grass unmowed in corners/turns, plastic hood poor quality, breaks easily

Overall Poor investment, currently own one with 60 hours that Deere will not repair correctly under warranty/rarely starts without trouble

Strengths Very powerful, and with the wide stance I feel so much safer on it when doing my terrace

Weaknesses I do not like the hydralic levers in their position compared to sticking up

Overall

Strengths Thank you for sharing your experiences with our community.

Weaknesses Thank you for sharing your experiences with our community.

Overall Thank you for sharing your experiences with our community.

Strengths I moved up to this from a J-D 325 GT and it's like going from a Model A to a Mercedes. I mow about 9 acres total and bought the X748 with a 54" deck as there are a few tight spots a wider deck wouldn't have fit through. I also bought the SE version, and the optional seat is worth the extra cost. I have some lower back problems and the seat can be adjusted for operator weight and works very well to smooth out the ride. I debated whether to buy the X748 or the slightly larger 2305, because of the standard 3-point lift and rear PTO on the 2305. The way J-D sets the price points, to get the X748 with both lift and rear PTO, it makes it more expensive than the 2305. I want a rototiller for gardening, and decided to get the hitch and PTO after I had used the tractor for a while. I'll end up paying about $1000 more than I could have gotten the 2305 for (with same mower deck), but when I bought the 748 last fall, incentives were better for it than for the 2305 (for my purposes) I find it to have plenty of power, and it uses about the same amount of diesel that my GT325 uses in gas (and it's a smaller and less horsepower model). I kept the 325 and use it at my Mother's house, which saves the trouble of towing the 748 every week to mow. I bought the Power Flow system with the caster-mounted cart to pick up leaves, and it is awesome how clean it gets the yard. It even pulls acorns out of the grass. I have put 85 hours on the tractor so far since buying it in Oct '08, using it only for mowing and leaf vacuuming and I love it. On hills the 4WD is wonderful, and I like the tires that come on the SE. They are still easy on turf, but have amazing bite in dirt and clean themselves well. Spinning them in grass WILL tear the grass out by the root, but if on a hill and using 4WD, the wheel spin is almost non existent. There is a rear axle lock foot pedal that makes both rear wheels pull (positraction) and it does work, but turning with the axle locked will also tear the turf.

Weaknesses None, really, but if the prospective buyer plans to do much more than mow or pull tow-behind implements, I'd recommend getting the 2305 instead, as it already has the rear lift and PTO and is probably aimed at the crowd who want to do more than just mow. The size difference is so minimal that maneuvering the 2305 isn't an issue, they'll both go in the same spots. The added weight (couple of hundred pounds) of the 2305 might be an advantage for doing FEL work, although a loader is available for the X748. The cart that I got with my Power Flow could be a bit bigger, but I like the way the casters keep it directly behind the tractor when turning. That needs getting used to, be sure to watch where you are relative to trees, if you get one I have had a problem with the gas-filled assist cylinder on the cart coming loose (it helps tilt the cart when emptying the contents), but the system is easy to mount and remove (takes less than 5 minutes either way) and I recommend it if you have a lot of leaves in the fall. I will probably go with a rototiller of different "parentage" than J-D, the paint J-D uses must be pretty expensive, because I think their implements are overpriced and seem no better quality than many others. However, I will always own J-D tractors.

Overall I am entirely satisfied with the X748, it is my 4th J-D lawn tractor. My first two were ancient when purchased and I just finished wearing them out. My 325 hasn't missed a beat and I have asked it for quite a bit in the 6 years I've had it. I sold a Yanmar "paddy tractor" that I had for 10 years, to buy the X748. I know from experience how good the Yanmar engines are, I never did anything more than change the fluids over 2000 hrs. on the old paddy tractor without a SINGLE failure

Strengths 4WD and weight of unit make it great in snow/ice conditions. Blows heavy wet slush. I havethe "SE", and it's very comfortable for cutting grass for long periods of time. Makes relatively short work of my ~5 acres. Climbs like nothing else I've ever owned. Attachments are easy to work with.

Weaknesses Not a fuel sipper. 3PT hitch may not be able to run a splitter. To bad the cab is so expensive.

Overall Very happy with it so far. I'm able to change all the attachments and perform basic maint easily myself. For this kind of money, it better work well for a long time. The 4wd for my application is a life saver.