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High End 'Super Mowers' Ensure Your Lawn Will Look Better Than Your Neighbors'

by Amar Toor on June 15, 2010 at 05:20 PM

hustler turf super zIt doesn't take a 'Desperate Housewives' enthusiast to know that in certain suburbs, status reigns supreme. Whether it manifests itself in luxury vehicles, expansive home additions, or silicon-infused body parts, it's nearly impossible to live in Pleasantville and not maintain appearances. And now, homeowners across the country have begun latching onto the latest must-have item: luxury lawnmowers.

Taking their cue from the auto industry, mower manufacturers have recently introduced a new line of grass cutters luxurious enough to pass as an actual car in most parts of the world. As the Wall Street Journal reports, many of these so-called 'super mowers' come with iPod compartments, sun shades, cruise control capability, and chrome hubcaps. (Homeowners, inexplicably, must not be fans of hydraulic rides.) And, as you'd expect, these whips come cheap. Most designs start at around $3,000, and some can even cost lazy yardworkers up to $10,000. At the higher end of the price spectrum is something known as the 'Super Z' from the appropriately named Hustler Turf Equipment. The blade-cutting beast can reach speeds of 15 mph, and can reportedly run for 40 hours per week.

For some, the luxury mowers are just another way to ensure that their lawn is pristine. As Tim Strong of North Carolina says, "I think your lawn and how you maintain it sends a message about how you treat other things you own and who you are." For others, it's a knee-jerk reaction to economic hardship, as the stagnant housing market has forced some to invest more time and money into their homes. And a few, of course, have only caught the wave as a way to keep up with the Joneses.

Environmentalists have long warned homeowners against using large amounts of pesticides and water, and have been urging people to scale back the sizes of their lawns. Much like the SUV craze, though, sometimes comfort outweighs everything else. As proud Cub Cadet 'Z-Force S' owner Linda Thayer says, "When I cut my grass it shouldn't be uncomfortable." [From: WSJ]

Tags: House, Lawnmower, luxury, top, yard, yardtech

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