You'd Rather Buy a Nice Lawnmower

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, listeners, It's time once again for another episode of
the Lawnmower Versus sports Car Podcast, a show dedicated to
the absurdity of lawnmowers and sports cars. More importantly, the
show's dedicated to you, are listeners. I can't thank you
enough for stopping by for another episode. We were in

(00:25):
the middle of some fairly opulent lawnmowers. If you've got
one of these, you've either got lots of money or
a really big yard, or both. We're going to dive
in today's episode with the Grasshopper seven twenty five d T.

(00:49):
The Grasshopper seven twenty five d T is a premium
zero turn more aimed squarely at commercial operators who want
top notch reliability and performance. It's a powerful engine combined

(01:10):
with commercial grade hydraulics and a seventy two inch cutting
deck option insures large properties can be mode efficiently. Operator
comfort is enhanced with suspension c's ergonomic controls and vibration

(01:31):
dampening technology. Known for durability an ease of maintenance, the
seven twenty five d T commands a price nor the
ten thousand dollars, but it is a favorite among landscapers
who demand professional results day after day. Next up. The

(01:57):
Jacobsen h R seven hundred is a premier turf mower
that often finds its way onto golf courses and sports fields.
With a price exceeding of fifteen thousand dollars, it boasts
a precision cutting technology designed to produce immaculate even grass

(02:19):
that meets the exacting standards of professional turf management. Its
smooth ride, responsive handling, and advanced cutting system make it
ideal for fine turf where appearance and consistency are everything.

(02:40):
Operators appreciate the ergonomic and design and quiet operation which
minimizes the disturbance in sensitive areas. The HR seven hundred
isn't just a mower, is a tool for maintaining world
class greens and playing fields. Now we're going to dive

(03:02):
into ways that you can blow twenty thousand dollars or less.
When you could just as well buy a lawnmower, you
could get a Pontiac Fierro Ah. The Pontiac Piero the

(03:22):
infamous mid engine miracle that often doubled as a mobile
bonfire when it first hit the streets in mid nineteen eighties.
It promised exotic styling in the thrill of a sports
car with its mid engine layout, something normally reserved for

(03:46):
high end exotics. But behind the sleek, wedge shaped body
was nightmare waiting to happen. Early Fierro's had a tendency
to overheat, which sometimes let to catastrophic engine fires, earning

(04:06):
them a place in automotive infamy. The electric system was
a maze of problems, with flickering dash lights, temperamental gauges,
and wiring that seemed like a game of which wire burns.
First handling was quirky. Yes, mid engine cars are tricky

(04:31):
to tame, and the Pierro's suspension wasn't exactly race car grade,
but when it worked it was a fun little coupe.
The problem is finding well maintained one today, and like
hunting for a unicorn that doesn't spontaneously combust, expect to

(04:54):
drop a serious cash on restoration, or live with the
stress of wondering if this is your lab drive before
the fire department pays a visit. You could also acquire
a Ford probe Gt. The Ford probe Gt is like
that kid in school who dressed like a cool athlete

(05:17):
but couldn't run a lap without wheezing. Born from a
joint venture for Mazda. The Probe was designed to look
sporty but fell flat on performance. The GT trim tried
to boost the appeal with a two point five liter
V six that turned out a modest one hundred and

(05:39):
sixty four horse power, enough to merge onto the freeway,
but don't expect a drag striped domination. The interior was
a cheap affair, with lots of plastic that rattled and
wore out quickly. Handling was inspiring, the car understeered like

(06:00):
a shopping cart loaded with groceries, and breaking distances were
long enough to make your sweat at red lights. Reliability
was okay, but nothing to write home about. You could
snag one for peanuts these days, but it's a car
for someone who cares more about appearances than actual driving thrills,

(06:23):
or for a project where you don't mind throwing money
into an underwhelming hole. How about the Toyota MR two.
The first generation of Toyota MR two was Toyota's entry
into mid engine sports cars. Bold move for brand known

(06:45):
for reliability and sensible cars. It was lightweight, nimble, and
relatively affordable, but boy did it have its quirks. These
early m R twos suffer badly from rust, especially in
the frame, rail and underbody, which can quickly turn promising

(07:09):
the sports car into a rusty death trap. Electrical grimlins
are common. Think flickering dash lights, misbehaving sensors, and wiring
problems that make you want yell why Toyota. The one
point six liter four cylinder engine was peppy for the time,

(07:32):
but by today's standards it's underpowered, making a highway passing
a test of patience and faith. Suspension components wear out fast,
turning the precise handling into a sloppy mess. Still, the
m R two has a dedicated fan base, and when

(07:52):
cared for properly, it's a fun little car. Just don't
expect it to be trouble free, especially if it's a
cheap find. How about a Chevrolet Cavalier Z twenty four.
The Cavalier Z twenty four is the epitome of wannab

(08:14):
sports cars. It's a budget economy car with a sporty
badge slapped on for good measure. The two point two
liter four cylinder ringine put out a laughable hundred and
twenty horse power, just enough to getcha up to speed.
But not quickly. The interior was painfully cheap, with hard

(08:38):
plastics and design that screamed cut corners here. Handling with sloppy,
with soft suspension and a vague steering the maid taking
corners feel like steering barge breaking. Performance was wig so
you'd better hope traffic lights co operate. Reliability was mixed.

(09:03):
The Catalier was easy to maintain, but not exactly build
a last in sporty style. These are super cheap on
the used market, but if you want something that feels
remotely sporty keep looking, you could considerate Hyundai Tabarn. The

(09:24):
Tamaron was an early attempt by Hyundai to enter the
sporty coop of market. It looks decent with sharp lines
and low stance, but the sporty part was mostly skin deep.
The two point zero leader engine was sluggish, and the
optional two point seven liter V six had middling power

(09:46):
and questionable durability. Build quality was so so rattles, cheap
interior plastics, and an overall feeling of budget car trying
to be fancy. Early models suffered from engine reliability issues
and parts availability can be tricky in some areas. Handling

(10:09):
was adequate, but not inspiring. It lacked Christmas and the
feedback you'd expect from a true sports car. If you
want a fun, weekend car that won't break the bank,
it's a low cost option, but don't expect to win
any auto cross events or impress your friends. Or you
could just go buy a lawnmower until next time.