For comparison, a well-known maker of riding and zero-turn lawn mowers, Club Cadet, recommends oil changes every 50 hours. As does John Deere. It's hard to find critics of Ferris lawn mowers.

Most people agree that a riding lawn mower is a major homeowner flex, but being the coolest yard worker on the block is far from the only perk these machines offer. Marc Mayer, lawn expert and ...