You didn't need that "but" in the "older but decent Honda", Ty: if it was a 4-height-adjuster one, in terms of frame durability it is in a class of its own. Heavy, yes, and being pre-75 dBA regulations, noisier than later ones, but a permanent investment. I haven't decided yet whether I'd rather mow with the old or the new (I'm currently researching that) but I have no doubt at all which will last longer. After twenty-odd years of commercial use, my old one is as solid as a rock. On the other hand they worked so hard at making it unable to kill the operator, it is a bit like a lady from Queen Victoria's time: a lot of kit there to ensure nothing went wrong and exposed a flying rock/lady's ankle to the public view.
