"I have 3 JD tractors. I have the 316 set up for dirt work, I have a dozer blade on it, and a rear blade I made and of course it got a 3 point. The 445 I have had for 2 years, a fine tractor with a 60 inch deck, and I recently put a 3-point on it also. The 425, I actually bought for the snow blade and the quick hitch. I am thinking I am going to keep that one as well."

"Been a great all around tractor I have 60" deck, blower, dump cart vac and many pull behind options hooked to 3 point."

"I have only had this tractor since mar 2013. I purchased it with a hard starting problem, and ran a little rough. I found out it had a blown left head gasket. After changing it, it started right away, but after a few seconds would start missing, both sides. Sent it to Deere. They said someone had the computer wires mixed up and also a hole in the gas line. It was costly to have it fixed but now it starts and runs very well. I will need to change the gear box on the mower, at $500.00. That is my issue with deere---that all parts go through deere and no aftermarket through anyone else. Even the Kawasaki motor is made just for deere and all engine parts have to go through Deere. But overall, I am impressed with the tractor. Wish I would have purchased one of these back in 99. They do not make them like this anymore. Even the snowplow has down pressure, which will pick the front of the tractor up 8"."

"JD homeowner tractors are a good investment for those with large yards, if one has the funds. They rarely break down, and service parts are always available. If you don't like replacing your equipment every couple years, Deere will last as long as you perform routine maintenance. I used mine for 11 years & 1050 hours before I upgraded to a larger size for landscape work."

"Hi, I've owned 2 445 mowers, a 1996 and a 1999 both with the 60" deck. I sold the 96 to a neighbor, it has 1800 hrs on it and I STILL have the 99 with almost 1300 on it. The neighbor used to think he paid too much...not now! The 60" deck mows great, blows the grass and disperses it evenly with the chute tilted up little. It doesn't like wet grass that well, but it's okay. One note: the 99 has a totally redesigned steering system so make sure you like the way the old style steers. I hated it and that's one of the reasons I bought the 99. Why? They used a real short stroke cylinder on the older ones, and since its has hydraulic power steering, you have to constantly turn the wheel to make it go straight. The 99 deck had some baffles under the mower deck and that improved it'a performance in every way. As an added note I now have a 2011 X740, love the diesel, but the 62" deck is the biggest piece of garbage there is---HATE IT. Doesn't come close to the older 60" deck. Grass clumps on blow out unless totally dry and it leaves little trails of grass behind each blade it doesn't vacuum very well. There is just to much dead space under the deck. I'm trading it right now for a 2013 with the 60' 7 iron style. That deck has rave reviews online compared to the 62' deck. Wish I had seen them! Also I love the Gator style blades for mowing and also mulching leaves. They just disappear."

"Had this tractor since June 1994. Been fairly dependable with the exception of the crank case gasket. I have had to change it every 400 hours or so. I know when it is going as the anti-freeze will stay up in the radiator recovery tank but go down in the radiator. I am disappointed in that the PTO option has been discontinued. I was going to add the three point hitch and PTO last year and it is no longer available. I am now going to buy the 1026R next week. I will demote the 445 to grass cutting only after this winter. I have no intention of getting rid of it and being a mechanic I am not worried about the gasket problem. "

"It is a great tractor! I bought it from my dad it had been passed from sister to sister as they got hitched and homes. So it was in bad shape. I put a 3 point hitch and I was off I also had no idea that the 445 was such a tank! I have had a ball working on it and with it. I have built many attachments: - Yard rake - Snowplow - Yard vac - Dump trailer I will be adding a 40 loader so ant help I can get on setting it up that would be great."

"All of our mowing and towing needs for the last 8 years. No capable loader or 3 pt was the downgrade but the best mower we have ever had. Highly recommend this unit for mowing and towing."

"I have owned this tractor now going on five years. Just this last weekend, I had to replace the mower deck belt. It has been rock solid all these years. It starts up almost immediately every time. It has cut my mow time in half for two acres. It has been a great purchase."

"This tractor gets a lot of use and abuse. We have the mowing deck, front end loader, 4'roto-tiller, wheel weights, front weights and 4' brush cutter attachments. We've had the mowing deck rebuilt (bearings on blade shafts worn out) and the water pump and gasket needed to be replaced at about 600 hours. The dealer replaced the plastic cam shaft at the same time. Now it has stopped charging the battery which might be as simple as a new voltage regulator or as complex as pulling the engine to get at the alternator. This is the first tractor of this caliber that we've owned and repairs are not inexpensive, but probably the only thing I would change (besides the silly plastic cam shaft) are the hydraulic connections for the front end loader. It is all I'm physically capable of to make those connections because of how they are situated. My next tractor will probably be 4 wheel drive and it will probably be another John Deere."