I am with speedy; I enjoy the machinery rather than the mowing. I couldn't see using a sanli would inspire me to go out, tinker around with it, and listen to the motor at all. When it comes to cutting grass/enjoyment factor, It all depends on the lawn and how much effort it needs.

My lawn isn't too much of a challenge, being a quite dry area (well, not at the moment haha), but it was my parents lawn that is the real kicker. Being next to an ex swamp, the land sucks the moisture in and out comes the grass. Parts of it I nicknamed 'The Sponge'. Kikuyu reaching for the sky within a week or less, and Buffalo so thick you could almost bounce up and down on it. I hated that lawn, and having to slog through it with the Corvette.

It was in the mid/late 90s though when I began to appreciate the old Victa. My parents bought a brand new, top of the line Masport with a large Briggs on it. I still remember the old man talking up the 4 stroke engine, and how much better it will be. He wanted the first time with the new toy, so he got it all ready, oil in the sump, everything checked. Mower started first go (always does though, so I won't kick it in that area), and off he went.

You could hear the struggle almost immediately. The mower was revving down in the long grass, choking out and having to pull back from areas where the Victa just goes right through it. I could see the frustration mounting on the old mans face! Then it hit 'The Sponge', the Buffalo grass was thick, and the poor old Masport choked and stalled. I couldn't believe it at the time. Everything I had been told about the awesomeness of the 4 stroke big Briggs engine was out the window. The old man took the mower off to clear out the grass blocking up the underside and I had to finish the job, with the horrible old Victa! It just roared straight through it all and didn't miss a beat.

After that, the Masport was relegated to front lawn duties where things were a lot drier, while the Victa had to deal with the tough stuff up the back. Admittedly, the Masport is also still going strong, no servicing apart from oil changes and the odd spark plug clean, so I won't knock it for reliability, though I hardly ever see other peoples 4 strokes getting half the life of it.

Back in '06 when I bought my house and got my own Victa, I did take it over to the parents house for the ultimate test, and while it didn't catch the grass as well as the old corvette, it still powered through the jungle as good.

I still hate mowing that lawn though, but the machinery makes up for it.