I just bought a hustler raptor x. Granted I haven't hardly used it yet except just riding it around getting used to it, but I was down to that one, a gravely ztx, or a toro timecutter. All three seemed like good machines. Gravely was probably the hardiest/best built, toro was a little cheaper so I could get a bigger deck, and hustler felt like it drove the smoothest. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

If you want some more input, I had a thread on the home improvement forum a couple weeks ago about it that is still on the front page. Keep in mind mine is only an acre so I wasn't looking for anything too crazy

I went with Kubota, 48" deck. Would have gone bigger but was limited by the size of my storage building door.

I have a Kubota tractor, the dealer is close, parts are easy to get both through the dealer and online, the financing was right, the price was right, and I've had nothing but great luck with Kubota - both new and used.

Before that I had a Cub Cadet riding mower that was already old, and my couple of acres finally did it in. Took over my FIL's Cub Cadet ZTR, which even though it was a little small at 42", worked great...until the engine exploded on me.

Just sharpened the blades on it and mowed the yard yesterday, ran like a champ and cut great.