A Comparison of Scag vs. Dixie Chopper Lawn Mower

Scag and Dixie Chopper are both famous brand names in the lawnmower industry. Both of these brands have gained fame and goodwill by providing their customers with the best quality mowers at reasonable prices. Although both of these companies occupy the top strata in the market, they have comparable differences between them that every consumer should know about before making the decision to purchase these lawnmowers. In this article we will discuss A Comparison of Scag vs. Dixie Chopper Lawn Mower

Scag and Dixie Chopper lawnmowers differ in performance, durability, price point, service life, grass-cutting quality, and so on. Scag mowers are built with priority to durability and performance while sacrificing the price point as they can be a bit costlier in comparison but yield a fantastic resale value if maintained properly. Dixie Chopper mowers, on the other hand, are some of the fastest mowers in the market and an overall good choice providing quality service to homeowners all around the globe. The key differences that customers should be aware of before purchasing from these brands are discussed in this writing. 

Scag Lawn Mower: About the Brand

The long and prosperous journey of SCAG started in 1983 when it was founded by Dane Scag, a great American innovator and inventor. In 1986, Metalcraft bought the Scag Power Equipment and has been manufacturing great quality mowers ever since.

Scag has become a trusted name among gardeners, homeowners, and farmers worldwide by providing well-built commercial and residential mowing equipment for more than 30 years. They have over 50 models of riding and pushing mowers in circulation today.

Scag takes pride in their all-American manufacturing where they build every single part in the United States instead of importing cheaper parts from abroad. This ensures that the built quality of Scag mowers is levels above other cheaper mowers.

But this extreme durability comes with a hefty price tag as their riding mowers cost more than all other brands. Although this might deter consumers from considering buying a Scag mower, they should keep in mind the resale value which is significantly higher than any other brand’s mowers.

Scag not only offers a great service life for their mowers ensuring comfortable driving and smooth grass-cutting experience but also backs it up with fantastic and helpful customer service and dealers spread across the country.

Dixie Chopper Lawn Mower: About the Brand

Dixie Chopper was established in 1980 by an American visionary and the Chairman of Dixie Chopper, Art Evans. Very early in their company life, Dixie Chopper stunned everyone by introducing the first hydrostatic drive zero-turn radius mower in 1987.

Over the years, they have been at the forefront of lawn mower technology with the guidance of Art Evans who built a jet-powered lawn mower using a Chanhook helicopter engine which was featured in the hit TV sitcom Home Improvement in 1993.

Dixie Chopper’s quest to become the fastest lawn mower in the market gained more momentum in 1996 after they introduced the twin-engine mower, the S’Burb’n Turb’n. This journey will yield several cutting-edge lawn mowers such as the 50 HP turbo-charged engine in 1999, the liquid-cooled Millennium Mower of 2000, the Silver Eagle and the Xtreme Mow-chine in 2003, the Xcaliber with exclusive X2 wind tunnel deck in 2007, the CNG powered Eco-Eagle in 2010, and the incredibly fast Zee series and the BlackHawk series mowers in the last decade.

The Alamo Group acquired Dixie Chopper in August 2019 and has been manufacturing the Zee 2, Blackhawk, Eagle, Excalibur, and various other models from Greencastle, Indiana.

Scag vs Dixie Chopper Lawn Mowers

Scag and Dixie Chopper both make good quality lawnmowers that have gained popularity among homeowners and gardeners worldwide but there are various differences between them in performance, cut quality, comfort, maintenance, and value. These differences should be carefully evaluated by any potential buyer who wants to add these machines to their arsenal of lawncare equipment. These differences are discussed in detail below.

Performance and Durability

Scag and Dixie Chopper both provide good performance when it comes to mowing the lawn with ease and comfort but Scag will take the lead in durability. The users of Scag mowers have reported that their machines have not let them down and have effortlessly cut grass since purchase. Dixie Chopper also performs well on the field and owners do not frequently complain about the performance.

Comparing the two brands, it can be said for certain that Scag will stay ahead of Dixie Chopper in terms of performance and durability. Scag lawnmowers are built better than the Dixie Chopper lawnmowers and thus last longer and provide a much better performance and service life.

Cutting Quality and Versatility

The grass-cutting quality of the Dixie Chopper lawnmowers and the Scag lawnmowers are similar and both have been reported to provide owners with satisfying results. Dixie Chopper lawnmowers cut grass faster as they have higher speeds than Scag lawnmowers. But higher speeds do not always provide the best quality of cuts on the grass. Mowing at lower speeds is recommended for better cutting quality if you are using Dixie Chopper mowers.

Scag mowers on the other hand, always provide the users with fine cuts of grass on their lawns as the machines are built very well and the blades run smoothly on the grass. Scag mowers are also very useful to mow on rough terrains as their machines are quite powerful and capable of handling most situations. Dixie Chopper mowers on the other hand can face difficulties while running on rough terrain or on hilly areas. So in terms of versatility, Scag mowers are ahead of Dixie Choppers in comparison.

Comfort and Ergonomics

Scag mowers are slightly more comfortable than Dixie Chopper mowers but not to a great extent. Both of these brands manufacture their zero-turn riding mowers keeping the operator’s comfort in mind.

Scag mowers are fitted with ultra-plush bolstered seats, large-diameter steering handles, and rubber iso-mounted foot plates that provide the operator with great comfort during operation. Dixie Chopper lawnmowers come with a plush cushioned seat and some models such as the Zee 2 even feature armrests for extra comfort.

Maintenance and Service

Scag mowers require more frequent servicing to keep them in pristine condition as it is a better quality machine built for performance while the Dixie Chopper mowers are relatively low maintenance. Both companies have dealers all over the United States but Dixie Chopper has more than Scag. Both manufacturers provide excellent customer servicing if required. Choose the Dixie Chopper mowers if you do not want to spend much time in care or maintenance for your lawnmower.

Price and Value

Scag mowers are relatively costlier than Dixie Chopper lawnmowers as they are built with better materials and last a lot longer. Dixie Chopper provides a good service for its worth even though they are relatively cheaper. The resale value of the Scag mowers is also much higher than the Dixie Chopper lawnmowers. Buy Dixie Chopper mowers if you are looking for cheaper options.

Why Are Scag Mowers So Expensive

Two key factors contribute to making Scag mowers some of the most expensive mowers available on the market and they are complete US production and material choice.

Scag takes pride in the fact that all of their machines are completely built in the USA meaning all of the parts are manufactured there and none of the components are made elsewhere. This ensures that Scag can provide the best quality product to their customer without compromising for cheaper parts made elsewhere in the world where labor cost is low.

The other reason behind the expensive price tag is the quality of construction as Scag only uses heavy-duty components made from high-quality steel. This ensures that Scag mowers last for a long time and provide a quality service to the customer. This sturdy construction also ensures that the mowers can withstand being driven on rough terrain or even hilly areas. With proper care and maintenance, Scag mowers can have a higher resale value than most other mowers in the market.

Is Dixie Chopper the Fastest Mower?

Dixie Chopper Xtreme is the world’s fastest lawnmower. There are other lawnmowers that have been modified to be faster than the Dixie Chopper lawnmowers but without any tinkering or modifying, Dixie Chopper still holds the record for making the fastest lawnmower in the market. The Dixie Chopper Xtreme, fitted with a 990cc 33 HP engine has the capability to mow grass at 15 mph. However, the speed may vary depending on the condition of the turf.