I guess you will get recommendations based upon what folk have used and have had good service with. My 1990 JD 172 is still in service, about 3 1/2 hours each week, and has just over 1820 hours. It has a 14 HP Kawasaki single. I bought a new JD last August. It only has 39 hours on it but has been perfect so far. It is 19.5 HP JD speck engine built by Briggs and Stratton, and has a 42 inch cut. It is very easy to service and I am a service fanatic.