...Deere is about as good as any. I have a local Deere dealer and ya can buy em at lowes or home depot. Neither the depot or lowes has a service department for them. The local guy tells me he will service them for ya, but the customers who bought from him come first.
...Husqvarna is alright just as well. It's a Swedish company. I think Husqvarna means "Husky Varmint", but I could be wrong. I don't think anything is meant to last anymore. The wife has a sewing maching I bought her right after we got married. It has been in and out of the shop a few times and only needs and occaisional motor belt or timing belt. Guy says it will last forever if we don't leave it out in the rains or something. The new ones? Expensive, complicated and destined for the garbage in two years or less.

Liberals are like a "Slinky". Totally useless, but somehow ya can't help but smile when you see one tumble down a flight of stairs!