After 14 years, it was time to upgrade to a new Countax

Mark wrote into Countax Life to share a picture of him on his new C40. Mark told us that he inherited a K Series, 14 years ago when he purchased the house from the original owner. The K Series was Countax’ first range of garden tractor sold in the 1990s. Having had very little issues with it  in the time he has owned it and loving the cut quality it offers, it was a no brainer to purchase another Countax when the time came for an upgrade. We caught up with Mark to ask what he loved the most about his old and new machine and why he was brand loyal.

You recently purchased a new Countax tractor, what influenced your purchasing decision?

I’ve been very happy with my KlS which I’ve been using for 10 years with very few issues. I’d inherited it from the previous house-owner so it was already 14 years old at the time. I wanted a replacement with the same reliability and, ideally, made in Britain.

Tell us a bit more about your garden and what garden tasks you use your Countax for?

I have a 1.5 acre garden divided into several smaller lawns. March – October, I use my machine to mow these lawns but I also use it to move chopped firewood and large amounts of garden rubbish.

Do you have any accessories for your machine? If so, which ones and what do you use them for?

I have an elderly Countax garden trailer which I use pretty much throughout the year for transporting firewood from one end of my garden to the other.

How did you hear about Countax? You mentioned you had a K Series machine – can you tell us a bit more about it? What are the similarities and differences between your old machine and the one you’ve recently bought?

In many ways, my new C40 is very similar to my old K15 – it has the same manoeuvrability, very similar in size and has a solid, well-built feel about it. It also cuts and collects much better than the K15 and I make fewer trips to my compost pile to deposit the cuttings so the PGC is definitely better at sweeping up the cuttings. I also find the engine is more fuel efficient, too.

What do you like most about your Countax?

It is very comfortable, simple to use and has a cup-holder for my favourite glass of Herefordshire cider!

How important was purchasing from a local dealer?

My dealer is about 30 mins from my home but they’ve reassured me that they are always at the end of the ‘phone if I have any issues with my C40.

Can you tell us a bit about your experience with your local dealer?

I’ve never used my local dealer, Ron Smith & Co, until I popped in for a chat – I was so impressed, I came out with a new C40! They’ve been around a long time and I feel they know their business very well.

Do you have any top tips for other owners/ prospective owners about getting the most from their machine?

Now I have a shiny new C40, I’m a bit obsessive, I’m afraid, and always give it a proper clean and brush-down after every use. I’d recommend keeping your tractor clean and, if possible, dry, periodically check the oil and state of the PGC brushes and, of course, get the machine serviced annually, in the Spring or Autumn.

How likely are you to recommend a Countax and why?

I’m a long-term Countax customer and if my C40 is as reliable as my old KlS, I would definitely recommend a Countax for anyone with a medium to large garden.