Jbetts,
What did you put (C) $2,000 into over the past 2 years. Do you have current pics?
Check out e.bay to get an idea of what is out there and the prices they are going for. Also let your local JD dealer know what you are looking for. Any JD clubs nearby? Maybe contact them.
aegt5k,
They did have a 175 (hydro 170) in the back lot. It was picked up from a long time customer that bought a now tractor. They sold it a few days later, with a small JD trailer, for $300 or $400. It looked like it had been well taken care of and even came with a JD cover for the tractor.
I had a chance to get it cheaper the day it came in but I'm in the doghouse a bit with the finance minister for not getting rid of some of the duplicate things I have (2 power washers, 2 chippers, a walk behind mower, 2 generators, a restore in slow progress Craftsman tractor) and I'm a bit behind on the to do list SHE has made out for me.
There's always another treasure just around the corner, though.
Greg