Mountfield HP 430

OK so the Mountfield HP 430 is the budget model of all petrol mowers, but give it its due it works, and well at that. First to assembly. It isn't light compared to all those plastic mobels in the electric market, and the box is big so go carefully. The instructions are straight forward if you are used to diagrams and no words. An experienced Ikea customer will get on all right, though the bits for the grass basket are not obvious at first.

Once assembled you need your petrol and oil (easy to forget), prime the engine(easy) and then it's ready to start. Hold the safety handle and give the cord a good tug or three. Mine started second time!

The mower only runs with the handle depressed so you can't do much that unsafe, but it does mean you have to start it again every time you leave the mower or empty the grass box - I found it start so reliably that this is not a problem.

Grass height cut is easy to adjust, though you have to do all four wheels, and the mower is pretty manouverable if long. Uphill on uneven grass or in very long grass can be a bit hard but if you want an easy life go for the SP version!

The grass box is big and copes with all but the wetest grass. Long grass can be a problem but compared to say a Flymo PC330 this beast eats it up. Difficult to say how often it needs to be emptied (depend on how often you cut) but again compared to the PC330 it lasted four if not five times as long.

In summary it's quick, reliable, eats up long and even wet grass and comes at a very attractive price. I though long and hard over another Flymo or this Mountfield, so far I made the right choice.