Gets the job done

I'm a first-time homeowner and when I bought my first lawnmower, I specifically wanted an electric mower to be more environmentally friendly. The MM875 fits that bill and works great on my small lawn.

The MM875 has several selling points. The environmental aspects are obvious. An electric machine doesn't pollute the air, and it doesn't require the expense, smell, mess and hassle of maintaining gas and oil for it. You just plug it in and go. I have an attached garage, so there's an added safety aspect of not having to keep gasoline, a combustible, in my garage.

The plastic body keeps the unit lightweight and very easy to push. I never even think twice about it not being self-propelled because it's so easy to push and even pick up and reposition if I need to (to get to a tight spot for instance).

The machine turns on and off with a hand-lever (pull it and hold it to keep the machine on and release it to turn it off) and both the on and off are instantaneous. This is convenient when you're turning it on and a relief when you want to cut it off quickly in case you think you've run over something. You might think having to hold the lever would be inconvenient when you're mowing, but you hold it against the handle you're already holding to push the mower, so it's hardly noticeable.

Some reviewers have lauded the easy adjustable mowing heights. I set mine the first time I used it, and I've left it the same ever since so that hasn't been much of an issue for me, but definitely it was easy and quick to set. I also don't use the mulching feature. I like to bag my grass, but the grass that I empty from the bag looks very well mulched. The rear bag holds plenty of cut grass and is conveniently located. Also, the handle folds down over the top of the body, which makes it easy to store in a small space. I leave mine in position, but it's very easy to fold down.

The machine has plenty of power. Half of my backyard is sodded, and the other half is not, and recently the unsodded part became overrun with weeds - some of which would qualify as "plants." I decided to see if the mower could make an impact into the weeds, and it steamrolled right over everything, cutting it all down, including some with some pretty thick stalks (my house backs up to a ranch, so I get more than you're average dandelion). I was extremely pleased with what it was able to do.

One of the selling points I often hear about the machine is how quiet it is. I honestly don't think it's that much quieter than a gas mower. My neighbor has gas, and I'm not that much quieter than he is.

The mower does have a few drawbacks. Since it's electric, I can't use it on wet grass. There are times I'd like to use it on a weekend morning when it's cool, but the grass is wet from heavy dew or rain, so I can't.

Also, the cord is a hassle, particularly around trees and flower beds. I used some inexpensive, lightweight edging around some of my flower beds, and the cord has been known to pull it loose on more than one occasion. You also have to plan your path to avoid having to constantly move the cord. But I still think the cord is better than an uncorded version of the machine because I don't ever have to worry about replacing the battery or having it get too low or dying in the middle of cutting the lawn. The hassle of the cord is just the trade-off for low-maintenance.

One other thing is that extension cord you use has to be long enough and strong enough. A lightweight, household appliance weight cord isn't going to do it. You need to buy the heavier gauge cord, and get the 100-foot to make sure you've got enough length. The heavier gauge cord is more expensive than a household gauge ($30 compared to $6 when I bought mine), but you'll burn up your machine if you try to use the cheaper, lighter one. So, if you don't already have one of those, build that into your cost.

All in all, this is a great machine for a small yard, with far more advantages than disadvantages.