Looks like another mtd to me. Not the best of the best in the world, but not the most expensive either. The company isn't going to disappear any time soon, so parts and service won't be a problem later. These machines are not built to race, so maintenance is pretty easy. Fresh gas and oil are nice practices, but the Briggs motors don't mind running on chainsaw gas and soybean oil for lack of the intended fluids.
The lifespan of this unit really depends on how you treat it. If you keep it clean and don't try to bushhog or scalp the ground with it, your feet and yard shoes will be underworked for over a decade. The mtd my dad owns is 22 and will probably be retired this year due to the renters kid trying to mow the road with it. The dominos have fallen on it for a while and it is a great big mess now. The motor still runs strong, but the starter is weak for some odd reason. I suspect that whoever burned out the solenoid just couldn't quit turning the key.
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