Yeah, they were well OVER $7,000 when new. I think over $8,000 would actually be more accurate.
They are absolutely GREAT Lawn & Garden Tractors.
Even the older John Deere 345 models were/are great machines. (No GX prefix.)
With the older 345's (built during the 1990's), just be sure that you have proof that the camshaft has been replaced if the tractor has under 1,000 hours on the meter. Otherwise it's a gamble. Many of the older Kawasaki liquid-cooled V-twins had a tendency to shear the rivets that held the phenolic (plastic) gear onto the steel camshaft on many of those powerplants from 300 to 1000 hours. If the machine you are looking at has over 1,000 hours, then it's a pretty safe bet that you won't have any camshaft or motor problems.
The replacement camshafts (all steel) permantly fixed that problem, and then the tractors were known to run and perform great for several thousand hours after that.
Worst case scenario... $1,200 for a cam job. That includes a new water pump and professionally done. I bought all the parts and fixed my myself in one day for under $400.
Anyhow... on the used market, a good 345 or GX345 is worth between $1,500 and $5,000 depending upon age, condition, wear, & options/attachments. Sometimes older machines are worth more. Overall condition really does make a huge difference in what any LGT is worth.
I have an "older" 1997 JD 345 with a 54" deck and super low hours (under 400 hours) and I wouldn't dream of selling
it for less than $3,500. Ironically, I have a 1991 JD 322 with a 50" deck also, and it is easily worth as much or more than my 345. Quality holds value.
My grandparents used to have a 1995 JD 325 (17Hp). Also a great LGT. Only replaced it because somebody STOLE it! Yeah, no kidding. So, now they have a JD GX 335 (20Hp), which they love even more. Both of those are slightly lesser machines than the liquid-cooled 345 & GX 345, although they are built with the exact same chassis, bodies, and trannys.
Good luck and god bless!
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