STIHL RMA 453 PV Cordless Lawn Mower 51cm

Rigidly constructed, apart from the dicky mulching flap that requires constant cleaning to ensure proper operation (doesn't quite close as much as it should causing grass dust to accumulate in the corner), and the fact that the drive handle rubs on the battery cover when folded in transport mode. Would like to be able to remove the batteries while the handle is folded down, but opening the housing requires the handle upright.

The mower cuts effortlessly on bone dry grass (like we have now), but as soon as a little moisture is introduced by the way of morning dew, or light rain, or taller/denser grass, the feasibility of cutting the grass with this model significantly reduces, especially with the mulching setting, as it doesn't generate quite as much constant power as a petrol model to do so, and the dedicated mulching blade probably hinders pickup.
The side discharge often clogs when slightly wet, which is an annoyance, and the pickup in the grass box drastically reduces.

The drive operation is easily adjustable and allows a 5 stage adjustment in real time, without any readjustment of the posture while under operation. It also has a slight delay in triggering, allowing you to easily disengage and re-engage while readjusting the mower and body position before hitting the next stripe.

The deck is made of a plastic that is lighter than a traditional metal deck, but seems to require more cleaning due to the mulching blade reducing pickup if there's grass buildup underneath. Grass also seems to stick to the deck more than a traditional metal deck if the grass is slightly wet. I recommend a spray with wd-40 or sunflower oil once a week to minimise sticking of grass.

The battery modes can be switched between at the press of a button, but the mower is intelligent enough to increase or reduce revs based on what you throw at it when in eco mode, so you'll be okay just leaving it set at that.

The battery life is quite good, but using the drive will cause premature draw if using on large areas, so keep that in mind if battery conscious.

I recommend at least 4 500s batteries for piece of mind if using on large areas with time as a constraint. You don't want to be going backwards and forwards charging batteries and interrupting your workflow.

The wet performance of the mower is a bit of a deal breaker for me, especially for the price of the mower. A traditional petrol mower wouldn't have as great of a problem tackling wet grass, and its a lawnmower so cutting grass well is what is SHOULD do, hence why I can only rate it 3 stars out of 5.

It feels like this mower has tried to be a swiss army knife, while it should have been sticking to cutting grass well under normal conditions because of it's poor wet (damp) performance caused by the mulching blade.

Love this mower and the battery efficiency.