Ahh, the roar of the engine. The acceleration. The crisp turns. The bonding of man and machine. Too bad the machine is a lawn mower, not a Lamborghini. And it (the lawn mower, not the sports car) has rust holes, wobbly wheels, a broken starter and spews exhaust like a locomotive.

Time for a new mower. So we checked the Internet and asked a couple of people who work with mowers every day for some advice. We wanted to know the secret to finding the best mower.

Here's the secret: You've got to figure it one out for yourself. Some secret!

"It all depends on the features and the cost. Maybe you don't need a bagger - it's better to mulch anyway," said Jack Walker owner of CN Lawncare in Danbury.

Al Getchell, owner of Big John's Fix-It Shop in New Milford
, said an inexpensive mower might last a decade on a small, flat lawn or just a few years on a hilly acre with high grass.

Consumer Reports devotes an entire page to discussing what mowers work best in what conditions.

Oh, well. Apparently secret formulas exist only on Planet Infomercial.

Here are some things to consider before buying a mower. Start by looking at your yard. Is it big (more than a half acre), small (under a quarter acre), or in-between? Is it hilly or flat? Are there lots of obstacles? Do you mow every week or do you wait until the kids are lost in the grass?

There are several basic types of mowers, starting with the most simple, old fashioned manual reel type mower where you provide all the power. They start at $100. Then there are the electric mowers which come with a cord or in a cordless variety.

If you go with an electric mower you can get one with a cord starting around $125, but they are less powerful and more limited than a gas mower. Expect to spend a lot more if you want a cordless version.

Gas mowers, which are more powerful and offer more options, also come in several models. The simplest is a mower which requires manpower to push it; a more sophisticated version is self-propelled. Then there are riding tractors.

In general, you can get away with a small, gas-powered push mower for $200 or less, which is good for a small, flat lawn.

You might want a self-propelled machine if you have more than one-half acre. They go for from $200 to $900. Walker uses a tractor on his three-quarter-acre lawn, and recommends it to anyone with a large area to mow.

"I'm done in about 20 minutes," he said. Getchell uses an old Cub Cadet in his yard.

"I love the old tractors; they don't make them like that any more," he said. If you can pick up an old machine you might get a mower built to last at a bargain price.

The newer machines have more plastic and, in general, are less durable, Getchell said. The he-man who insists on yanking a new machine's starting cord with the mightiest of tugs is likely to break the cord, he said.

If you have hilly land, consider an engine (like Honda) that has an oil pump, Getchell said. He also recommended tipping a mower from front to back when cleaning the blade. Oil leaks into the filter when machines are turned sideways.

Before you head to the store, check Consumer Reports ( www.consumerreports.org ) or at other sites online or in the library. But first, you should have an idea of what type of mower you want. Some models are better at mulching, some work better with a bagger.

And when buying, take a look at local stores. Walker said you might get lower prices at a national retailer, but he prefers to buy mowers at power machine shops.

"You get quality products and the service to back it up," he said.