Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Stopped at my local Home Depot today and they were selling a 2006 model year Toro 826 LE for $500, vs. $799 for the Ariens 926 and a Cub Cadet model. What concerned me about the Toro was the plastic chute and the plastic area over the auger. The Home Depot salesman said they'd had a couple Toros returned with cracked plastic caused when people picked up a rock.

My questions: Does the more extensive use of plastic in the Toro make it more prone to problems, vs. the more heavily-steeled Ariens and Cub Cadet? I would be using it on a paved driveway.

Is the Toro, at $300 less, a good deal?