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?

While many different brands have their own unique features,I would NOT recommend anything TORO,you are basically paying for a Murrary or MTD with a unrealistic price tag<(Paying for the name) !!!  I cannot be honest enuff about their products,I used to work for them and they have no want nor appreciation for "Quality",it's all about the bottomline dollar and getting it out the door. Toro buys up their competetion and then runs them into the ground or sells off what they don't want and runs back to Minneapolis. If you check out there Dunn and Bradstreet history it is quite the story of such.

While many different brands have their own unique features,I would NOT recommend anything TORO,you are basically paying for a Murrary or MTD with a unrealistic price tag<(Paying for the name) !!!  I cannot be honest enuff about their products,I used to work for them and they have no want nor appreciation for "Quality",it's all about the bottomline dollar and getting it out the door. Toro buys up their competetion and then runs them into the ground or sells off what they don't want and runs back to Minneapolis. If you check out there Dunn and Bradstreet history it is quite the story of such.
Those are very interesting comments SS and especially from someone that once worked for the company.
I had been misled into thinking that the aquisition of Gilson and Lawnboy were more beneficial too those companys than they were for toro.
My impression was that they were 2 companies that really werent keeping up with times and were floundering because of it.
Outside of a market area in the south for Lawnboy and a hardcore group of enthusists in the north for gilson, it didnt seem like either company was doing much too compete or were doing anything different than they had done for the previous 40 years.
Although I've had no problems with Toro's reputation or quality, it's  good too hear things from someone from the inside and and get some objective balance too our perceptions.
Good post, SS.