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

Hello.
I am a newbee to big boys snow blowers and have only lived in snow climates for 9 years.

I have used a small single stage 4.5hp toro for the last 7 years, shoveled my first two years (and kicked myself in the butt for not having bought a snow blower earlier).
However, with yesterdays thick heavy wet snow and my aging body I finally broke and with a beat up tired look convinced the wife that it was time to get a real machine.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the manureability of the small toro, but any kind of semi heavy snow it just struggles and can't throw it further than a couple of feet, which in turn needs to be thrown over and over and by the time I reach the edge of the driveway it is so heavy and packed that the machine stalls unless I move one inch / minute in order to keep to 2cycle engine revved up...   not too mention having to shove the machine back and forth into the snow so as to catch the highest rpms...  It just gets old.

So yesterday I went to Home Depot and picked up an Ariens 624E for $750 (6hp, no frills machine), took it it home and began to clear up where I had left with the Toro.

First problem I had is that the machine will climb up on top of the packed snow rather than break it apart and throw it.
Second problem is that if I pull up on the handles so as to force the machine to not climb on the packed snow, the tires slip, and sometimes even not pulling up the tires slipped.

So I am afraid that I may have under estimated what I needed in order to break up the stubborn packed wet snow and I seek help from the pros.


My driveway is asphalt, fits 2 rows of 5 medium sized cars back to back, and has a side section (basketball/extra parking) that fits about 3 cars side by side.   It's shaped like a this   |-   



Questions:
Did I screw up buying the 624? ( I think I can exchange for a bigger machine given HD satisfaction policy)
Is the 624E machine enough to clear up heavy packed wet snow in such size driveway in southern New Hampshire?
Will a more powerful heavier machine (such as the ariens 824e for $950) exhibit the same issues or is this a problem with all snow blowers regardless of size?
I mean, if for a couple hundred bucks more I will have a whole different experience, then it is well worth it as I think this machine will last 20+ years...   but if I need to buy a $5000 machine then that is a different story.


Any advice, tips, comments, will be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Tony