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

That's all I was asking for, and for the most part I got it.  Everyone one this forum was fine until I posted this:
I'm down to two models - the highly rated Craftsman 9hp two-stage for $949, or the not so highly rated (by Consumers) Ariens 8.5hp, on sale at HD for $900.

After that,  EMMO responded "Now many others will prefer the Ariens,  better built, longer lasting, all steel construction, backed by a consumer concerned company."

Interesting because while Sears will fix it in my house for 5 yrsFOR AN ADDITIONAL $150., Ariens requires me to bring it back to the dealer.  And the statement better built got me to thinking "How does he know?".  Should I be slammed for asking the next obvious question - who is this person and what data/information do they have to support his argument? I WAS TRYING TO GIVE YOU THE THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF THE CONSENSUS HERE.  I WAS SPEAKING IN TERMS OF GENERALITIES, PRESENTING BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN.  I HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS FORUM LONG ENOUGHT TO HAVE A GENERAL FEEL FOR THE RESPONSES YOU WERE TO RECEIVE. I WAS MERELY TRYING TO GIVE YOU SOME QUICK FEEDBACK. REREAD MY POSTS.  I ALSO TOOK THE TIME TO RESPOND TO YOUR PM INQUIRING ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF A TORO 3650 FOR YOUR SITUATION.
ChrisS pipes in and says "The Crafstman unit you are looking at is made by MTD.  We have beat this horse to death over on the old forum so I will summarize, it is not the machine for a person who lives in a snow belt. "  EVEN FRED, THE BIGGEST CRAFTSMAN BACKER ON THIS FORUM, DID NOT THINK THAT A CRAFTSMAN WAS FOR YOU.

Once again, why is he saying this.  Can he point me in the direction of unreliable Craftsman?  I sure can't find any Craftsman owners (any more than Ariens) on this site who are complaining, so he is obviously getting his information somewhere else.  However, it is also common for people who own a particular brand to downgrade anything with similar/more features at less cost, proving to themselves they made the right purchase decision.  IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE MAJORITY OF CRAFTSMAN OWNERS ARE NOT AS "INTO" THEIR OPE AS THE REST OF US.  FOR THE MILLIONS OF CRAFTSMAN MOWER/BLOWERS SOLD, ISN'T IT STRANGE THAT THERE AREN'T A LOT MORE LOYAL OWNERS TOOTING THE CRAFTSMAN HORN ON THIS FORUM?  I DON'T DENY THEM THEIR PLACE, BUT WHERE ARE THEY?

Jonathan joins in saying " I agree that the Ariens is the way to over the long haul in the Albany area."
Once again, WHY!!!    HE LIVES IN YOUR AREA, DID HIS OWN RESEARCH, AND CAME TO HIS CONCLUSION.

Then I ask " OK, if I go with the Ariens, how do you turn the unit around?"
Emmo responds "Any unit with the pin-lock system, regardless of make, will be more difficult to maneuver than one with power steering or a differential."

So it seems, if I'm going to get less with an Ariens, reliability is the final determinant.  I'm cool with that, but now tell me, where this lack of Craftsman reliability comes from?

ChrisS again pipes in to say "If your wife is going to be using it then look at the Honda 724 WA/TA's which are lighter or one of the smaller Ariens or Simp units.  They will still be hard to turn for her but will be small enough for her to handle also.  The 926 DLE Emmo mentioned is THE machine and she will be able to turn it with it's differential easily."

So it seems, if I want an easy to handle Ariens, I need to get a $1,400 unit YOU WERE CONSIDERING A $1300 TORO EARLIER - out of my price range.  I'm back to comparing the $1000 Ariens with the $1000 Craftsman.($1100 WITH THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY)

Dave_in_Ct was nice enough to state: "You can "muscle" the machine to turn sharply... ...or......use reverse & forward to turn it in smaller increments with less physical force...
...or... easier yet......keep going forward while turning in a wider arc that you/she feel comfortable with..."

I really appreciated that, because now I'm leaning more heavily towards the Craftsman, but who wants a product that will break after a couple of seasons.  No matter how easy it is to handle, its going nowhere if its broke.

DantheMan chimes in with "I would recommend the Ariens over the Craftsman for your area and would rather go to an Ariens dealer( not Home Depot ) and get the 926 DLE."
WHY, WHY, WHY!!!  Can people at least back up their opinions?

I respond back asking "No one can show any statistics that the Craftsman is less reliable, it's all "word of mouth", yet I can't find any more posts about Craftsman problems than Ariens or any other company.  Many people state their Craftsman is running great at 15, 20 or more years. "  
ChrisS sophmorically replies  " OK Snow, Then get the Craftsman."
DAVE POINTED OUT THAT THE CRAFTSMAN OF TODAY ARE NOT THE SAME AS THEY WERE 15-20 YEARS AGO.  THESE GUYS HAVE OWNED THESE UNITS, WORKED ON THEM ,  THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF.  HAVE YOU BOTHERED GOING TO SEE ANY OF THESE MACHINES IN PERSON?  STAND A CRAFTSMAN NEXT TO AN ARIENS AND STEVIE WONDER COULD SEE THE DIFFERENCE!

Jonathon, on the other hand, makes a simple valid point "That said, if your gut tells you to go with the Sears and service warranty, I'd go for it."

Emmo gets all defensive and says " You asked and we replied,  I guess our collective knowledge and experiences don't add up to yours. Enjoy your Consumer Reports special."

MountainMan made a good point specifying some of the work he's done on Craftsman.

Marshall accuses me of coming here with an agenda.

Dave_in_CT makes some good points, but if I save the money at Home Depot, I lose the support from the Ariens dealer (the pick up at my home support, which he won't put in writing).

Emmo attacks back saying "Do you usually ask questions of those whose opinions or knowledge you don't respect??!!"

To which I reply, I ask questions to gain more information.  I don't know you people, so how can I respect you?  I want to see if you make a point you can back it up.  Otherwise, I have to conclude you are NOT someone I respect  and the information you bring is, at best, questionable.  I WAS TAUGHT, AT A VERY EARLY AGE, THAT EVERYONE WAS ENTITLED TO RESPECT UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE.  YOU APPARANTLY CONTRADICT YOURSELF, OTHERWISE WHY WOULD YOU WASTE YOUR KEYSTROKES ASKING A GROUP OF UNKNOWNS ANYTHING?

WE DO THIS FOR A HOBBY.  THE PAY AND THE HOURS ARE LOUSY. FOR THE MOST PART WE DO THIS TO ENJOY OURSELVES AND TO HELP OTHERS.  WE DON'T SELL ANYTHING. YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO STAND ON THEIR HEAD TO "SELL" YOU ON SOMETHING, GET OFF THE KEYBOARD AND GO SEE  THE DEALERS.  POSSIBLY, SOME OF THE UNITS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN COULD ALREADY BE SOLD OUT IN YOUR AREA. .

SORRY OUR ADVICE AND INFO WERE INSUFFICIENT FOR YOUR NEEDS.

I SUGGEST VISITING SOME DEALERS, MAKE YOUR OWN COMPARISONS AND THEN MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION.

SR,

        I feel slighted!!  You left me out of your " Tirade".

I said if you live in heavy snow country, buy the Ariens, Toro, or Simplicity.

Also said buy their top of the line machine.

What other advice do you need!

                             Fred

I think I'm starting to have deja vu all over again.....

Didn't we do this whole dance at the old place not too long ago??