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

Looking to purchase my first snow thrower...choice between the Ariens 520ec 2 stage or theToro 221Q single stage. Live on long island, NY and last year we had some wet snow, but that's not always the case, anyway we get our streets plowed, which usually leaves a pile at the end of the driveway. How does the toro 221/421 or even the 2450 single stages handle a pile of snow thick snow at the end of the driveway.

Keep hearing great things about the toro single stage, but worried it can't handle the wet or the thick snow plowed from trucks cleaning the roads . Thus the reason for opting to go with the Ariens 520ec 2 stage thrower.

Both are the same price about $600

Don't think it would be worth going any bigger than those 2 models cuz we only get about 2-3 feet ( average 6-8" a snowfall) throughout the season, but one never knows.

Have some HD store credit and thus the reason for the 2 brands and models. Any help would be greatly appreciated, looking to purchase real soon.