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

After reading of the hardship some of the newer Ariens models have with handling, some have been called "...a bear to handle", I want to get something that's really easy to navigate with.

Am confuzzled by the discomatic and the various names for drives.  Which model(s) has the traditional tried and true differential?  That is, one without wheel pins and/or hand levers to control drive and steering?

I'll go one step further and say I'm looking for one with a small intake (24" or so) and with a powerful engine.  And are last years models any different than this years models?

According to the Ariens site they had a naming convention that tells you what you want to know.

A model with a "d" in the name has a differential I.E. 926DLE - about 9HP, 26" swath, Differential, comes with a Light and has Electric start.

In their explanation of the term "Discomatic" they describe 3 versions, Professional Duty, Deluxe and Compact. All refer to the method used to change the speed and direction that the traction system moves the unit, they are not part of the differential.