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

I was at a local Honda dealer yesterday and I was stunned by the prices on their snowblowers. In Canadian dollars, they were: 928 wheels: $3000 928 track: $3400 724 track: $3400 1132 track: $3500 I know they have tracks, hydro tranny, honda engines, etc. but they're at least $1000-1500 more than equivalent toro and ariens models. Is it gold, they re making?

Wow dude what's your problem?  You seem to be one of those poor saps who take comfort in the anonymity of the Web to insult, berate and act like an all around schmuck.  Cool it, man.

No need to get nasty folks. We all have our reason/preferences for what we buy. Despite the fact that I wouldn't spend that kind of money on Honda, does not relegate those that do to being fools. It's their money to dispose with as they choose. If we want Honda to continue to produce snow throwers, someone has to buy them. They should be appreciated for being willing to fork over that much cash. You never know when you might want to splurge to get a Honda of your own...

..

You must be so lonely. 

Steve_Cebu wrote:
Steve, I agree!  I'd like to sit in a cab with the tunes playing and the heater running.  I could still listen to the purr of the engine in total comfort.

+1 agreed here too.  Any larger than 32" bucket and heavier than 400 lbs, I want to sit on it, not walk behind it.  Those sidewalk snowblowers with 6 foot tall chutes are awesome, accurate snow discharge placement.  Skid steer would be nice, tracks optional.  Lights, engine, action! 

Steve_Cebu wrote:
Congrats on your new snowblower.  The 928TAS was my first choice.  However, last year, I had to buy the next size up which is the 1132TAS because the dealer just sold the last 928 track model just an hour before I came to the store, to a municipality, of all customers.  I got free $70 delivery and a quart of Honda oil.  :)  You did good with $150 off. 

I was impatient and wanted to buy a Honda tracked snowblower in 2008 before a major snowstorm.  Looking back, I would gladly waited another year to get the 928TAS and give up the extra power and width of the 1132TAS for the quicker handling of 928TAS.

I am new to this site and have been following this discussion with interest.  I am considering a purchase of the Honda HS724WA (wheeled version).  My local dealer is selling them at a price of $1,809.  Does this change anyone's opinion (I know that the quoted Canadian price has been much higher.  I have about 200' of driveway to clear with several dead-ends, so I still like compactness and manuverability of the 24" unit.  If I don't buy the Honda (or a used one) I am probably looking at something like an Ariens Deluxe 24.  Thanks for the help..

Are you considering the Ariens Deluxe 24" or the Ariens Deluxe Platinum 24"?

I'm having trouble reconciling some of the prices noted throughout this thread.  I looked up the list MSRP for Honda, Simplicity, and Ariens commercial models and I'm not seeing where Honda is priced at twice what other are listed for.  For example:

Honda HS928WAS (28" wheels w/ electric start) listed at $2,679 US Dollars.
Simplicity Pro P1628E (28" wheels w/ electric start) listed at $2,250 US Dollars.  Difference is $429 or a 16% premium for the Honda.

Honda HS928TAS (28" tracks w/ electric start) listed at $2,799 US Dollars.
Ariens ST28DLET (28" tracks w/ electric start) listed at $2499 US Dollars.   Difference is $300 or a 11% premium for the Honda.

I compared the top of the line Pro-Commercial Simplicity and Pro model Ariens to the Commercial rated Honda's, which seems fair.  I know that one can claim that a lower end Simplicity or Ariens can do the same job as the Honda...but then one can also claim that a $10 shovel can do the same thing as any snow blower.  So to compare apples to apples I looked at the top of the line models for each brand.

The only thing I can think of is perhaps the Simplicity's and Ariens are deeply discounted off of the MSRP and the Honda's are not...which might make the Honda's cost twice what the other Pro-models cost but I'm not sure that's the case.

BTW...I'm an Ariens man.  Not sure how that will play out over time because I was also an Oldsmobile man and we all know how that worked out.