Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive? Original Message Dec 24, 2009 9:23 am
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?
Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive? Reply #90 Dec 29, 2009 6:23 pm
Paul7 wrote:
That's good that your dealer is giving you the return option. If she can't use it then it's probably better to pay the restocking fee and get something that she can use. Sounds like an appropriately sized 2 stage wheeled machine with either an automatic differential or a remote lever activated axle lock/unlock feature may be the ticket.
For the slush a single stage would work. I'm not familiar with the Toro 1800 power curve but I found a youtube video of one in action. For my taste I'd rather have a gas powered engine than have to deal with dragging semi frozen extension cords behind me...but then again the electric model would be one less engine to maintain. In any event I think that Toro is the brand to buy for single stage snowblowers. I have a large 11.5 hp Ariens 2 stage and I love it...but I also have a 7hp Ariens single stage and it dosen't come close to matching the performance of my neighbors 5hp Toro single stage snowblower.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQOBq-tF3pY
I sure hope they will follow through with it. For them it gives them a demo and they make $250 on it. No idea what we will buy. I can setup the Toro so she can use the electric start. No way can she pull over the B&S engine. She's strong enough but not tall enough to pull the cord far enough. I can reroute an extension to the other side of the garage for her to use to fire it up. I saw the video on YouTube, thanks, and I saw a few others as well. The fact that it's light and goes down to bare tar is what I like. I don't want a 2 stroke machine and a 4 stroke is pretty heavy. This is just to clean up after the big machine or for small snowfalls. I'm not thrilled about electricity and snow mixing. The Toro rubber augers look like they can really get down low but no way do I want my wife mixing gas. She's too blonde for that.
"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England." "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
Location: Minnesota
Joined: Oct 16, 2009
Points: 196
Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive? Reply #91 Dec 29, 2009 7:44 pm
Well I probably shouldn't, but I'm going to give my two cents here. This is what I would do...
1) If I really liked the Honda, I would keep it rather than throwing out the $250. I'd have the machine that I wanted and attack the wife’s machine requirements separately.
2) Find a second snow blower that my wife could operate. Maybe it's an Ariens 20" or 24" compact snow blower or maybe it's a Toro with the curved paddle or a Honda with the curved paddle.
One thing for sure, I would have the blower that I wanted and I wouldn’t care what anybody thought.I would keep the wife's blower as a separate but solvable issue. But then again my wife doesn't snowblow.
Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive? Reply #92 Dec 29, 2009 11:31 pm
I like how you think Catt!!!!
Whats the problem with mixing the fuel beforehand? Unless you are away for really long periods of time, then get a 4 stroke Toro. They are only marginally heavier. What ever you do..... don't get the electrical version. You will end up hating it. Its really only meant for decks... and close areas near the house.
Since saving money is always a good thing.... this is what I would do:
Maybe get an Ariens Track model for you....( since it sounds like you need the traction) and then get the wife something else. Whatever she ends up liking. It could be a small two stage or a single stage.
Just my humble thoughts.
This message was modified Dec 29, 2009 by opecrazy
Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive? Reply #93 Dec 30, 2009 7:53 am
Thanks for the ideas. I was hoping the power shovel would work as a shovel to clean up but it sounds like it won't work. My wife thinks we should have the guy come and plow the driveway and use a Toro 421 single stage to clean up. I just don't know if that unit will get down to the pavement? I also wonder if it could do the EOD cleaning up as the plow guy would come once per storm. Then the rest would be up to us. I'm also looking at a garden tractor with a snowblower attachment. But those are big and I'm not sure where I would store one.
"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England." "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
Location: South Eastern Wisconsin
Joined: Sep 28, 2009
Points: 35
Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive? Reply #94 Dec 30, 2009 9:35 am
opecrazy wrote:
Maybe get an Ariens Track model for you....( since it sounds like you need the traction) and then get the wife something else. Whatever she ends up liking. It could be a small two stage or a single stage.
Just my humble thoughts.
If that is the case, and you are still thinking of throwing more money at a problem, then keep the current Honda (saving yourself the $250 in restocking)and buy either a Honda or a Toro single stage. Either will well suit her needs and tthe 2 stage will cover the other needs.
Your wife is falling into the other end of my spectrum, I am 6'5" and have a buldging disk in my back, so I needed a unit that is easier for me to use, but at 280+ lb I can muscle around something bigger.
Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive? Reply #95 Dec 30, 2009 12:08 pm
Catt wrote:
2) Find a second snow blower that my wife could operate. Maybe it's an Ariens 20" or 24" compact snow blower or maybe it's a Toro with the curved paddle or a Honda with the curved paddle.
I had 2 beers last night. On first reading, your suggestion read like this to me:
Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive? Reply #96 Dec 30, 2009 3:20 pm
aa335 wrote:
I had 2 beers last night. On first reading, your suggestion read like this to me:
2) Find a second wife to operate my snowblower.
Let the creativity juices flow.
Happy New Year everyone.
It seems many of us are in the same boat. lol
Happy New Year!
"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England." "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
