I was at a local dealer today who sells both of these. The Simplicity is regular priced at $1629.99 and the dealer is clearing out new 2009 models for $999.99(40% off sounds like an awesome deal to me!). The Toro 726OE is $1099.00(I am in Canada so msrp on these are a bit higher).
In my area we get a lot of heavy wet snow and the salesman said that the Toro would be better, and he didn't really say much about the simplicity other than they just wanted rid of them. They are moving on to being solely a Toro dealer so I don't know if he was being biased. I know nothing about snowblowers, but is just seems odd that the much less powerful toro would outdo the simplicity.
I can't really find any information about the new toro online, and from what I have read the simplicity sounds like a good machine. I have a flat 6 car driveway(2 cars wide, 3 long) and I can throw the snow both ways.
Just looking for some advice and recommendations...
Thanks
I have a Toro 1028OXE and it's really a great machine. I've also looked at Simplicity and Ariens. I wouldn't buy an Ariens. I just don't care for them. Dealers push them but they run out of Toros long before they run out of Ariens. I had a Honda 928TAS. It had tracks and was tough to turn for my wife. I'd buy a Toro over other brands. The Simplicity would be my 2nd choice that or Honda if they weren't so damn hard to turn. Drive these things around teh dealers lot and don't just do 1 or 2 turns. Turn them left and right, adjust the chutes while moving and get a real good feel for them in general. Then buy the one you like best. Toro fans will tell you to buy Toro the same as fans of _Insert brand Here_ will tell you that brand is best. Most of these are pretty decent machines. The Toro you are looking at I'm not sure if it comes with teh dual steering triggers and the quick chute control. Those 2 things sold me on the Toro.
"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."