Good: price, 357cc engine, joystick chute control, dual trigger steering, heated handgrips, 16x6.5 tires, 30" auger width.
Maybe not-so-good: 12" auger dia., 12" impeller, plastic chute, MTD affiliation?
Consumer reports top pick for value per dollar (not that they are always correct) Maybe it won't throw the furthest or last 20 years but for the money would you really be doing yourself an injustice if you bought this? Some others claim to have gotten a good 10-15 years of service from MTD, Murray, Yardman, Craftsman units. Are there specific issues that make this one a poor choice? One can always say you should spend X dollars more and get something better but that's comparing apples to oranges. Dollar for dollar this time, even if it's not what YOU would do...
