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

I am looking at replacing a 25 year old snow blower. I live in Iowa and have a driveway that measures roughly 70X30. I do get some nice drifting, last year over the bed of my old truck, and some nice piles at the end of the drive. I am looking at the Toro Power Max 2-Stage 26 in. Snow Blower and the Ariens Deluxe 2-Stage 28 in. Snow Blower. They are the same price so I am not really sure which one to buy. Any help would be appreciated.

 

I wonder if the beautiful model is included with the blower purchase?

Paul7 wrote:

Wow, that little Yamaha actually thows the snow pretty far for the size!!!

Rest of the Thread:

As for comparing the Honda to Yamaha, up here in Canuck Land, we have access to both, and very equal models. The YS928J and the HS928TCD are very similar in size, function, and price.

I just found that there are a few extra Features with the Yamaha, that were not available on the Honda. Since Yamaha was gone from Canada for 15 years, and just came back last year, I suspect that Honda did what they want, with no competition in the High end market. I expect with Yamaha now back, we will see some changes to the offerings from Honda.'

It would actually be a good thing if Yamaha entered the U.S. market, it would likely push Honda to offer some of the other features they have. 

Then again, as someone pointed out, track drives may not be as popular in the U.S. and that Honda dealers hardly bring in the Track models. Yet in Saskatchewan, that is all the Honda Dealer brings in, is Track drives, no wheeled, you have to order it if you want one.

I don't even see a wheeled 2 stage offer from Yamaha, so that might be another reason they avoid the U.S. market, just speculation.

As far as what the OP needs, he did mention drifting, so if it is high, hard packed, and happens often, then a track drive may not be a stretch for him.  If it is rare, and mostly fallen snow, then likely several cheaper models will serve him well. I used a $900 MTD for 14 years, worked great in the city, at previous house. Now, I need track, and my wife wanted the battery start, and the HydroDrive, so here I am, with a Yamaha. If you try to get those features with other brands, you get very close to $3k, so it made sense to spend another $500 and get the Yamaha Quality. I know, that if I am not home, and my wife needs to use it, it will work, no fuss!!

rubinew wrote:

My wife wants to try out your Yamaha!

Steve_Cebu wrote:

So that's what she said, eh?

sounds like a good opportunity to upgrade.

MN & trouts, please don't take me the wrong way, I think that all members opinions are great to be voiced on these boards as thats what keeps them going and as great as they are. Obviously with any forum community you will get members that favor particular brands over others. Since getting my particular machine I think it's quite nice and will sing it's praises as much as anyone else if I were asked, but I also would not rule out any other type of machine were my needs to change or if somene asked me for an opinion about different machines.

Maybe it's just me, but some members seem so biased that if anyone mentions a machine other than the one that they love reguardless of the content of the post or what the OP may be looking to answer the response will be that "you should just buy XXXX machine it's the best" with little else. While this will happen in any kind of discussion and forum of any kind I just happened to see it on quite a few posts that I was looking at; and not to say it's limited to Honda, or Yamaha, but there are also Ariens fanatics as well. I think this is a very valuable website and with many very knowledgeable members as I have said before. I know first hand as this site actually helped me in my purchase.

Off topic a bit, and not that I think I would ever pony up the money for it but has anyone heard of Yamaha being sold in the US market again? And as far as the big Honda machines not being sold in the US market, you would think that certain parts of this country certainly would receive enough snow to justify one of these monsters. I kinda wish I had one just to blast out my driveway in like 10 mins, and bury the neighbors in the process. Just for laughs, then I could go blow them out too.  Don't want to be thought of as that guy....lol

Steve_Cebu wrote:

Actually, My wife gets first try, maybe tomorrow, I am going on a road trip for a couple days, so I'll have to show her how it works, take her first test run!

shiva916 wrote:

I know what you mean.  Especially when someone has already purchased a particular machine and is looking for help to solve a problem they're having.  At that point if someone replies with. "Well you should have bought a Toro, or Honda, or Ariens, etc...without ever addressing their issue, I'm thinking why bother replying at all.  It's a bit of a different story if someone is looking for advice on what purchase to make of course. 

shiva916 wrote:

I think that as one of the Toro fanatics I'm pretty well balanced.  I think every machine has a place. Toro has it's advantages but so don't Ariens, Simplicity, Honda and other brands. There is little to no info posted on Toro 2 stages here, compared to Ariens.

So i try and balance the scales a bit. I did own a Honda 928TAS but returned it.

I think that Yamaha is very expensive but it is the Ferrari of snowblowers and it's not sold here in the US so it's exotic. If it was sold here it would become like Honda after a few years. Desireable but too dear for most of us to buy.

rubinew wrote:

I'm sure she'll have fun with it.

Paul7 wrote:

Oh c'mon I did put a   in there. I didn't think people were so serious.