Abby's Guide to Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more)
Username Password
Discussions Reviews More Guides
Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test

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

Search For:
NotMoneyGuy


Location: Toronto & north of
Joined: Nov 10, 2010
Points: 87

C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Original Message   Jan 4, 2011 8:09 pm

LOL, the top of the page looks like something I've seen somewhere else....

I know that they are "just another" opinion and not gospel by any means, but in case you are interested click here for readable size of the whole page. (Edit: I'll replace the linked to photo with a proper scan using the scanner at work tomorrow. Done.)

For any Canucks, the Canada Extra middle insert puts the 921022 up a notch as the big 30" 357 cm3 is not available in the Great White North. (They both had the same top 88 "overall score" in any case.)

It is snowing here again! What a melt we had with all the rain a few days ago.

This message was modified Jan 5, 2011 by NotMoneyGuy


Ariens Deluxe 28  921022  WI, USA      --      Poulan PRO PR621ES 208 cm3 961880002-00

Replies: 5 - 14 of 14Next page of topicsPreviousAllView as Outline
rubinew


Joined: Dec 30, 2010
Points: 147

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #5   Jan 4, 2011 10:34 pm
Hmmm, they only had one track drive in this line up, and it got the worst rating for handling.

They should have picked a wheel drive Honda, to be fair, so it is possible the ppl doing the evaluation were not savy to a track drive.

While everyone knows and admits a track drive is harder to turn. There is a trick to it, and once you get the hang of it, there are other advantages to track over wheel.

This brings out what I was refering to about bias in testing. The units should have been all wheel drives, or a mixture from each brand.

Well, it is still good information, if used with other references, and your own personal test drives ;-)

I'll take a little extra salt with that Pork Chop!!!

This message was modified Jan 4, 2011 by rubinew
NotMoneyGuy


Location: Toronto & north of
Joined: Nov 10, 2010
Points: 87

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #6   Jan 4, 2011 11:15 pm
How about their blunder in the chart under "Brand & model" where they state:

"All two-stage models run on two-stroke gas engines unless noted otherwise."  (The only one of the two-stage ones with a "note otherwise" is an electric 48 V Ariens.)

All things considered, CR is a magazine that I really look forward to getting each month since Feb 1992 and I will probably renew in May of this year when it expires.

Ariens Deluxe 28  921022  WI, USA      --      Poulan PRO PR621ES 208 cm3 961880002-00

Chxbeachva


Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Oct 31, 2010
Points: 52

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #7   Jan 4, 2011 11:19 pm
NotMoneyGuy wrote:
How about their blunder in the chart under "Brand & model" where they state:

"All two-stage models run on two-stroke gas engines unless noted otherwise."  (The only one of the two-stage ones with a "note otherwise" is an electric 48 V Ariens.)

All things considered, CR is a magazine that I really look forward to getting each month since Feb 1992 and I will probably renew in May of this year when it expires.



I saw that in CR too. So funny.
Chxbeachva


Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Oct 31, 2010
Points: 52

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #8   Jan 4, 2011 11:19 pm
NotMoneyGuy wrote:
How about their blunder in the chart under "Brand & model" where they state:

"All two-stage models run on two-stroke gas engines unless noted otherwise."  (The only one of the two-stage ones with a "note otherwise" is an electric 48 V Ariens.)

All things considered, CR is a magazine that I really look forward to getting each month since Feb 1992 and I will probably renew in May of this year when it expires.



I saw that in CR too. So funny.
New_Yorker


Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary

Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Nov 26, 2010
Points: 219

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #9   Jan 5, 2011 9:06 am
Consumer Reports measures the NEW ONLY machines and evaluates how effectively they blow the snow.  The drive systems Do Not get evaluated at all, and a snowblower with a power chute rotation gets extra points, as do heated hand grips.  Unfortunately the drive mechanism and the reliability matter most, and CR lists brand reliability separately.  As I said in my previous post CR admits to not testing as extensively as they do other products, like cars, because only people who live where snow is a problem need to know about snowblowers.  Thus many CR subscribers have no need for, or interest in, snowblowers.   But the things they do test the machines for, are in fact valid objective tests of brand new machines.

For all machines the use of steel fasteners and surfaces that have no serious rust protection beyond a powder coating of paint is another issue that is never mentioned.  Machines that must sit in storage all summer, and move water in its solid and semi-solid state the rest of the time do not get the kind of rust protection our cars and trucks get.  There are plasticized coatings that better resist rust, and even stainless steel that could be utilized more, at least in the so-called PRO machines, yet they are not.   Unfortunately I feel these machines are seen as designed for regular replacement, and lots of maintenance by most who manufacture them.

I would like a comparison of the diameter and width of the rubber "Tire" that allows the Friction Wheel to Grip the Drive Plate because they are NOT the same on similar width and powered machines.  Ariens does make a wider larger friction wheel on their better machines, and if you call them they'll tell you the size differences.   CR should be asking such questions, and they have not.   So what CR does they do well, but they are far from perfect, and leave out some information which would be useful to us who need to buy these costly machines.

snowmachine


Location: Washington State
Joined: Nov 12, 2008
Points: 268

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #10   Jan 7, 2011 5:51 pm
I will go out on a limb and say the CU auto reliability charts have been spot on for my families vehicles for the last 20 years or so. I'm not referring to the product tests but the actual problem areas of a vehicle that span 6 years at a time and reported by subscribers.

HTTPs://ouppes.com
joed


Joined: Sep 1, 2008
Points: 84

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #11   Jan 9, 2011 8:32 pm
I'm surprised that the toro units did not score too high.  I have the two stage 826 and love it.  I also bought the little powerclear 180 and it's not too bad on small stuff either.  I used to have an Ariens two stage and it constantly broke down in the 3 years I owned it.
jimbedro


Location: Maynard MA
Joined: Feb 20, 2009
Points: 52

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #12   Jan 9, 2011 8:49 pm
Gee, when  I bought my Toro back in Oct, 2004, It was rated #1 at that time. It is a 1995 model year, 38050 powershift  824.  It is a really good machine.
This message was modified Jan 9, 2011 by jimbedro
Steve_Cebu


Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #13   Jan 9, 2011 9:53 pm
joed wrote:
I'm surprised that the toro units did not score too high.  I have the two stage 826 and love it.  I also bought the little powerclear 180 and it's not too bad on small stuff either.  I used to have an Ariens two stage and it constantly broke down in the 3 years I owned it.


This is why I don't depend on CR for my info any more. They are biased and always have been. Toro makes great machines but they are a bit pricey and that probably hurts their CR scores. I would rather have my Toro than most other brands.

"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."
kderobertis


Location: Melville, NY
Joined: Mar 9, 2010
Points: 30

Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #14   Jan 9, 2011 10:03 pm
Totally disagree with the review!

Ken

Replies: 5 - 14 of 14Next page of topicsPreviousAllView as Outline
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Guide   •   Discussions  Reviews  
AbbysGuide.com   About Us   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us
Copyright 1998-2024 AbbysGuide.com. All rights reserved.
Site by Take 42