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 |
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NotMoneyGuy
Location: Toronto & north of
Joined: Nov 10, 2010
Points: 87
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C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Original Message Jan 4, 2011 8:09 pm |
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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
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rubinew
Joined: Dec 30, 2010
Points: 147
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Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #5 Jan 4, 2011 10:34 pm |
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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
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NotMoneyGuy
Location: Toronto & north of
Joined: Nov 10, 2010
Points: 87
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Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #6 Jan 4, 2011 11:15 pm |
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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
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Chxbeachva
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Oct 31, 2010
Points: 52
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Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #7 Jan 4, 2011 11:19 pm |
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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.
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Chxbeachva
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Oct 31, 2010
Points: 52
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Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #8 Jan 4, 2011 11:19 pm |
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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.
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New_Yorker
Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Nov 26, 2010
Points: 219
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Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #9 Jan 5, 2011 9:06 am |
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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.
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kderobertis
Location: Melville, NY
Joined: Mar 9, 2010
Points: 30
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Re: C*nsumer Rep*rts February 2011 issue's Snow Blowers Lab Test
Reply #14 Jan 9, 2011 10:03 pm |
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Totally disagree with the review!
Ken
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