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

I'm about to order a HS928TAS and a dealer has some left over from last winter. Is there a difference between last years HS928TAS vs this years (2012)? Thanks

There should be updated info from Honda in the a few weeks for the 2013 models.  All the HS928TAS models are about the same mechanically, the 2012 models did get a 2.5 inch higher handle bar and a different rear skids arrangement, and a price increase to keep up with inflation and increase sales margins.

If any changes I would want on the 928 model, is to make make the HS928TCD Canadian model available in the US.  Hydraulic assist auger adjustment, electric chute and deflector adjustment, and on-board battery start.

aa335 wrote:

I still can't understand why Honda USA would not offer that model in the States. We have a population 10X the size of Canada and a lot of those folks live in snow prone areas. It's pretty easy to gather some info and determine projected sales figures based on annual sales of the watered down version available down here.

I'll get on the soap box just for a minute since we're a little bit off topic. 

It's the same Honda ingenious folks who decided that the US market would buy a high-end $8000 HS1336i hybrid snowblower and buy the expensive under achiever HS520 single stage snowblower.  Pricing themselves out of the market and offering subpar single stage snowblower.  Awesome marketing stragety.  Selling two products that nobody wants to buy.

It would make more sense to offer a HS724, HS928, and HS1332 with all the electric goodies including the electric traction motors.  People buying Honda wants to know why they are buying a $3000 2 stage snowblower with all the toys or a $900 high performance single stage snowblower.

Please bring on Honda HS928TCD hybrid and a redesigned HS621 with remote chute rotation.  I don't want to operate a 36" walkbehind snowblower when $8000 could buy me a tractor with a seat and an enclosed cabin.

Ok.  Rant off.  :)

No electric chute or hydraulic auger assist for the USA? I guess I'll wait a bit to see which model I'll buy. 2012 vs 2013

raysmd wrote:
I hope you're not waiting for the electric chute and hydraulic auger assist.  That's not happening any time soon.  You can import a Canadian model or a Yamaha.  :)

If I wasn't already well equipped, I'd be all over a mid size Yamaha.  I like the Honda but, the Yamaha has some very appealing features and it looks like it's built to monumental standards.

wow! The Canadian HS928TCD is $3,700 CAN$. That's a lot of money when compared to the USA which can be found for $2,500USD.

raysmd wrote:
Yeah, it's common knowledge that when it comes to buying just about anything, we Canadians take it in the a$$ big time compared to the USA.  Our models may have a few  more bells and whistles but not so much as to substatiate the huge increase in price.   The "gouge factor" is one of the reasons I buy a lot of used stuff.   Another reason is that buying used also avoids paying 13% in sales tax. 

A good example is that a new, cheap, entry level, Chinese engined, Troy-Bilt SS machine sold at Canadian Tire retails for $550.00, add 13% and that's $621.00!!   I bought a used 2006 Murray SS machine with a very healthy 139cc Tecumseh two stroke engine for $30.00 - period.  Add the price of a piece of string to do the power-boost mod - $0 - and I have a machine that will likely blow the chute off of the Troy-Bilt.  Of course, there's the problem of availability.  You have to lay in wait for a used machine and pounce quickly when you see one.  If you don't have the time, you gots ta pay the gouger!