Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > What specific aspects of the Toro SS makes it better than the competition?
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions
What specific aspects of the Toro SS makes it better than the competition? Original Message Oct 19, 2013 1:04 pm
Let's break it down. Apart from saying it's the overall design of the machine, what particular design features contribute most to the success of this SS blower? Any way they could improve it even further (realistically)?
Re: What specific aspects of the Toro SS makes it better than the competition? Reply #10 Oct 30, 2013 2:52 pm
oldcrow wrote:
With the new offerings from Ariens, prices may start coming down to earth. That could really change the game. 750 bucks for a single-stage? That's crazy.
It is much crazier when you look at SS 14 years ago selling at $600 to $900. These prices were in 1989. That includes Simplicity, Ariens, Toro, and Honda. They didn't even come with remote chute dilliwacks.
So in today's prices a Honda SS is going to be $1200. Why buy one of these when a Sno-Fuzz is only $600, engineered in America with foreign parts?
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Joined: Dec 5, 2010
Points: 622
Re: What specific aspects of the Toro SS makes it better than the competition? Reply #11 Oct 30, 2013 9:06 pm
slinger wrote:
Does the Toro give up anything to competing SS machines offering 208cc engines? Throw distance? Ability to bite into deep or EOD snow?
AA335 is correct about EOD and rubber augers. They are not optimal but it does everything really well. I don't think more HP will help that much on EOD situation. My wife liked the SS but she said EOD was very challenging.
Re: What specific aspects of the Toro SS makes it better than the competition? Reply #12 Nov 1, 2013 5:59 pm
My old Craftsman SS has the older style rubber edged steel auger that more resembles a 2 stage spiral but with the short flat throwing section in the center. I think that auger shape actually works a bit better on the EOD, but gives up a lot in the throwing distance department. That thing was so easy to use and started first pull every time (after the initial winter start up). It had a crank for chute control which was fine (after I modified it!), and a friction deflector that worked ok, but was inconvenient.<BR>Living in central Ohio, a good SS is really the way to go. I have an Ariens Platinum and it is rarely needed. But I do appreciate the headlight and chute control operability from the dashboard without having to stop and re-adjust all the time. The wind seems to change constantly and having that remote capability is a big help. That's why I was hoping the new Ariens SS would be like a higher quality version of the Cub Cadet 221 LHP SS. (still built by MTD?) That thing gets a consumers choice award... I guessing it's mostly because it's got all the desired features on it. I don't know how well these work but that would be my ideal SS if it was a quality designed and built machine.<BR>
