djarchow

Thanks for all the replies. I bought the 2013 Platinum 13 with the Briggs engine and the auto traction control. The dealer had both the 13 and 14 model. Ariens changed the wheelbase on the new one and it felt so much heavier and hard to manhandle than the 2013 and I am pretty strong. The 2014 weighs around 275 lbs compared to the 2013's 250 but the changes to the wheelbase made them feel much much different than the 25 lbs. I did like the larger tires and the AutoTurn on the new model but the handling was the big deciding factor for me. Again thanks to everyone for their feedback. Dennis

Shryp wrote:

My blower is 30+ years old so it has more than paid for itself. The scraper bar got too low to the ground (my own fault) and wore through the center mounting bolts and the sheet metal. Then the auger caught the scraper bar chopped it in half and threw it out the front and ripped up the remaining sheet metal the scraper bolts to. So to fix it will mean cutting out the old sheet metal and welding in new, a new scraper bar, new skids etc. for about $300. The engine is also is also leaking oil and the friction plate needs replacing. So while it has served me well and is so overbuilt compared to the new blowers, I don't want to put $300+ in a snow blower only worth $300. Thanks and regards!

borat wrote:

Thanks for the reply. I am in my 40s and while a desk job doesn't give me as much exercise as I would like; If I could manage to get the new blower into my exercise room I could theoretically benchpress it :). My old blower weighs about 200 lbs. The new ones are about 250. I have a 30x100 foot drive way and 500 feet of sidewalk. We get about 35 inches of snow a year with a lot of drifting. My old 7hp 26" takes me about 2.5 hours to blow and does seem underpowered especially at the EOD. So I would like to have more hp this time. Thanks! Dennis

My old Deere 726 is on it's lastlegs. Looking at a $300 repair. I am considering buying a new Ariens in the next day or two. Local dealers have the following blowers:

2013 Deluxe 30 with the trigger differential lock and I think the 342cc briggs engine for $1399

2014 Deluxe 30 with new Auto Turn and the 291cc LCT engine for $1299 at another dealer which I don't really want to buy from if I can help it

2013 Platinum 30 with the Traction Control differential and the 342cc briggs engine for $1599

2014 Platinum 30 with new Auto Turn and the 414cc LCT engine for $1599

I am leaning toward the Platinum 30 for the extra power although the 2013 deluxe 30 has the larger Briggs engine if I want the trigger differential vs auto turn.

 I guess it comes down to Briggs vs LCT and autoturn vs trigger. On the engines, two dealers I have talked to have said they have had no real problems with the LCT engines except for some availability on carb parts.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for any help