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joed


Joined: Sep 1, 2008
Points: 84

Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Original Message   Dec 24, 2009 9:23 am
I was at a local Honda dealer yesterday and I was stunned by the prices on their snowblowers. In Canadian dollars, they were: 928 wheels: $3000 928 track: $3400 724 track: $3400 1132 track: $3500 I know they have tracks, hydro tranny, honda engines, etc. but they're at least $1000-1500 more than equivalent toro and ariens models. Is it gold, they re making?
Replies: 198 - 207 of 221Next page of topicsPreviousNextNext page of topicsAllView as Outline
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #198   Dec 29, 2010 10:19 am
Bill_H wrote:

Do not use the word "best".  They might make the top 3 in homeowner grade blowers, but they would not make the top 10 overall. Many commercial grade blowers will beat it, and it doesn't stand a chance against any industrial grade blower. As you said: "you usually only get what you pay for."

Yamaha has already been mentioned.

Compare your 9HP Honda against (in no particular order):

Berco
Deere
Ingersoll
Contant
R.P.M. Tech
Pronovost
Sicard
Normand
Lorenz
Blanchet
Larue
McKee
International/Case
New Holland
Meteor
Smyth
Kubota
etc. etc. etc.

Since the context of this forum focuses on homeowner use and predominantly walk behind type snowblowers, this list is irrelevant.  Deere, Honda, and Yamaha are the only name from above that has a snowblower for homeowner use.
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #199   Dec 29, 2010 11:02 am
"Since the context of this forum focuses on homeowner use and predominantly walk behind type snowblowers, this list is irrelevant.  Deere, Honda, and Yamaha are the only name from above that has a snowblower for homeowner use."

I know people with 4WD Kubotas  with heated cab and snow thrower attachments for home use and a guy with a 4WD JD unheated cab with a snow thrower attachment on his.  They use them strictly for home use.  Now they will move a lot of snow in a hurry. 
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #200   Dec 29, 2010 11:06 am
borat wrote:
"Since the context of this forum focuses on homeowner use and predominantly walk behind type snowblowers, this list is irrelevant.  Deere, Honda, and Yamaha are the only name from above that has a snowblower for homeowner use."

I know people with 4WD Kubotas  with heated cab and snow thrower attachments for home use and a guy with a 4WD JD unheated cab with a snow thrower attachment on his.  They use them strictly for home use.  Now they will move a lot of snow in a hurry. 

Right you are.   But can I get a walk behind blower from Kubota?
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #201   Dec 29, 2010 11:11 am
" But can I get a walk behind blower from Kubota?"

I wish.  Kubota makes awesome equipment.  I can only dream of a small diesel engine mounted on a stout Kubota chassis. 

Somebody pinch me......
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #202   Dec 29, 2010 11:18 am
Kubota and a Deere would be my choice for homeowner tractors.  My property doesn't warrant the use of one, and I have no space for it.

Everyone's got a limited lease on this earth.  If it makes you happy and does not harm anyone, make your dream happen. 
FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #203   Dec 29, 2010 11:26 am
aa335 wrote:
Everyone's got a limited lease on this earth.  If it makes you happy and does not harm anyone, make your dream happen. 

Very well said!

Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #204   Dec 29, 2010 11:28 am
aa335 wrote:
Kubota and a Deere would be my choice for homeowner tractors.  My property doesn't warrant the use of one, and I have no space for it.

Everyone's got a limited lease on this earth.  If it makes you happy and does not harm anyone, make your dream happen. 

I was talking about a walk behind Kubota snow thrower.  My snow removal requirements don't warrant a bigger machine.   Maybe when I'm too old to handle a walk behind, I'll treat myself to a Kubota!  Right now, I enjoy the exercise.
Bill_H


Location: Maine
Joined: Jan 12, 2008
Points: 354

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #205   Dec 29, 2010 3:30 pm
aa335 wrote:
Since the context of this forum focuses on homeowner use and predominantly walk behind type snowblowers, this list is irrelevant.  Deere, Honda, and Yamaha are the only name from above that has a snowblower for homeowner use.

Actually, I have a Case tractor with a 48" PTO-driven blower and a 54" plow for my home. And we can't limit ourselves to homeowner use only, as there are several members here who use them professionally. I doubt many of them are following this thread, as the Honda in the title means they probably just skip over it. I once (falsely, it turns out) assumed this forum was all residential, but I was quickly taken to task by one of the pros who frequents this forum. Anyway, I'm selling my MTD tracked blower and going exclusively to the Case. After 3 knee operations and ankle surgery, I'm just not up to walking behind anymore.

If I could afford it -- and still wanted a walk-behind -- there is a commercial unit that is truly amazing. I'm currently unable to remember the name (or locate the thread where it was mentioned here) but if anyone recalls this unit could you please link it? I searched for 45 minutes and couldn't find it.  I do remember the company's web site had a video of their 2 models going across an empty, recently-plowed parking lot and into and through 3' banks of plowed snow then across a field. They never even slowed down. Sound familiar, anyone?

FYI: Since Case (since merged with International Harvester) no longer makes garden tractors, they sold their lineup to Ingersoll. You can go out today and purchase a new Ingersoll tractor that is essentially identical to the Case tractors of the 60's and 70's. All steel, true hydraulic drive (not hydrostatic) and 5 digit expensive. There's a thriving group of people who have purchased the 30+ year old ones for less than a $1,000 and spent that much again in restoral. For less than the cost of a sheet metal and plastic lawn tractor at a big box store, they now have a unit that will run another 30 years with minor maintenance. The same thing is happening with old  Wheel Horse and Cub Cadet tractors. If anyone is interested (I'm looking at you, Borat and Trouts ) look at http://www.mytractorforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30 or http://www.caseingersollforum.com

Who the hell let all the morning people run things?
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #206   Dec 29, 2010 3:55 pm
Pardon my ignorance, but I just haven't seen these marketed for homeowner use.  I stand corrected.
This message was modified Dec 29, 2010 by aa335
Bill_H


Location: Maine
Joined: Jan 12, 2008
Points: 354

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #207   Dec 29, 2010 4:21 pm
aa335 wrote:
Pardon my ignorance, but I just haven't seen these marketed for homeowner use.  I stand corrected.

Understandable, since it's not their primary market - that would be landscapers and property management services and the like. Since a majority of N. Americans live in urban or suburban areas, they wouldn't need them. But not all of us do. For example,  my area is zoned as "5 acre minimum" and private roads are quite common, so I know quite a few people who have plow trucks for personal use. You won't see Fisher or Western plows marketed for residential use either.

I think a good analogy would be Snap-On tools. They don't market to homeowners and it's not easy for a homeowner to purchase their products. But I'm sure there are a few people here who have some for personal use. And if you can get them used, you've got a terrific bargain.

Who the hell let all the morning people run things?
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