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

Hi all,
I'm on a corner property, 150' worth of sidewalk, and a 3 car driveway that routinely gets plowed in by the sadistic town worker that rides by smiling as he takes 3 blocks worth of snow and leaves it along my driveway. This has been happening for 12 years, and no amount of complaining seems to stop them, so now I'm determined not want to shovel anymore. I was at Lowes buying a new shop-vac (the 8" of water I had in my basement from 8 days of rain is another story). Somehow I bought a 5.5 HP Troy-bilt (MTD makes it) at Lowes for $599. It was an impulse buy. I was going to get the big 8HP unit for 799, but I'm also on a budget.

I'm wondering if I ought to return the Troy-bilt and get something else. For $100 bucks more I can get the same machine with the Yardman name on it and an 8HP motor. They both have the Tec motors in them.

I'm also thinking about going with a single stage (maybe spend a 50 bucks more than I have already and get a Honda single stage), since I'm on Long Island and we tend to get 6-8" at a time, only occassionally do we get a foot or more. But I keep thinking about that plow driver, and the big hunks of packed snow I always have to get out of my driveway.

I dont know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated.