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Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Ariens Platinum ST30DLE or Toro Power Max® 1028OXE Please help!

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

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tgseaver


Joined: Jan 3, 2011
Points: 4


Original Message   Oct 14, 2011 6:27 am
Going back and forth as to which one! Same price, Local dealers that service, like the look of both. Kinda leaning toward the Ariens only cause of the bigger engine 342 vs 305,is that a good reason?,or is 28" Toro a little more nibble to move around. Ariens seem to have more metal and less plastic, see I go back and forth.Please help ! Need to buy soon! Thanks for your suggestions.
Replies: 25 - 34 of 34Next page of topicsPreviousAllView as Outline
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434


Reply #25   Oct 19, 2011 6:15 pm
I guess I don't see Toro pitching their plastics because its a loosing battle against steel.  Why draw attention to plastic when it's perceived as inferior?  They sure don't have any problems selling their plastic products without a whole lot of hoopla.  Their media material and website is very straight forward, customer use focused, not specifications focused.  Some people are frustrated about this approach, some just don't care as much.  The fact that you are closely considering Toro versus Ariens means that Toro is doing something right.  Toro is priced higher than Ariens for the same features, plastic and all, but people are still cross shopping.

Last year, Ariens picked on Toro 210 single stage snowblower with their Sno-Tek 2 stage 24" snowblower, on the premise that they are both priced about the same.  It was quite a cheesy attempt on Youtube.  Its like pitting $25,000 Mini Cooper against a $25,000 a pickup truck in a contest of hauling 6 people across town.  This year, Ariens firing another salvo with the Pro 28 with crazy 400cc engine and some heavy metal hardware, for $2000, to steer Toro customers away, or some kind of statement as the most powerful end of drive pile buster.  Will it work?  Maybe...or will it have the sophistication of a pony car?  I guess I'm having trouble understanding how a 15 hp snowblower with a 28" wide opening isn't going to buck around like a wild mustang when chewing crusty heavy snow.

Manufacturers charge whatever they can on accessories, whether it's a for a car or snowblower.  It's high profit and it would be foolish for them not to tap this revenue.  Being on par is poor marketing, "me too" and commodity driven.  To win market share, it has to be compellingly different.   Otherwise, all you have to choose between is Orange or Red,  Buick or Pontiac.

I have a Mac at home, I use PC at work.  I like the simplicity of Mac when I'm home, the flexibility of PC when at work.  They both coexist fine.  I'd take a Mac if given just one to pick.  I'm at an age that I don't care to tweak and adjust, I just want to work right out of the box, everyday!
This message was modified Oct 19, 2011 by aa335
Steve_Cebu


Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888


Reply #26   Oct 19, 2011 10:17 pm
klennop wrote:
I do agree with you on most of what you are saying but I just want to point a couple things out.

I am spending $1600+ on a snowblower so why should I settle for a bunch of plastic when the Ariens has all metal like the more expensive models. If the use of plastic isn't a indicator of poor quality on main components then why do all the high end models not use a full plastic chute or have their controls made out of plastic?

You may be right about the Quick Stick on the Toro not being able to work because of the weight of the metal chute. Well then why not make the controls out of metal to work with a metal chute? It is to save on cost right? Well then how come they don't beef up the motor to the same size of the Areins with all the money they saved using the plastic parts. I don't see any of the savings passed on to the consumer.

I have been pretty lucky with the plastic chute on my Crapsman but you know there were quite a few times I was expecting to have a hole. So have I been lucky...maybe...or does the plastic work like it should?? I just have a hard time buying another machine with the plastic chute. We get into the 40 below with windchill where I am at and again maybe I have been lucky.

As far as snow sticking to the metal, I have never had an issue with this on any device I have used in the past so I don't see that as being a problem.

As I also mentioned earlier if the plastic chute aids in less resistance, why does the Toro throw the snow less distance than the Ariens with a metal chute?

I do agree with the comment about the light front, like I also said earlier, you can buy a weight for $80 more to rectify this. For what? To make it like the Ariens where you don't have to pay extra.

I have nothing against Toro, I have owned 2 mowers, one of the smaller power curve units and an older larger Toro with the power shift system. I just feel like they are cheaping out vs the competition. Would I be happy with either unit, probably but I think bang for buck the Areins wins. I may go look at them again today.



Well as I said you hear a lot of people worrying about the platic breaking but under normal use it generally doesn't break. sure if you back your car into the chute or something it'll break. Also Toro and Craftsman are very different companies.

Bottom line your Craftsman didn't break and more than a few Toro owners on here haven't had theirs break either, so in your mind you think plastic = weak and metal = strong. The reality is that it depends on conditions and type of metal or plastic. Metal is not ideal for very cold enviroments. Plastic is more stable.

But if you like the Ariens, go for it, it's a decent machine but a lot harder to steer for my wife and I.

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England."  "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
mvedepo


Joined: Oct 1, 2011
Points: 32


Reply #27   Oct 20, 2011 2:58 am
Just get the Ariens Pro 28 and call it a day. Thats what I did afte r considering the models you are here. 28 inches and a 420 cc for motivation. :)
This message was modified Oct 20, 2011 by mvedepo
coasteray


El Toro! 1028 LXE
Tecumseh 358cc
10hp


Location: NE Washington State
Joined: Mar 3, 2008
Points: 142


Reply #28   Oct 20, 2011 5:14 am
klennop wrote:
The Toro machines have way less errors or better quality control from the factory. This was bad to hear since Ariens is from Wisconsin and I actually don't live that far from the factory. Now the extent to the quality issues were loose parts, parts put on upside down or backwards, so nothing that will really hinder the overall performance.

I'm thinking that those machines likely came from Home Depot, where God-only-knows who put them together.  What loose parts, and what upside down or backward parts?  It's very unreasonable to think Ariens is going to have this kind of assembly sloppiness in their factory.

This topic of Ariens vs. Toro regarding steel vs. plastic is very interesting to me, because, I am also going through this almost-ready-to-buy scenario.  I lean toward Ariens, largely based on my experiences at work with their early-90s machines and known reputation.  I also know that Toro has been making snow blowers since 1951 (Ariens since 1960), and I've been truly intrigued with the 1028OXE and impressed by Steve Cebu's You Tube videos. 

I have a natural hesitancy about the plastic control deck parts, plastic Quick Stick parts, and plastic handlebar parts.  Funny thing is that the plastic chute itself and plastic cover over the impeller housing doesn't concern me.  I don't know what to think.  I think the Toro blower is pretty cool looking and operationally slick.  Then there's Ariens, heh heh.  What's a guy to do?  Really, I don't think we can go wrong either way.  Toro isn't stupid so as to put cheap plastic on a machine selling MSRP for $1800.  I'm sure they made sure the control deck, Quick stick, and handlebars are strong.  I think most of us naturally gravitate toward the steel construction, and for good reason.  We just need to believe that these modern plastics can be tough for the job.  One thing about Toro is that for that kind of money, they could at least toss in handwarmers, you know?  This isn't just an Ariens feature!  They're everywhere now.

I find myself intrigued with that Pro 28 with the big 420cc engine, not for bragging rights or for a mythical increase in impeller speed, but simply to be able to properly chew through heavy stuff without slowing down the engine like smaller ones can do.  I can't afford it, though.  I'm really looking at the Platinum 24 at this point.  But the Toro is still pretty cool in its own way, but I can't afford that one, either!  Maybe if I come across a good used Toro 1028OXE, well, now, that could change everything.  I can't wait to see what I end up with.  Maybe Craigslist will turn up something entirely different.
This message was modified Oct 27, 2011 by coasteray


  El Toro! 1028 LXE - Tecumseh 358cc 10hp   Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
klennop


Joined: Oct 17, 2011
Points: 5


Reply #29   Oct 20, 2011 4:44 pm
Well I went in to look at them both again today and after looking at them, moving them around, running them, etc. I feel the Ariens is just a better machine and you get more for your money.

So I walked out with the Ariens Platinum 30. I got a smoking deal on it, which is why I pulled the trigger on it today. Plus they threw in a pair of the composite skids.

I am not going to look back from here, just going to look forward at all the snow I am blowing!!
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434


Reply #30   Oct 20, 2011 5:56 pm
Nice, I'm sure you enjoy your new snowblower.  How did you do with the price?
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434


Reply #31   Oct 20, 2011 6:12 pm
coasteray wrote:
I find myself intrigued with that Pro 28 with the big 420cc engine, not for bragging rights or for a mythical increase in impeller speed, but simply to be able to properly chew through heavy stuff without slowing down the engine like smaller ones can do.  I can't afford it, though.  I'm really looking at the Platinum 24 at this point.  But the Toro is still pretty cool in its own way, but i can't afforfd that one, either!  Maybe if I come across a good used Toro 1028OXE, well, now, that could change everything.  I can't wait to see what I end up with.  Maybe Craigslist will turn up something entirely different.

I am curently using a 32" wide snowblower with a 337cc engine, never felt it lacked power.  We rarely get more than 12" of snow at a time.  Once or twice a year, there are 20-24" blizzards, which is kind of fun since I get to bail out 3 of my neighbors EOD 30" high concrete mix and about 200 feet of sidewalks.  Last year, I had neighbors standing around holding their shovels while watching the snow fly from the chute like a fire hose.  Got thumbs up and cookies the next several days.  Priceless.

I was looking at the Pro 28 a week ago and was tempted by that massive 420cc engine.  Wow!  Talk about putting a hot knife through butter.  Not that I really need another snowblower like Steve_Cebu does,   just Jonesing.  If I can get the blue painted bucket at that orange bucket price, there will be no hesitation.
This message was modified Oct 20, 2011 by aa335
Steve_Cebu


Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888


Reply #32   Oct 20, 2011 6:44 pm
aa335 wrote:
I am curently using a 32" wide snowblower with a 337cc engine, never felt it lacked power.  We rarely get more than 12" of snow at a time.  Once or twice a year, there are 20-24" blizzards, which is kind of fun since I get to bail out 3 of my neighbors EOD 30" high concrete mix and about 200 feet of sidewalks.  Last year, I had neighbors standing around holding their shovels while watching the snow fly from the chute like a fire hose.  Got thumbs up and cookies the next several days.  Priceless.

I was looking at the Pro 28 a week ago and was tempted by that massive 420cc engine.  Wow!  Talk about putting a hot knife through butter.  Not that I really need another snowblower like Steve_Cebu does,   just Jonesing.  If I can get the blue painted bucket at that orange bucket price, there will be no hesitation.



I need another snowblower, but only if I win one in a raffle. That way my wife could do half the drieveway although with her new job the only time she will have is on the weekend and not every weekend.

The only snowblower I would consider over the Toro at this moment is a Yamaha with tracks and a key start. The cool factor alone would be amazing. Paying $5K for one isn't in the budget, but for free, absolutely!

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England."  "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
stresst


Location: The Village in the Middle of New York
Joined: Dec 11, 2010
Points: 213


Reply #33   Oct 23, 2011 6:00 pm
aa335 wrote:
I am curently using a 32" wide snowblower with a 337cc engine, never felt it lacked power.  We rarely get more than 12" of snow at a time.  Once or twice a year, there are 20-24" blizzards, which is kind of fun since I get to bail out 3 of my neighbors EOD 30" high concrete mix and about 200 feet of sidewalks.  Last year, I had neighbors standing around holding their shovels while watching the snow fly from the chute like a fire hose.  Got thumbs up and cookies the next several days.  Priceless.

I was looking at the Pro 28 a week ago and was tempted by that massive 420cc engine.  Wow!  Talk about putting a hot knife through butter.  Not that I really need another snowblower like Steve_Cebu does,   just Jonesing.  If I can get the blue painted bucket at that orange bucket price, there will be no hesitation.


I really depends on where you live....I lived in an area that only received moderate snow falls I would buy the widest unit that I can fit in my garage. But since we have been getting 20-26" blizzards the last 3 years I would never go more then 26-28" wide. Any wider then that you simply cannot cut through EOD mountains left by DSNY!

I too was looking at the Pro 28 but I need to sell my Toro before spending another 2k!

TORO 826OXE
coasteray


El Toro! 1028 LXE
Tecumseh 358cc
10hp


Location: NE Washington State
Joined: Mar 3, 2008
Points: 142


Reply #34   Oct 26, 2011 5:12 am
coasteray wrote:
I find myself intrigued with that Pro 28 with the big 420cc engine, not for bragging rights or for a mythical increase in impeller speed, but simply to be able to properly chew through heavy stuff without slowing down the engine like smaller ones can do.  I can't afford it, though.  I'm really looking at the Platinum 24 at this point.  But the Toro is still pretty cool in its own way, but I can't afford that one, either!  Maybe if I come across a good used Toro 1028OXE, well, now, that could change everything.  I can't wait to see what I end up with.  Maybe Craigslist will turn up something entirely different.

How funny!  How prophetic, in fact!!  I ended up buying a 2008 Toro 1028LXE just three days later from Craigslist, for only $600.   Great condition.  Tecumseh 358cc, 10-11 horse.   I still love Ariens, but I can't wait to start using my "new" Toro and see how it goes. 

  El Toro! 1028 LXE - Tecumseh 358cc 10hp   Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
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