Originally Posted By: khittner
The choice also sort of depends on how "clean" you want your surfaces to be. Snowblowers need a minimum depth of snowfall before they work well---at least that's been the case for my single-stage Toro CCR2000. Don't bother it with less than 2", and 3-12" are better, and it'll clean right down to the pavement, and it'll blow the snow 15-20ft. Less accumulation will have it barely dribbling out of the discharge chute. I use it on 300' of sidewalk and a 60'x20' driveway (not including the neighbors' pavement that I oftentimes take care of, as well), and I make it through a winter (sometimes two) with only replacing the paddles and scraper bar once. It takes 30 minutes to get the job done. I also have a two-stage Honda 724 hydrostatic drive blower for really deep snow, and it'll blow the snow 40-50'away, but its shoes are cranked up to keep the scraper an inch or so above the ground, since I use it to clear an unpaved path to a storage garage. In any case--particularly if your wife will need to use it unaided to get where she needs to be--spend real money on a quality piece of equipment that'll start easily.
To me, that means "buy a Honda", and take care of it. My Toro is a 24yr. old machine that I bought new, with a Suzuki two-stroke engine (Toro doesn't build this anymore, but decent used ones are out there, and worth considering) that will still reliably start on one or two pulls after a 8-month off-season. The Honda, which led a hard life with its previous possessors, is the same. IMHO, B&S-engined devices, while cheap, aren't a reasonable solution for a machine you actually want to reliably use.
Hondas, like a lot of things nowadays, are no longer as good/reliable as they once were. Many Honda pieces of equipment are now made in China with Chinese parts.
I researched this to death and I was shocked to see/read about that. Hondas are still the most expensive as well, but people, because of the brand name, still think they are good and therefore worth the extra money.
Not saying Toros are leaps and bounds better, but for the money and their warranty/guarantee, they are a brand that shouldn't be overlooked, imo.
Also, keep in mind, try to purchase whatever it is you choose, from a reputable dealer, not someone like Home Depot or Lowes, etc, as those are made to those jobber's specs, not to Toros, nor Hondas, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbQVDmvPnpY
Edit: No idea what make or brand this snowblower is but it does show quite well what these little suckers are capable of doing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-5HZmtsM4o