I hope I'm frugal with my money, believe I research big purchases thouroughly, and consider long-term value over almost everything else; that is why I tend to buy Honda small engines; buy Apple computers, smartphones, and iPads; have a 35-year old ShopSmith; and am a life-long USAA member. I've had first hand use and ownership of many a snow shovel and coal shovel and flat-bladed garded shovel; a Toro one-stage (owned by a neighbor and used by me); an old old Ariens 8-HP two-stage (owned by a neighbor, used by me); a much newer Airens 7-HP two-stage (I owned/used for 8 years); and wisely traded that all in for what I believe will be my last snowblower ever. OK, you do need to hold on to one snow shovel... for steps. Here is a rather lengthy "why" answer based on my research, reading of hundreds of snowblower reviews, and first hand ownership and/or lengthy experience with those noted above.
Where I'm coming from: My last 724 snowblower was an Ariens, small-frame, 2-stage wheel drive that was a good/very good machine over 8 years. I had rebuilt the major drive mechanism once and again as I handed it off to my son-in-law. As good as it was, I had to move up after a few large storms (names like Snowzilla, Snow-ma-gedden, etc.). First, the Airens had a much vaunted friction drive. In heavy snows I found myself doing more pushing than the 2 stage drive did even after a friciton plate tune-up and replacement of the drive wheel. Not infrequently I had to use my flat-bladed shovel to "chop" loose snow ahead of the snowblower and then drive/push into it. The wheels lost traction either through the slip plate or by spinning on top of the snow. The heavier/bigger 8 hp Ariens had similar problems albeit they showed later because of the heavier mechanics and the larger wheels. But I still whipped myself to death in heavy snows that demanded a snowblower. Part of that I'm sure was my graduation from 54-62 years of age... but if you spend several hundred dollars on a blower you expect it AND YOU to work for a dozen years or more. The snow blower did, but at more aggravation every year. I too worked, but almost to the point of being just as whupped as years earlier I had been when strictly a shovel pusher. As for the one-stage... in my mind there is a correct market for them but its not for those with lots of property (sidewalks and out by mailboxes, just as much as driveways), a driveway that the plows pile high at the road edge, etc. I should mention I love to blow snow... there's never enough doing my own property, I have to do about half the neighborhood. I've blown 16-30 hours of snow after the most significant snow falls so I have experience over long hauls and long periods and different properties. However, I wouldn't impose that on any of you and relay my opinions and thinkng here just on the basis of clearling my own driveway, loooooonnnng sidewalk (its a corner lot), and that huge pile at the end of the drive each time a plow comes through and around the mail box (if my pride can't get to her mail my name is mud).
Last year I told my bride I needed to graduate to a track drive, and promised her I needed to make the last snowblower purchase of our lives... anticipating another 20+ years of blowing snow along the Mason-Dixon line... usually not too bad, but sometimes really, really bad. Surprisingly, she said go for it. I told her the price. She found one on line that could be shipped to us and arrive within 72 hours. I was stunned and couldn't move fast enough. The Ariens was overhauled this summer with my son-in-law and I'm now a Honda HSS 724 ATD (2016 version... the one with the black sprockets driving the tracks... not the 2015 and earlier white drive sprockets) man. I received the machine in time to have a couple hours out in the aftermath of Snowzilla clearing 4-foot high snowdrifts (icedrifts?), packed sidewalks, and opening up several sewer drains around the neighborhood.
Track Drive (combined with a 240 lb machine): I have NEVER had to "push" (nor pull) this machine. With the track drive and the machine weight it "just goes". I'd be sweating like a hog trying to do the heavy cleanup I performed with this machine in which it did ALL the work and I simply enjoyed leading it.
Power: With the infinitely adjustable speed I've not had a situation that I couldn't plow through (without pushing and providing some/much of the drive effort like every other machine). At times I would like a little more power and a faster speed into the work however, I would not change that for extra weight, reduced manueverability, small footprint for storage, etc. What I have is exactly at the sweet spot for me.
Hydrostatic Drive: I work at my pace (really the machine's pace since its doing the chewing). The half a dozen speed options on my former machines were never the "right" speed and frankly the slowest was really 0 mph and the fastest was seldom usable or, in the rare cases where it was usable it just wasn't fast enough. No problem with this hydrostatic variable speed. Even better, you can change speeds in an instant unlike those where you may have to declutch first and move it from one "gear" (or slot) to another. The constant gear shift effort of a non-hydrostatic was tedious... the variable hydrostatic is simply beautiful... speed changing done right. And the speed range is terrific. Oh, I could quibble and ask for just a little more forward (for when simply transitting and not blowing) and perhaps ask for a little faster reverse (although someone will undoubtedly drive the machine over their own feet). But its far, far superior to any other of the dozen or so other blowers I've owned or used.
Steering/Manueverability: Under power, the track drive clutches for the left and right make this much more manueverable than any previous blower despite the weight and overall large size (at least as compared to a 7/24 small frame Ariens). I can make the machine turn left and right instead of being the "rudder" (and energy) with any other blower I've used. I think I understand this was not the case in earlier Honda track drive models... but it is for the 2016 (black sprocket) version. I wouldn't accept anything less... manuevering previous models around tight turns, etc., wore me out pretty quickly. This, is a pleasure in comparison. When not under power (like pushing it in the corner of the garage after draining the last of the gas) takes some effort... you're pushing about 240 lbs. However, for that little bit its not too difficult for a rather whimpy, non-athletic mid-60's kinda guy like me. But, you will NOT clear snow without power to the tracks. I'm entirely happy with the speed, controls, turning ability forward and back, etc., with this machine both under power (working) and without power (storing). My bride could use this machine (but won't, that's why she says she has me).
The remote control chute: Again, its the same discussion as the hydrostatic drive... this is how chute aiming/distance should be controlled (not unlike a remote control for a TV... remember when we had to get up to change the channel or the volume?) as opposed to all of my other experiences where one hunched over the handle to furiously turn a handwheel of some sort while trying to drive, steer, and not grind up newspapers. While the hydrostatic track drive was my objective, I find that the remote control electrical 3 dimension chute control is just so much of a force multiplier. I'll be honest, I'm spoiled and could not go back. And Honda's advertising of a 50-foot snow throw... I've not measured but it has to be at least that. Better, you can also push the snow just a few foot to pile it between the road and a sidewalk for example. The control is fabulous.
Battery Start: if there is something I didn't need, but won't give back, its the battery start. Its a Honda engine and through the use of gas stabalizer and never allowing gas to sit in the tank I've never had any blower (or mower) over the last 20+ years fail to start in one (mostly), two (sometimes), or three (rarely) pulls of a chord. But then, I'm in my 60's now and pulling that chord, while not really a challenge, is something I'm just as glad to not have to do. Its similar to not having to routinely change a tire on a car which seemed to be the routine 40 years ago; I haven't changed but one tire in the last 20+ years and am glad for it. I'm glad to have the battery start. I will confess to getting the Honda recommended Battery Tender and wiring in the permanent connection to the battery. I suspect it will be about 5 years before I have to consider replacing the battery... but they are standard replacements.
Snow Clearing: It just works! Packed snowblow debris 2' or higher will cause me to slow down to a crawl. But it doesn't stop and I've not have it choke. There have been a couple times when I've back out a bit and headed back in for a better angle... but I didn't have to... it was just more fun. I can't say I couldn't stall it. I think I could if I went too fast into too dense of a drift. And I can imagine I could stop the tracks from propelling the machine forward. But I haven't when I routinely did on every/any other machine. Note, this is as much a function of the track drive as any/all other features. And I'll presage my recommendation below... don't scrimp for a few hundred bucks when you're already spending thousands and get the wheel drive. So much of my experience and satisfaction comes from the track-drive feature. I don't know that was always the case before Honda put in the hand-controlled declutch capability and one had to "muscle" a track drive machine around (either under power or without power). The "declutch" feature does make all the difference with the track drive.
Gas Assisted Auger Height Control: I've only minimally used this. Its wonderful to raise the auger up an inch or so at the edge of the road where there is a "hump" between the road and gutter and the center of the auger on a machine that rides on the auger will dig into the concrete. I raise the auger an inch a... just... go. Couldn't do that with the wheel drive models; I had to ride the handle bars and try and raise the auger with me doing the work. Raise it a little more and go plow out the grass lawn without ever diggin up the grass and leave a sign for a "puppy-relief" area (many of the neighborhood dogs really don't like "going" in a foot of snow... its something I do; I suspect many would "poo-poo" the idea... get it?:-). What I have NOT tried but will, and is amply demonstrated in a couple YouTube videos is raising the auger to its highest position and with the benefit of track drive and a very responsive hydrostatic control is driving the blower up on too a deck to clear snow and then later, driving it back off. Love the concept, seen others do it, not exactly sure I'm comfortable trying it. That said, I'm entirely convinced if I throw a couple 2"x6"s across the span of the deck I'll drive it up and down without a problem. Thats what I'm thinking but I can't yet confirm. Maybe this year. However, in that vein and as with blowing snow of the yard... the ability to blow a pathway around the house, over grass, to rear entrances, to facilitate heating oil delivery, etc., is a wonderful thing that I could only partially accomplish with a wheel drive.
Light: OK, I don't need this. My suburbia development has lots of street lights; I can see in the middle of the night which I'm often blowing through on the big storms (remember, I love this... if it will snow, I'm will blow; grab 4 hours of sleep and back at it). It do think it may have a slight benefit/value that I am so much more visible to the occasional car whizzing through. I will probably continue to wear a head-banded LED light to help keep me visible... but not to light up my work area.
Hand Warmers: OK, this machine does NOT have hand warmers. I'm OK with that. However, I've noted others indicate there are after-market handwarmers that can be added for those that want it and the ATD model, with the battery, has a more robust generator that might support 3rd-party hand warmers. I make no representation if the electrical system will support it, if Honda will warrant the system if you add such equipment, etc. Those who add additional equipment... buyer/modifier beware.
Ice-clearing Tool: Nice to have, haven't used it. Wish I had it on my previous blowers where I needed it. I think its only here because potential customers that don't really know what they are looking for see its absence as problematic when compared to other machines. I may find it more important after the first time or two I find I need to use it... should that happen.
Size: I had originally gotten the small frame Ariens 7/24 blower years ago to minimize storage space in my garage. I have lots and lots of toys/tools, and love 'em all. This blower is larger. But it doesn't take up but an additional inch in width and about 15" more in length than the Airens. However, I could break the Ariens handle down and gain more space (the mentioned 15")... you can NOT do that with the Honda. I point out that storage space is the primary reason I went with the Honda 724 (and previous Ariens 724) vice the 928 or even larger (1332) machines. I've used the 4" wider machines and have to say, I think this Honda is faster than any non-track drive/hydrostatic drive machine I've ever used. I can take a full 22" width and plow through anything and at higher speeds whereas non-track, non-hydrostatic drives I would routinely find myself only able to take a 12", 16" or perhaps18" swath... and usually at a slower speed. So, for me, I would not get the 28" or 32" wide machine unless I never had to go up or down a narrow stair/deck, never had to go through a smaller garden gate, never had to manuever narrower sidewalks with 90 degree turns, etc. I like the mobility and smaller storage footprint of the 724. Some will want the wider augers hopefully with more storage or less competing toys/equipment for the space.
Maintenance: Minimal, straight forward. Ensure you use the CORRECT oil drain plug (and two wrench approach as recommended in the manual) and 5W-30 oil, and drain the gas (there is a dedicated gas drain plug) when stored. You need a grease gun. No tire pressure to check/inflate! Let me repeat... no tires to fill in really bad weather:) Immediately buy extra shear bolts (they provide an extra of one set and 2 extras of another set... recommend you have 4 or more of each unless you've never chewed up a newspaper, board, or rock burried under 12-30" of snow at your neighbor's house).
Accessories: I mentioned the Battery Tender (probably not needed initially, likely helpful after a couple years, not expensive and easy to install/use). I also got and installed the drift breaker (for those tall snow piles left by the plows)... I like it, can recommend it, but frankly you could manufacture your own out of some strap metal; its not essential. I use a moving blanket to cover the machine off-season (recommend you do keep the dust, dirt, grime off it)... just make sure its breathable (hence the blanket instead of a tarp) to avoid mold/mildew and faster rusting. I know some people who wax their painted surfaces... thats going a step too far for me. Wherever the paint rubbs off, it will rub off the wax again and I'll never fully stay ahead of the rust. I'm convinced that care in use will ensure this toy lasts 20+ years.
Rating: I'm a very stern grader and I give it an A (say 96%). I've seldom given anything more than a B+ and some A-'s. I've only given one or two A+'s in my life. So this is a remarkable machine... for me. It may be for you. If I was spending this much money (and I did), I would NOT try and save a couple bucks and get a machine without the battery start (although that is really unnecessary but pretty cheap) and I definitely would NOT get the wheeled drive instead of the track drive. If you are even considering any of the Honda 2-stage machines then get the one you'll likely never need to replace... get the track drive. If you don't need the track drive now; will you when your a generation older? after you have a crushed lumbar spine? when you move to a drive on a steeper hill? Etc., etc.
Why only 4-Stars for Features? No handwarmer (although I'm just as happy without), the second wrench requirement to drain the oil so you don't unscrew the extension (unnecessary aggravation), I wish the chute would give me another 15 degrees of motion (7 1/2 degrees either side) but none do and I suspect there is a very good reason). I wish this smaller model had the double-articulated chute end for better short-distance control of snow throwing, and Honda should simply include a Battery Tender with their battery models. Really its the 2-wrench oil drain and the missing Battery Tender. Frankly, I could still justify a 5-star feature rating because aside from the drain plug issue... these are all quibbles. Some out there may wish the included LED light produced more light; but it was not an issue for me and a good LED head lamp fills any perceived hole better than more/additional light on the blower... it will always shine wherever I'm looking and my moving makes it more visible to cars slipping around a corner.
