[Marlow]

Better materials as in usually lasts longer before metal fatigue and breakdown, longer times between replacement. That means better in my book. Metal gears and bushings instead of plastic, bearings instead of bushings, cast iron instead of...aluminum, more bolts instead of fewer, on and on.

Use of high-end alloys such as titanium changes some of that theory, but there is a limit.

Of course there are design issues that play a huge role, but my neighbors lighter snow blowers don't do nearly as well as my heavier one at the EOD buildup.

The US made HSS steering control and variable auger height kind throws the hard to maneuver theory almost out the window. I say almost as my wife likes to use our 828 more than the 1332, but it could be due to the simplicity of the 828.

Too much of anything is a bad thing. And a 540 pound 32" walk behind snowblower constitutes too much in my books. And I live in an area where Honda's and Yamaha's have been around for decades, and I can tell you they both stand the test of time, Yamaha doesn't have a leg up on Honda there..

 

[Marlow]

The US made HSS steering control and variable auger height kind throws the hard to maneuver theory almost out the window. I say almost as my wife likes to use our 828 more than the 1332, but it could be due to the simplicity of the 828.

Not sure what you're trying to refute here? I am saying the Yamaha is inherently going to be more difficult to maneuver due to the massive weight difference. That's not to say it will be really hard to maneuver, obviously Yamaha designed it knowing what it was going to be used for. But it will slow down maneuverability for sure.

Like with my honda 1332, when I want to do a 180 degree turn at the end of the driveway, I just tilt the bucket up, squeeze both steering triggers and turn it myself without activating the drive lever. I do this in the name of quickness and it's quite easy and effortless to do. When you spend this much on a snowblower you want to get the job done as quick and easy and possible, I can only imagine the tank that is the yamaha would slow me down.

 

[jrom]

Marlow, I must not be following you very well. I think you're comparing the weight of your 1332 to the weight of the Yamaha YT1332, correct? If so, that makes more sense on what you are saying.

From most reports of Yamaha users, it seems that they throw snow about the same distance as a Honda (and a number of others, especially some of the big Ariens, and some big Toros), but at a "stronger" pace for lack of a better term, less bogging of the engine. If you haven't heard/felt your blower bog a bit, you probably haven't tested it under the harshest of heavy, wet, deep snowfall, or plowing into deep set up banks or layers and drifts...but maybe you have.

I don't have time to search right now, but aren't Yamaha's more $ than Honda in Canada?

 

[Tomatillo]

Not to change the subject, but who buys a snow blower on Amazon? I buy many things there, but really I saved a heck of a lot by going to my dealer, plus it was assembled by trained mechanics who have done it before; who have dealer support if they have questions on the new unit, who will adjust it expertly, who will appreciate my business on a local level, and on and on.

Save money; keep the little guy in business; get service where you bought it.

I saved $500 over the price at Amazon:

I am just curious. Recently while researching on snow blowers, I found that Honda snow blowers are rated poorly on Amazon.Com . Don't they meet customer satisfaction or there's some other reasons behind it?

 

[jrom]

Marlow, posted before I saw your post.

Not trying to refute. Just read your post with a little more comprehension. :redface:

 

[jrom]

...I saved $500 over the price at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=w_bl_hs...ef=w_bl_hsx_s_lg_web_0?ie=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Honda_HSS1332AAT

Where the heck do they get $3,995.99 for an HSS1332AAT?

I know it's been over a year now, but I paid $3,100.00 for my HSS1332ATD from my local dealer. He discounted it to make up for the tax we pay over mail order, so after tax, it was about the same as snowblowersdirect.

I too like to keep local businesses going as best as I can afford to.

 

[jrom]

I see my local dealer has 2017 HSS1332ATDs listed at $3,399.00.

 

[Marlow]

I don't have time to search right now, but aren't Yamaha's more $ than Honda in Canada?

Some models yes, some no.

The 1332 Yamaha is $5600. The 1332 Honda WITH electric start(just to compare apples to apples as I opted for the one without electric start) has been marked down to $4800 for several months now.

The 1028 yamaha and 928 honda with electric start are both the same price $4300. The 624 yamaha is $2700 and the 724 honda with electric start is $3700! Wow quite the price difference there on fairly comparable machines.

And yes I have ran my 1332 to the point where it will bog, but that will happen with any machine. Both the 1332 Honda and Yamaha are rated to move the same amount of snow per hour. The engine in the 1332 yamaha has a displacement of 358cc, while the honda is 389cc.

 

[Tomatillo]

Yep. Nice.

I see my local dealer has 2017 HSS1332ATDs listed at $3,399.00.

 

[Tomatillo]

Where the heck do they get $3,995.99 for an HSS1332AAT?

 

[Marlow]

Never mind that amazon pricing. The MSRP set by Honda is $3399 in the US and seems like most people get them for less than that.

 

[jrom]

Marlow, I can't remember what your situation is exactly - clogging, right? – and I can't look up your posts as I'm reading and typing between client input on a job right now.

Have you heard back from Honda Canada? Did you talk to your dealer? If so what do they say?

 

[Marlow]

I never heard back from Honda Canada, not good but I honestly didn't expect to. My main point in emailing them was so that they'd have a complaint on record, and hopefully if others do the same Honda will become aware and make some changes. If they'd just add a resin liner in the impeller housing and chute(like yamaha has) and maybe reshape the bottom collar on the chute and also make it a resin no stick material that may well solve the majority of the issue. I don't think that would be that difficult for them to implement. Here's hoping!

I mentioned it to the dealer as well, they didn't really have much to say about it.

 

[Tomatillo]

Yep. Hey, the price includes "Free" shipping! :icon_smile_wink:


Also free "you assemble and prep."

Never mind that amazon pricing. The MSRP set by Honda is $3399 in the US and seems like most people get them for less than that.

 

[Coby7]

Reason why you can't go by reviews is that mostly only people with problems bother with typing a review. Happy people have better things to do like smile and laugh.

 

[matto]

Reason why you can't go by reviews is that mostly only people with problems bother with typing a review. Happy people have better things to do like smile and laugh.

Sure but that doesn't mean that reviews are useless. Not every item on the planet has bad reviews.

Comparing reviews across multiple versions of a similar item can be very insightful, assuming you have enough reviews.

 

[Marlow]

Sure but that doesn't mean that reviews are useless. Not every item on the planet has bad reviews.

This is very true. But the OP cites amazon.com as the source of the bad ratings. I am just not seeing it when I go there. And previous to the brand new redesigned '16 model, Honda's were widely known as the best. I have to believe they will strive to get there again with this new model, and that the issues that have arisen didn't in their own r&d - which is common. When you release something new like this on a mass scale, it goes well beyond the scope of what their own r&d possibly can.

Based on Honda's reputable past, I think once the complaints start rolling in, they will make the appropriate revisions. I will give them a few years on that, if they don't well then it will be time for me to start rethinking the regard I have for them.

No manufacturer is perfect, it is how they address and solve their imperfections is what makes them reputable - and that takes time. So we'll see!

 

[str8shuutr45]

Reason why you can't go by reviews is that mostly only people with problems bother with typing a review. Happy people have better things to do like smile and laugh.

Couldn't agree with you more. There are some people in this forum that can't stop beating the horse even though it died months ago. Every time I log on here the same people are crying about their snowflake issues. I came here to learn what others are doing with their Honda blowers and find that every thread gets taken over by the same people crying about their same snowflake problems.
Get over it.

 

[jrom]

...I came here to learn what others are doing with their Honda blowers and find that every thread gets taken over by the same people crying about their same snowflake problems.
Get over it.

Gotta admit, you have a way with words...couldn't agree more.

 

[Marlow]

Couldn't agree with you more. There are some people in this forum that can't stop beating the horse even though it died months ago. Every time I log on here the same people are crying about their snowflake issues. I came here to learn what others are doing with their Honda blowers and find that every thread gets taken over by the same people crying about their same snowflake problems.
Get over it.

Either add the users whose postings you dislike to your ignore list, or you heed your own advice and "get over it" - that goes both ways you know.