wrote...

Basically, I'm looking at the lower end of the 2-stage snow throwers.
All that are on my list right now have 5.5HP Tecumseh engines and are
in the $500-600 range. I'm not so concerned about features like
electric start and lots of speeds (although I think more than one speed
might be useful?). My current one had electric start. I found it to be
easier to start by hand and never fixed it when it went bad.

Well, first remember that I'm living and responding from Arizona, but it's
Flagstaff at 7000' elevation and I did get about 130" of snow last winter...

To me, the length and width of your driveway would suggest buying something
a bit more powerful than 5.5 HP, especially when trying to get the snow
thrown far enough from the middle of your 3-car wide section.

If you get deep snow or wet snow at times, multiple speeds is very handy. I
have a Honda (tracks, not wheels) with infinite forward and backward speeds
and it's very nice. I've never used another so I can't make great
comparisons to others. The Honda and any blower with hydrostatic drive is
unfortunately out of your price range by a long shot. As the blowers get
heavier, being able to be self-propelled in reverse is quite handy.

I'd agree with your (and the saleman's fear) that a plastic impeller may be
a bad idea. The last thing you want is a failure midwinter. [The metal
impellered blowers will have special soft-metal bolts on the auger and
impeller which will fail when a rock or something gets jammed to protect the
more expensive parts--be sure to buy some spare shear bolts.] And if you had
an impeller failure midwinter, is there anyone in your area that stocks
parts or would you have to wait for a UPS delivery.

I agree with you that extras are not essential. A pull-start will work for
you as well as an electric start.

Craig