The best snowblower is whatever an extremely nice neighbor has, who not only blows off your driveway and walks as soon as the snow stops or at 6:00 am, but who if he sees you shoveling (don't want to advantage of him), calls to tell you to stop because he'll be over to take care of it.
Unfortunately, he moved a couple of years ago. So, I bought a fairly large Ariens two-stage because my driveway is on a collector street, wider so more snow at the end of the drive and plowed more frequently, plus a corner lot with lots of pedestrian traffic. It's excellent for large, heavy snow falls and big drifts, recommended.
You can shovel lighter snow events, whereas a single stage blower handles the small snows but leaves you struggling with a "real" snow storm.
I strongly recommend electric start, since manual start can leave you more tired than shoveling, if it balks at starting for one reason or another. And 4 cycle, 2-cycle machines seem to be less reliable and are only viable for little snows like today.
OTOH, the big two-stage is a pain for little snows though, harder to maneuver and define overkill. I have been shoveling those and still could at this point, but am getting older and my spouse favored getting a second, smaller snowblower in lieu of the risk of heart or back strain. Too much work to train a new husband. So, now I also own a 4-cycle Honda single-stage with electric start. Also recommended.
In order, a nice neighbor is #1, two snow blowers is #2, and if you have to "settle", 2-stage Ariens for the big snows assuming that you have a fairly large driveway.
BTW, now I'm the kinda nice neighbor, but it depends on which neighbor(s) we're talking about. Younger, make a choice not to get a snowblower, well, guess you want the exercise, who am I to take that workout opportunity away.
