Same blower, 3 years old. The 20" piles at the bottom of the driveway made it snort but it never stopped chugging along. The Deluxe and Platinum models must be absolute beasts with the bigger motors.Just did my driveway, about 8 inches in Des Moines. I highly recommend the Arien's Compact 24. The thing is a workhorse. I had to take it a little slower today though so I didn't break a shearing pin since the snow was really heavy.
This is the kind of snow that reminds me why I'll never give up my 2-stage. I've never gotten done and said "Man, I wish this thing was smaller" and it was nice to be able to help my neighbors when I was done.