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Craftsman 88999

Discontinued
Reviewed
November 2008
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Pros
  • Good value
  • Handles deeper snow and bigger driveways
  • Self-propelled
  • Has a headlight
Cons
  • Discontinued
  • Unknown reliability

Reviews say the Craftsman 9-horsepower 88999 is a solid choice for deep snow (8 or more inches) and big driveways. The Craftsman 88999 has a 28-inch wide clearing path, along with a joystick chute control and independent wheel disengagement for better maneuvering. It has six forward and two reverse speeds, as well as a headlight. It costs more, but the Toro Power Max 828 LXE (Discontinued) has a longer throw distance that's better for wide driveways. This is a new model, an update of last year's highly rated Craftsman 31AE5HTG99, so long-term reliability of the new model is unknown.

ConsumerReports.org tested this snow blower, comparing its performance to other two-stage gas snow blowers. While some ConsumerGuide.com snow blower reviews say they involve hands-on testing, we saw no indication of testing for its evaluation of the Craftsman.

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Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

This brief overview is free online, but a subscription is required to see the 12-model ratings chart. The Craftsman 88790 (an earlier version of the Craftsman 88999) is among four two-stage gas snow blowers ranked.

Review: Snow Blowers: Faster and Easier, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Dec. 2007

2. MovingSnow.com

Paul Sikkema's evaluation of the Craftsman 88999 is based on features. He says the Craftsman looks like a good bet, but Sikkema prefers Tecumseh engines to the Briggs & Stratton engine used on this model.

Review: 2008 Craftsman 250-Cubic Centimeter 28-Inch Steerable Two-Stage Snow Thrower Model 88999 Review, Paul Sikkema

3. ConsumerGuide.com

As is often the case regarding ConsumerGuide.com, it's unclear whether there was hands-on testing in addition to reading and evaluating the manufacturer's specifications. For what it's worth, the Craftsman 88790 gets an average rating overall but a high score for value. This model a previous version of the Craftsman 88999.

Review: Expert Review: Craftsman 9-Horsepower Snow Blower 88790, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Sept. 24, 2007

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