The Husqvarna blowers are decent machines for the price. They are made by AYP which Husky owns. This is the same company that makes a lot of Craftsman product.
IMHO, they are not stout enough if you get the deep 'lake effect' snow

For the $1,000.00 you pay to get your drive plowed, you can purchase a Toro or a Simplicity that will take on any snow storm.

Enjoy the journey.

eal51 in western CT

IMO you should avoid Husky and go after a Big Ariens (1332 or 1336) or Simplicity (P1338E). Which ever company has the better dealer network in your area. (For service/support).
- Kris

Go with a good brand...Ariens, Simplicity, or Toro. $1000 will get you an 8hp Ariens...$1300 will get you into their 10hp model. Living where you do...buy as much hp as you can afford...you won't regret it. Main thing is to find a good dealer in your area.

Good luck.

My recommendation is to put a plow on your pickup truck.
And if you don't have a truck, this is your chance to
get one. 500 ft X 17 ft of driveway is a lot of
driveway for a walk-behind machine. And even using a
26in cut, that is 3/4 of a mile of walking, (not counting
any overlap on your passes). Add to that another
2500 sq. ft of carport, depending on how much snow
blows into it......you'll be out there all day.
Besides, if you want to blow snow out of the center
of the carport you will have a problem because of
the roof, and have to make many passes, due to not
being able to get the arc on the blown snow to
go 25 ft. Just my opinion.

The big problem with a plow is being able to push the snow back far enough. Unless he has a lot of room, the driveway could be very narrow by spring and the lawn will be ruined.

Someone's been plowing it in the past.

As others have said, Ariens, Simplicity, and Toro are the best. I would shop around between the three and get the best one for the value (biggest swath and HP for your money) in your area.