Yes, the dealer has been in business for a while and I would think he'd be in business in the future. So you think it's a good machine you say? So confusing with Stihl, Echo, and other brands....I just never have heard of Efco, but that shouldn't mean I won't consider buying it, it is valuable to hear from people who have experience with the machine.....thanks for you input.

Hi I am going to say something you might not like. I would go a little higher to get the real commercial trimmer and blower. I use to get the middle of the road stuff and I am in the process changing to the commercial even I am only a home owner. The Echo GT-200 and PB 251 is the lower line which have only one compression ring. Also the GT-200 is a curve shaft trimmer. Make sure you try the position. I paid $200 for a Troy Bilt, which is middle of the road. Now I bought a Honda. It work so much better, it is so much more comfortable to use. If you are tall, it is particular important. I bought the HC-151 which is the low line Echo. It really don't cut that well. It just don't cut through and the cut is very uneven. I did not realize until just today, I drove by a saw a gardener trimmer the bushes with a hedge trimmer, it just go through the branches like butter, look so straight!!!! The 21.2cc Vortex engine is not as easy to start. The Stihl you mensioned are home owner version only. I hear complain on the forums. From the posts, they are absolutely not the same as the higher line. Go check for sales, this is a good time. I live in San Jose area, I just went to a store and find out Stihl FS90 for $249!!! I know good old Home Depot have Echo SRM 260 for about $269. These are real pro model. For about $260, you have a lot more good ones to choose from. Redmax, Echo, Tanaka. I still won't go for the Shindaiwa home pro series. You use the equipment for 10+ years, don't try to save $60. It will pay off. I am a perfect example. You don't know how big a difference is. I was totally surprised. For blower I'll choose Echo PB230 which has the 2 ring engine. I personally would get a bigger one. I paid $259 for my Shindaiwa EB3410, 34cc 4 cycle. I know Home Depot sell Makita hand held blower for $200. It is a 25cc 4 cycle engine. It is a Robin blower. These are the low end commercial equipments. I would not go below this. I personally like Redmax and Echo over Stihl just because the 4 Mix engine need more routine maintanence than regular 2 cycle engine. Just my 2 cents. Wait for more replies here and good luck.

I agree with one of the post above. Have your wife go down to the dealer with you and try them out. Definitely get one that that can be serviced at the local dealer. No point getting a Redmax etc if your dealer only sells and services stihl. If all you want it for is to clean off the drive way, get an electric one. There light and pretty powerful, yet no maintainence. My sears wet/dry vac has a removable blower. It has more than enough power to clean a driveway of clipping etc. It blows at 210 mph, however, it doesn't have enough volume to push alot of leaves in the fall. I have a Stihl BR550 backpack blower for that. This blower has awesome power and is more than enough to move some serious leaves around. It can actually move some good sized rocks around too. Starting it is a breeze. Prime the bulb a few times, turn the choke to full and pull once. Move it to half choke and pull and it starts. I let it run for a few seconds at half choke then turn the choke off. In the summer you probably won't need to use the full choke. It really is that easy plus its fun to use. The stihl 4 mix engines have great power.

Don't buy anything made by MTD. They don't support their products. Conntry Side Lawn and Garden by me in Illinois wants a $35.00 deposit just to look at it even know it's still under waranttee. What a joke! Believe me, they will find a way to get that deposit. They told me I had bad gas and they had to clean it out. If that didn't fix it had to be in the carb. and that it would be my expense. He also stated the machine wasn't worth putting that amount into it! It's been used 1 season!