Mine is a 13-14 yo Ariens and it can still throw snow a long way. There were two factors for me, housing height and power. It wasn't available when I got mine but 3-stage is what I'd get now and it would have the highest intake available.
We occasionally get a really big dump and I always need to punch out my driveway after the county has plowed it in, and after the snow's piled up all winter I need to clear a path through the pasture to get the RV out to roll south in February.
