I bought this Toro electric blow and vac in utter frustration after spending a small fortune on similar gasoline powered products. I use it as a vac several times per week and even daily in the Fall. I found that the very cheap gasoline blow and vacs start falling apart very quickly indeed as the result ofpoor and shoddy design so I moved up to the top of the line, Echo, which appears to be very well made and engineered. My first one, an ES211, did outlast its 2 year warranty, it had a starter assembly and cord replaced under warranty but then just wore out during the third year. The second ES211 lasted 18 months until something broke inside the engine and it wouldn't even rotate. The third one (a $290+tax ES231 heavy duty model) is just over a year old and overheats very quickly, smokes badly, and is melting the plastic grill surrounding the engine.
The dealers lie and tell me that it's my fault and that the problem is lack of lubrication. As a lifelong, now retired, professional mechanical engineer and having owned 2-stroke engines since a teenager I have always used the correct gas/oil mixture in 2-stroke engines including motorcycles of course.
The Toro Ultra Blower and Vac does everything I need. Let's list the advantages. It is amazingly light and doesn't strain your back lugging its bulk plus a heavy bag of leaves around the way a gas powered model does - this is very important and not to be dismissed as you get up in years. It always starts when you turn the knob - you sure can't say that about gasoline powered garden equipment. It converts from a blower to a vac very quickly without needing a screwdriver and undue force - Toro obviously corrected this problem from the prior model. It is very quiet compared with gas models - your neighbors will appreciate this. It doesn't have a spark plug or an air filter that needs frequent attention. It doesn't get dirty, grimy, and oily from gasoline exhaust and leaky carburetors and tubing. You don't have to buy expensive gasoline and oil and be required to mix and find a place to store a separate highly inflammable gas/oil mixture. The Toro has a cast magnesium impeller that handles the occasional twig or stone quite handily. The leaf bag is well designed, it disconnects easily and is a snap to empty. The vac suction and air blast from the blower seems equivalent to the Echo. Last but not least is P R I C E , my Toro was $69.99, at that price I could buy four of them for the price of one Echo ES231.
Now for the only disadvantage I can think of. I use a 100 ft. 13amp. electric cord and reel. You sacrifice some ease of mobility because you have a cord dragging behind you all of the time - nothing in life is perfect I guess.
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Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal ImpellerProduct Description: Powerful and effective, the Toro Ultra 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum, and Leaf Shredder makes completing yard work fun and easy. With air speeds up to 235 mph, this electric blower nevertheless is lighter, quieter, and cleaner than similar gas blowers. And with a sleek, ergonomical design, it's a tool that is easy to use and will grab your neighbors' attention.
The Toro Ultra 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum, and Leaf Shredder:
Is electric so it is lighter, quieter, and cleaner than similar gas blower.
Has a variable speed motor.
Features a metal impeller for mulching debris.
Convert from blower to vacuum without tools.
The metal impeller shreds leaves into a mulch.
The impeller can reduce up to 16 bags' worth of waste to one bag.
Match the Power to the Task for Better Results Tackle big clean-up jobs the right way with this powerful blower vac. A variable speed 12 Amp motor lets you select from an infinite variety of speeds between 112 mph and 235 mph. This means that you can use low speeds to clear off hard surfaces and clean up tight areas without making a mess and without sacrificing the blower's high-speed functionality.
Air Speed and Air Volume to Get Yard Jobs Done Unlike some manufacturers, who simply reduce the size of their blower nozzles to achieve higher air speed ratings without increasing the practical value of their tools, Toro gives this blower vac the ability to balance between air speed (measured in mph) and air volume (measured in cfm) to ensure maximum power and performance. This Ultra blower vac offers air speeds up to 235 mph and air volume up to 255 cfm, allowing you to move a substantial volume of leaves and debris with ease.
3-in-1 Versatility Makes Managing Tasks Easy A convenient quick-release latch lets you convert your blower into a vacuum in seconds without any tools, while a metal impeller makes it easy to mulch debris.
The magnesium serrated metal blades on the impeller shred leaves and other unwanted debris into a fine mulch that you can use around your lawn and garden, saving money and recycling important nutrients. It also makes it easy to dispose of unwanted yard waste, since the impeller can reduce 16 bags' worth of leaves to one bag.
Clean and Efficient with Electric Power Compared with gas blowers, electric blowers are quieter, more eco-friendly, and require less maintenance. They start up instantly without requiring you to master a finicky pull cord. There's no messy gas-oil mixture to worry about, and you don't have to contend with noxious fumes to get a job done.
This high-powered blower also weighs in at a very manageable 7.5 pounds, making it easy on your back.
This blower/vac is backed by a full two-year warranty.
What's in the Box Power unit, blower tubes, vac tubes, vac bag, and operators manual.
Even a large yard is easy to clean up with this blower.
Buy cheap Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller now Get 22% OFF
After raking for years I finally broke down and purchased a blower Vac. I have always hated the sound of theses things and they always have seemed inadequate. Not this one. While calling it quiet would be far from the truth, it is less annoying than others my neighbors use. 
