i have nothing bad to say about an ariens snowblower. i think in the past they may have been one of the better brands. today i am not so sure.
as you can see i am not color or brand specific. i would be more concerned with condition of the blower and mostly the engine they are all very similar and not that difficult to work on. if they are not beat up, a new cutting bar, skids, and belts can bring a lot of life back into an old blower. even a new drive wheel on the transmission isn't a big deal. all of that will still be covered for around 100 bucks.