346xp now or wait for 550xp?

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Rokon

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The smarter half says she wants to buy me a NEW saw for our anniversary. I have decided that a 346 will fit in the collection perfectly.

However, I have been reading that the 346 will be discontinued in 2012.

In your opinion which saw will be the one to buy brand new?
 
Depends on how soon you want a saw. 550xp is not exactly in sight around here.....
 
346

I can say you wont be disapointed that you bought the 346. I love mine!!!:rock:
 
I really doubt the 346 will ever be beat out. some may be lighter, stronger, more nimble but in a overall package it would take one awesome saw and untill it's proven its not gonna happen. its just really good at what it's designed for, look at the 1969 camaro, with all the computers and guys with huge degrees and still nothing comes close...
 
I haven't had much time to run my 346ne, but it would be hard to surpass IMO. If they can do it with the 550 or this 555 I have heard about, I will be getting one. Gotta see it to believe it.
 
I haven't had much time to run my 346ne, but it would be hard to surpass IMO. If they can do it with the 550 or this 555 I have heard about, I will be getting one. Gotta see it to believe it.

That's my thing. I'll wait and see what happens.
There's all these guys that say "Stick with the 346!!!!!" but they have yet to run a 550, 555, or 562.

Way back when the 346 was coming out, there was a similar crowd saying "Stay with the 238/242!!!!!"
without having run the 346, and look how good it turned out.

When the 238/242 was coming out, there were all these guys saying "Stay with the 44/444SE!!!!!"
etc., etc.
 
If you need a 50cc saw get a 346.

Lots of people like that saw. I have it and like it. it's not a so-so saw. It's made a lot of people happy. Even people who aren't drinking the orange Kool-aid (I thought kool-aid was just a stihl thing anyway, right? :laugh::laugh:)

The 346 is pretty light and it is hard to imagine the 550 being much lighter than it in actuality. The 562 ended up being heavier than it was originally stated to be, and I wouldn't be surprised if the 550 did too.

The reviews for the 550xp out of sweden were favorable but not OMFG favorable.

My guess is that the 550 will gain some torque, but you're probably not really after torque in a saw that size.

It will also likely gain pricetag.

It's waiting for uncertainty is what it is. It certainly doesn't sound like it will be a flop, but you might end up waiting quite a while for something that is more or less the same as what you could have now.
 
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If you need a 50cc saw get a 346.

Lots of people like that saw. I have it and like it. it's not a so-so saw. It's made a lot of people happy. Even people who aren't drinking the orange Kool-aid (I thought kool-aid was just a stihl thing anyway, right? :laugh::laugh:)

The 346 is pretty light and it is hard to imagine the 550 being much lighter than it in actuality. The 562 ended up being heavier than it was originally stated to be, and I wouldn't be surprised in the 346 did too.

The reviews for the 550xp out of sweden were favorable but not OMFG favorable.

My guess is that the 550 will gain some torque, but you're probably not really after torque in a saw that size.

It will also likely gain pricetag.

It's waiting for uncertainty is what it is. It certainly doesn't sound like it will be a flop, but you might end up waiting quite a while for something that is more or less the same as what you could have now.

Right! I'm not even considering replacing my 346xp etc with a 550xp, even though it already has replaced the 346xp on the web-site here! :msp_smile:
 
If you need a 50cc saw get a 346.

Lots of people like that saw. I have it and like it. it's not a so-so saw. It's made a lot of people happy. Even people who aren't drinking the orange Kool-aid (I thought kool-aid was just a stihl thing anyway, right? :laugh::laugh:)

The 346 is pretty light and it is hard to imagine the 550 being much lighter than it in actuality. The 562 ended up being heavier than it was originally stated to be, and I wouldn't be surprised in the 346 did too.

The reviews for the 550xp out of sweden were favorable but not OMFG favorable.

My guess is that the 550 will gain some torque, but you're probably not really after torque in a saw that size.

It will also likely gain pricetag.

It's waiting for uncertainty is what it is. It certainly doesn't sound like it will be a flop, but you might end up waiting quite a while for something that is more or less the same as what you could have now.

I think a likely price for the 550 would be 550. Can't imagine it could be any higher than that unless they really want to price themselves up to a 261.
 
The answer is obvious.

Get the 346 now. Get the 550 later.

Duh!

I agree, you know you can't go wrong and you'll have one of the "all time" classic saws that one day you won't
be able to get. Get it now, wait a year or two and then get the other if it turns out to be that great.
 
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