Good luck finding parts and service close for your two choices, many have recommended redmaxx, go look and see what they run every day, in fact go check out 100 saw users and see how many redmaxx and dolmar saws you find in their hands.lol This is an enthusiast site, you'll see the minority pop up, not saying they don't make a good saw, but when you need something for it you better be good at working on them yourself and order parts over the net. I'd dang sure run a either a Husky or Stihl. I'd almost be willing to bet if you stopped and ask 100 saw users, you'd find less then 5 with a redmax and prolly less than 10 running a dolmar. If you ever have to sell or trade it, you will take an absolute beating. Brad's a good guy, but ask him how much time he gives a redmaxx saw......prolly been gathering dust for awhile. It's just like the Ryobi thread a couple years ago, someone posted they were the best saw on the market for the buck, around a 100 bucks, many had issues, saws had to have modifications, I really wonder how many of them are still being run on a daily basis today. I saw a cream puff Husky 350 at the local dealer for 225.00, it looked like new, I'd take it any day over either of your choices.
With Stihl or Husky parts are going to be READILY available for years, they will also maintain value. To be fair about the little 180, they are fine when used within design limitations, mine is prolly six or seven, used and abused worse than any saw I have due to it's value, it if gets torn up or crushed no big loss, but it has performed flawlessly, that's why there have been hundreds of thousands of them sold.
Yes when you mod them, push them to crank out 3/4000 rpms above design criteria, you will have issues. But in real world everyday use they are fine.
If I were going to buy one tomorrow it would be a MS211.
