Emailed the largest Stihl dealer in the area, and he said he doesn't expect to see them until next year. They want to sell out of their 660's first. Hopefully, the other guys planning to buy them, aren't also waiting for the 661 to come out! Maybe I can get them to give me a sweet deal on one of those 660's, since they're trying to clear them out - I'd be doing them a favor...
They came out last year but they recalled them in the US. They're selling them in Europe and Canada now though!
For a new saw, the price difference is under $200 between the two. Considering future needs, it makes sense to go for the bigger one, of course! My Echo has been a solid little firewood saw, but I'd like to do some milling. Would be nice to have a longer bar for falling as well. Got some real monsters out back. I'd need my tree climbing buddy to top them before they could come down, but it would be cool to make those cuts with my own saw.
If they are that big they will come down on their own 441/461 for primary dropping/bucking saw and then find an old magnesium hawse for the milling in the future... I used to fret about tearing up the canopy and nearby trees when dropping bigguns - nature takes care of itself in a few years I have a large red oak lined up for tomorrow(cut the trail to it today) there will be pics of the devastation
I think I read on the internets somewhere that the 661 was going to be magnesium, like the rest of their pro line. Maybe that's going to make the price go up from the 660, and that's why the 660 and 441 seem so close in price right now. To me, if I'm already dropping a grand, what's another hundred or so to step up another 20cc's? Looks like he's asking a like new price for that saw too, as he should. I dunno though if I'm going to pay that much for a saw, I'd like to have the warranty for a little while too. As I understand it, the 441 is still kind of a big firewood saw - too small for milling. I think the Echo can still handle most of the firewood duties for now, at least until I have some kind of trouble with it. I'm sure it will be the *next* saw I buy, because the Echo will probably feel like a kid's toy after running the 661...
Shawn..I paid almost 1k for my 441c..the xtra $100 bones for a port job seems like a good deal to me!..itll cost me $300 to port mine..ill have almost $1300 in it..but if you think MasterMech can tell u that thing rips with a 32" full comp..dont know what more you need..lol....btw..I think its the perfect size firewood saw..
Worth a try.. Sounds like I need to road trip with my 5 year old to get the combined duty exemption.. Of course then I will need my wife's approval to leave the country so I can prove to customs that I'm not kidnapping my own son!!! Duty-Free Exemptions The duty-free exemption, also called the personal exemption, is the total value of merchandise you may bring back to the United States without having to pay duty. You may bring back more than your exemption, but you will have to pay duty on it. In most cases, the personal exemption is US$800. The exemption is only US$200 if either of the following conditions apply: You have been outside of the U.S. for less than 48 hours. You have have used your personal exemption on a previous trip outside the U.S. within the previous 30 days. Family members who live in the same house may combine their exemptions into what is called a Joint Declaration. Children and infants are allowed the same exemption as adults, except for alcoholic beverages.
The prices you posted are in Canadian dollars Eh? could be had for ~1200 US dollars(plus whatever Canadian taxes) and fuel for travel.
Yup.. and it's not on the list here. http://canada.usembassy.gov/traveling_to_canada/returning-from-canada.html Hmmmm... Me, four kids and the wife... that's 6 x $800 exemption = $4800... Divide that by $1200 per saw and I could bring home 4 of 'em!!! For personal use of course!!!!
Cut some wood with it and it's not a new saw anymore. My ported 441 was keeping up with a muffler modded Dolmar 9010 (90cc) in 24" wood. . I was pretty stoked!