I just bought a HRX217HYA from Home Depot...and by just, I mean yesterday. Here is a little tip that may or may not work, thankfully it did for me. HD takes competitor coups as I am sure you may know. Well, I thought, what the hell, and tried a Harbor Freight 20% off (I had a Lowes 10% off moving coup for backup), and they actually took it. Before tax, I spent $559.20 for the HRX217HYA. I took it out of the box, and she has to be the sexyist thing....next to my wife?
Anyway, I really dont want to put gas in it and start it up since it is a good 2-2.5 months away from being used. Hell, the look on the HD employee face when I asked them to get a mower down (from the top shelf none the less) even made me feel crazy.