I have owned an 8" Strikemaster with the Solo engine and really liked it. It is a hole drilling machine. If you keep your blades sharp and make sure not to do something stupid like drilling out an old hole or banging the auger on the ice to remove frozen ice, thus changing the cutting angle, it will drill really fast.(I did both and ended up buying a new auger section-$157.00 worth of stupid) Easy to start and customer support is great. I have a 4 strole now and like it but it will not cut as fast. The 4 stroke is quiet, no fuel mixing, uses very little fuel and starts easy and is more expensive. I have found with both , if I put them in the cab for 10-15 minutes when it is below zero that it really makes a big difference.