Honestly, if I had to do it all over again, I would have taken a Jiffy 2HP 8" many years ago. I've had my Jiffy 3HP 8" for 18 years, changed the plug once, the other had a cracked insulator. There is a difference in weight, you indicate you have an ATV, so it shouldn't be a problem, just at the start and end of the season when you walk out, those extra pounds add up, just like your age. Unless you plan on having auger races, a few seconds one way or the other doesn't matter, that's why I'd go with the 2HP. Keep the blade out of the dirt, I may finally change the replacement blade after this year, I have to push down a wee bit. The only other maintenance I've done is change the carburateur diaphram, they dry out over the years. Keep an eye out for older used ones, they have better gear cases, some are now made of "plastic".