I had previously owned the bargain, warehouse superstore "chainsaw in a box" type saws. I have had Homelite and a couple of Poulans. In terms of quality these do not compare with the Stihl 025 (Stihl recently changed the model number to MS250 on this unit). My other saw is a Poulan 2400. While very similar in engine displacement and overall size the Stihl by far is the top performer of the two. The 025 stacks up evenly on paper with the Poulan Pro series but thats on paper. In real world terms the Poulan (and other "superstore" saws) just aren't as ruggedly built nor do they produce the power and rpms of the stihl. The 025 offers some great features as well. It has a manual chain brake that is very user freindly. Simply push the front handguard forward until you feel a solid click, at that point the brake is applied to the saw chain. This makes starting and moving the running saw safer. The engine is a 45.4cc displacement 2cycle unit. It is quick reving and capable of sustained high rpms, an advantagious aspect to any saw. The 025 has a very good power to weight ratio at 3bhp and 10.4lbs. The Stihl oilomatic chain is standard. The Oilomatic is manufactured by and exclusive to Stihl. The Oilomatic provides more effecient cain/bar oiling increasing cutting effeciency and prolonging saw chain and bar life. The airfilter cover removal procedure is a simple tooless operation. Simply twist the knob at the back of the power unit and lift off the cover. A clean air filter is key to saw performance and this feature makes cleaning/changing the filter a breeze. Customer support of the Stihl dealer network is another advantage of buying Stihl. The dealer will demonstrate the saw and it's features before you leave the store. The dealer will also top off the fuel and bar oil tanks. Perhaps the best thing about buying from an authorized dealer is that the saw is professionally assembled and set up. Spend the extra $80-$100.00 and get a Stihl. Ten years from now when the Stihl is still providing you with service you'll be glad you did.

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