i live on 3 wooded acres and have a 300ft+ driveway in MN... so we get
a lot of snow. last year i had a neighbor with a truck plow do my
drive but this year i'd like to do my own. i was thinking of maybe
getting a "double duty" vehicle that would also include the "fun" or
riding (atv) or something that we could drive through forest paths
gathering firewood. would also appreciate any comments on buying new
or used.

I hve just the exact website for YOU!
Believe me, you will want to kiss me after getting into this site and reading.
check out www.TractorBynet.com

Look under discussions. I can point you right away to discussions that
will interest you, the Kubota Owning Operating discussion as well as
the ATV's & Utility Vehicles discussions.

Also take a look at the Power Trac discussion. I don't own one but
www.Power-Trac.com looks like they provide a very nice machine. They
even have the prices on their website. They have no dealers, you buy
right from the factory.

I really enjoy www.TracorByNet.com and I bet you will as well. There
is a real nice bunch of people over there.

I have pushed snow with a number of different machines. Small trucks,
big trucks, front end loaders, bobcats and rear mounted tractor
blades. The worst setup that I encountered was the rear mounted
tractor blade. It was very good at grading gravel or dirt, but for
plowing deeper snow it really stunk. You are driving on and compacting
in the very snow that you are trying to move. And if the snow is
really wet and sticky, it won't roll off the blade fast enough and
will just ball up until you're spinning your wheels. I even tried
reversing the blade and shoving backwards, but then the traction
treads on the tire are reversed and they don't grab in good.

It's a whole lot easier to push snow around than to pull it along. 

If I had my druthers, I would choose a front mounted bucket on a small
utility tractor. That way you can move more than just snow... topsoil,
mulch, rocks etc. On the back you can have a bushhog or finishing
mower, which can be dropped off for a forklift attachment, or even a
trailer hitch.

I've never driven an ATV snowplow, so I can't comment on their usefulness.

And don't forget the aspect of being exposed to the elements for long
periods. Your neighbor was toasty warm in the cab of his truck. I have
literally froze my butt off on the tractor doing some really long
gravel lanes.

Good luck on whatever you choose!