Shame, Is there any reason why it couldn't be extended on the cheap with the right bits?, I see that weldequip sells 2.5m liners.
Always also the option of converting to euro torch in the future also, although that would almost bring the initial outlay of the machine to the same price as the parweld 172.
I aint even got the bloody thing yet and I'm thinking about modifying it
you can modify it to fit a euro connector, but you might as well just buy a machine with the connector in the first place.
if you can get to cumbria, I could loan you a clarke 100en, I have just retired it, though it works perfectly well, got a portamig and a murex, so unlikely that it will get used for a while, if ever