Hey Alexis -- I have one of these Makita 1/2" drills -- Just used it for 430 one inch diameter peg holes in a doug. fir frame, drilled like a champ with plenty of torque. When drilling big holes, choice of auger bit is more important then the drill -- I like the Wood Owl Tri-cut auger bits. They cut clean and smooth with minimal tearout. Way better then a single flute ship's auger.

$100 canadian -- that's like $345 US these days, I'd gopher it.