Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Over the past 30 years, I've owned several vacuums, and this is by far the most miserable of them all. I bought mine last August, and it's already in the shop, totally dead. And it's not alone! Eight others, exact same models, are lined up for repair before mine. Like so many, I was drawn to this Hoover's "everything you could possibly want" features. But here's what I experienced when I got it home: 1. Self-propulsion: A great idea, especially on carpets, but NEVER use it on bare floors. Both my hardwood and vinyl floors are indelibly marred from the hyperactive wheels. And I do mean indelibly. 2. Bagless: Cool come-on, but wait till you have to empty the container. It's a ... mess--and you'll have to do it often. Dust will fly when you dump the container; you'll have to dig your hand in to get everything out, and then you'll probably feel compelled to wash (and, of course, dry) the whole system because it's such a mess. If you're trying to eliminate allergens, send everyone outside on vacuum-dump day. 3. Turbo hand tool: The only thing turbo about this toy is it's whirring sound. If you use too much pressure--and "too much" equals anything more than a light sweeping motion--the brush stops spinning, and you have to manually "jumpstart" it. The brush also stops when it gathers the least amount of hair, requiring you to stop and "unstring" the thing. 4. Extension hose: Tighten real hard, or by the time you get to the top of the stairs, the hose will be disconnected. 5. "Blowback:" Expect a third of the dirt you're removing from a bare floor to reappear behind you. 6. Height control knob: Hard to use; breaks easily. Several in the shop needed this repair. 7. Dirt finder display: Trust your own instincts instead. This Hoover does have great suction and does a fine job on carpets. But isn't that the least you'd expect for its price? If you're willing to spend that [money], check out the lesser known but higher quality brands, such as Miele, Sebo, and Lindhaus. A great place to go for information about these brands (and some Sharps, Panasonics, Hoovers, and others) is ristenbatt.com. Ristenbatt also offers extremely valuable information about what makes a good vacuum. Today, I'm less interested in gadgets and more focused on ball bearings; cog-type belt designs; multi-fan, multi-filter construction; steel axles, etc. More than even amps and wattage, those are what deliver true high performance and efficiency, durability and reliability. And you can still add all the gadgets you desire. Meanwhile, my next vac is going to be the [money]Sebo X1 Automatic S-Class 12". Check it out, dudes.