It depends how rough you are with your vacuum cleaners, for example with the DC40/41, I hate the cracking noise it makes when you have to pull the handle backwards to release it.
Vax on the other hand, providing you get one free from defects, they are good machines - the Mach Air. Despite the supposedly small dust bin, it took a go around my house to totally fill it up, I does depend on how dirty your floors are.
Then again you could go for a Hoover Turbopower Upright - model UTP1610. That has a stair stretch hose, 12m cord & a big dust bin (2.5 litres I think?). Currently £119.99.