Cleaning power of a Miele?

[sebo_fan]

Well, what is it vegassucks? You don't like Consumer Reports yet you believe in charts? Mmm something smells there...Well said Eureakaprince - whilst I don't trust in everything I read from CR, I've certainly found similar findings from my own ownership to their reports. They don't always get things right but then neither does Which, the UK testing organisation - but some things are worth learning about from reading those reports.

I THINK that when it comes to real performance from REAL OWNERSHIP that only you can impart the honest truth about filtration in your experience for others. Product reviews and worded content don't really hold much of a candle to many let alone charts and lists of statistical data, even if I write some award winning reviews online to support the purchases I've made - and from the thoroughness of my reviews I sometimes get a free large appliance like a washing machine!

You moan that the SEBO is heavier than the S8. Well that's because it comes with a much bigger amount of cord - 12 metres on the SEBO, 6.5 metres on the Miele S8 - that's double the amount and for the cost price that both sell at, I'd sacrifice the LED lights on the S8 for a decent amount of cord. The hose on the D4 is also slightly longer than the one on the Miele, so again you're getting bigger everything really on that vacuum.

 

[ralph123]

Vegassucks,

You have got to be kidding. Consumer Reports test results are accurate and reproducible. I completely trust their carpet cleaning and bare floor tests, and the original question was about raw cleaning power. They provide information to help you make a decision, they certainly don't tell you what to buy. You have to use your brain and interpret the results to choose what is appropriate for you. Obviously you have to read some of the details on how the tests are conducted to decide if they are appropriate for your situation or can be generalized to your situation. For example, they don't do specialized tests to see how the vacuums deal with specific allergens.

The top of the line Kenmore canisters are very good cleaners that are presumably still made by Panasonic. It seems you were just singing the praises of Panasonic on a different thread.

So you really believe results from Good Housekeeping - a magazine that sells advertising to the companies whose products it reviews?

 

[vegassucks]

Consumer Reports

Anyone who believes Kenmore is a better vacuum than a Sebo or Miele has zero ideas of what a Great vacuum is. Just like the auto magazines that say Kia is equal to Honda. Will they pay you the 25% more of depreciation when you go to sell your Kia? No, just like when these car magazines rate a Honda Hybrid high. They are not there when your $4k battery goes bad or to explain why ur not getting anywhere near the 50 mpg gallon their article claimed you would.

I also read Consumer Reports because sometime they bring out a factor you should consider but they are nothing more than an opinion like the ones in this forum. A % of the People in this forum will agree with me and a few will disagree. I do know that Kenmore vacuums sell for 25% of their retail value within months of purchase and are cheaply made. Find an S8,or Sebo X4 for 25% of retail, Good Luck because smart people know better.

Panasonic makes their own high end vacuums to a higher standard than the Kenmore units. When Panasonic builds a vacuum for Sears, Sears is trying to come in at a certain price point so sell in volume. They do not say build the best vacuum, price no object. They say build the best vacuum we can purchase from you for x dollars and still make a few dollars Selling at y dollars.

 

[dysonman1]

You cannot, cannot, cannot trust a word from Communist Reports.

I have a copy of every vacuum issue they've ever done.

Did you know that in December, 1936, they rated the wonderful, flawless Hoover 150 (Hoover's finest machine ever) at the BOTTOM of the ratings. Then, those morons at CR had the nerve (and stupidity) to rate the twin-motor Air-Way Super Chief "Not acceptable" because (according to CR) the motors would be short lived. I don't know of any Air-Way's from the 1930's that don't run.

In every decade room of the Museum, I have a copy of the Communist Reports articles for the vacuums of those years. I can proudly turn to their 'reports' and prove every single one of them WRONG.

There was only ONE time that history agrees with CR. That was the 1970 report that rated the Electrolux 1205 the top vacuum. If you look at the ranking of the report for all the vacuums, then look at all the actual vacuums (we have them in the Museum) it's clear that once and once only, they did "get it right".

I'm sorry to be so stern about them, but I can't stand those lying bastards. The only good thing about their 'ratings' is they give prices. I often reread the 'reports' from the 1940's and 1950's so I can give accurate pricing information as I give tours through the Museum.

Anyone who bases a purchasing decision on CR, deserves the screwing they're going to get by doing so.

History constantly proves them WRONG.

 

[sebo_fan]

It is difficult to relay comparisons between a car and a vacuum cleaner. Particularly for something seen as an investment and recouping a good price second hand. Kia in the UK are doing exceptionally well - Honda is too premium, too expensive - even their Civic, CRV and Jazz are made in the UK - they don't sell as well nationally as Kia.

Miele and SEBO retain their value well on UK auction sites compared to other brands. The only models that Panasonic retain their value from are the "vintage" models. They don't generally hold their value well with their current ranges and EBAY UK are usually good places to get a cheaper deal on the list prices of Panasonic vacuums in the shops.

Yet again though, I say as a private consumer and not as a retailer or anyone who works in the industry, it is impossible to go through every report that a testing organisation has done and either agree or disagree UNLESS you are a vacuum cleaner collector! We are two very different bodies of people. I don't necessarily go for everything that every testing company promotes - but as others have said, CR and other companies CAN benefit purchase decisions.

Whereas we, as collectors may disagree about a particular function that hasn't been highlighted or thoroughly tested won't matter to Joe Public. As long as the machine picks up is just the requirement of what a vacuum cleaner SHOULD do.

 

[ralph123]

Dysonman - while I certainly respect your candid opinion regarding CR, and I agree with you regarding overall ratings, I do trust some of their individual test results. You've certainly done your share of testing vacuums and have access to lab results at Tacony. So in your opinion, is there anything special about the cleaning power of Miele canister vacuums?

In general I trust CR's carpet cleaning scores; however, there is one vacuum whose ratings in CR I have never trusted, and that is the amazing Rainbow. I'm not convinced that they adjust properly for the water containment system. Sure there have been major flaws in power nozzle design of the Rainbow (e.g. the belt in the middle with a 1.5 inch gap between the openings) In the current online ratings, the list price of the Rainbow is $1350 (about half the price I was quoted). In the lows it says: "This model received only a good blob for cleaning carpets and lacks a retractable cord. It is tough to carry due to the water weight. The power head is an optional accessory."

Note that they say the "power head is an optional accessory" - and they don't mention whether the carpet tests were carried out with the optional power head. Yet the Rainbow is pictured with the power nozzle. They also tested some other canisters that don't come with power nozzles.

 

[vegassucks]

Ralph123

If you cannot trust CR rating on the Rainbow, why would you trust them on others? I look at the overall recommendation on many products by CR and they are the worst at getting it even close to right. The Miele S7 is so highly rated yet nobody tells you about how heavy they truly are or can explain why there so many broken units on ebay from a vacuum with a 20 year life expectancy? The Miele canister with an Seb-228 power head is such a precision cleaning machine, no bulky cheaply made Kenmore comes close accept for on the price to competing.

 

[joshdonnell]

Ralph

I would like to add something . The Rexair has redesigned the power nozzel , So theres no more belt in the center. And yet the Rainbow might not have the automatic cord rewind , but thats for a reason . So that's one les thing to go wrong. In my opinion i believe the Rainbow does filter very well. But we must remember that no vacuum cleaner is perfect. Not even a Miele or a Sebo or any vacuum brand.

 

[vegassucks]

Joshdonnell

I 100% agree with joshdonnell