Comparison to buy Kirby G5 and Ultimate G

[doesitlookclean]

I suddenly have an urge to buy a Kirby. After browsing Facebook marketplace, I’ve narrowed it down to these two. A G5 and an Ultimate G. The G5 is $45 and comes with everything. Bags, shampoo system, all attachments. The Ultimate G is $50 but comes with the attachments and shampooer system. However, it’s 30miles away. The G5 ad says it has a new belt. But it looks like the brush roll will need replaced. For $5 more should I get the Ultimate G? Was there a big difference between the G5 and Ultimate G in terms of performance? I do like that the G5 comes with all accessories?

 

[vacuumman]

Ultimate G

The Ultimate G 30 miles away appears to be the Diamond Edition, which has an additional low speed option for delicate rugs. For that reason, I would say that it is the better of the two.

 

[KirbyCollector01]

I’d say…

The Ultimate G Diamond Edition. For the fact of, it has a delicate switch. Which allows you to switch between normal and low power for different types of carpets and rugs. As well as drapes and whatnot. The Diamond is the better deal here.

 

[doesitlookclean]

There’s also a 2nd Ultimate G for $50. But it doesn’t have the shampooer. For the same price, I’d rather have the shampooer. What can someone tell me about these? Would I know if a bearing or brushing was bad? I figured I’d order a new belt and possibly brush roll. Probably wouldn’t hurt to take it to a repair shop for a once over.

 

[doesitlookclean]

Sent the seller a message for the Diamond. Hoping it still for sale.

 

[human]

While you can't go wrong with any of the above machines, the Diamond G definitely offers the most bang for your buck. The other Ultimate G does not have the high/low speed option, which is unique to the Diamond G. Other than the obvious cosmetics, The second Ultimate G and the G5 are about 99 percent the same and not significantly different from the current Avalir machines that will cost you a whole lot more than $50. The second Ultimate G would be my third choice since it's the only one of the three that doesn't include a shampoo system. Bags and belts are readily available and affordable on eBay and buying these consumables in quantity will significantly reduce your unit cost.

The best part about Kirbys is they're built like Kolashnikov assault rifles in that they're powerful, highly durable and easily repaired/rebuilt. For my money, a G-series Kirby with a full set of accessories for around $50 is about as good a value as you will find in a vacuum cleaner.

 

[myvacsrock]

Can’t go wrong

You can’t go wrong with any of these!
Friend of mine saved this guy from the side of the road a few weeks ago.

Check out the before and after. With very little mechanical knowledge and money, it can be rebuilt.
New fan, new Brushroll, and a new cord; around $50 total will have this thing singing for another 20 years. It is date stamped 2002.

 

[doesitlookclean]

I asked the lady if it was still for sale at 3pm on Friday. After waiting what seemed like an eternity, she finally replied at 10 Saturday stating it was. Immediately wrote back and asked if I could pick up that day. She replied that she was taking care of a sick relative until 3pm, and said that hopefully the snow had melted enough by then for her to get into the building. I assume she means it’s in a storage unit. I replied and said I was free until 5pm and free all day Sunday. As of right now (2:20pm) she hasn’t even read my response. I’m sure she’s got more important things to worry about. I’ll give her another day or two.

 

[huskyvacs]

You can buy the entire shampoo kits on eBay as a whole for $20 or so, so if it doesn't come with a shampoo kit that's not a deal breaker. Keep in mind the shampoo kit is just a dry shampoo surface cleaner, its not an extraction shampooer for deep cleaning. It's just meant to keep your carpet fresh and fluffy in between room-emptying carpet cleaning.

All the G series vacuums are virtually identical in performance and are mostly all the same. The only things that changed were improvements to fans, brushrolls, and bag technology. I don't think even the motors changed in amperage from each model number.

Like others already said that Ultimate G pictured is the Diamond Edition which has that low speed setting which is very very useful if you have a lot of area rugs or delicate surfaces that you need to vacuum, as Kirbys love to eat throw rugs.

Kirbys are very durable and it is one of those "buy it once" vacuums. They shine up really nicely too, the aircraft aluminum is pretty durable and resiliant to anything and with some time on a buffing wheel even the most crusty metal cleans up like brand new. I have never had one not work as soon as it was plugged in, no matter how many decades it has been sitting or what amount of decay and corrosion it has endured. They just keep going and going and they usually survive even the most neglectful homeowners. You will be very pleased with your purchase.

 

[doesitlookclean]

I have an antique wool areas rug in my living room. I was thinking the low speed setting would be nice for that. I remember a seeing newer model Kirby in a booth at a peddler’s mall for a long time. I haven’t been in there in a few months. I know it had the attachment caddy. I want to say the price was around $40. But I can’t remember for sure. I think I’m going to run out there on my lunch break this afternoon. It’s worth checking out.

 

[suckolux]

Of course if you had nothing but delicate rugs they offer a delicate brush roll for the machine also and you can mechanically turn the brush roll off if necessary. Options!

 

[doesitlookclean]

So after not hearing from the lady with the diamond edition, I went ahead and bought the G5. It need a little cleaning. Overall, it’s in great shape. Has all the attachments including the turbo brush. I met the seller in the Kroger parking lot. I sensed either they had money, or they had no sense of money, or both. He said “my wife bought this a few years ago for $2200. She never used it once. It’s been in the closet since the day she bought it.” $2200 to $45 is quite a big difference. Oh well, it’s none of my business. It was very much worth $45. I’ve had quite a few vacuums (Electrolux, Hoover, Eureka, Royal) and this is by far the best.

 

[human]

You got an absolute bargain...

The G5 is a nice machine and with all the toys, too! As I said earlier, you can't go wrong with any of them. Yeah, the only thing worse than the depreciation hit you'll take buying a brand new car is the depreciation hit you'll take buying a brand new Kirby. I've often said that Kirby's worst competition is itself in the form of an abundance of used machines in good condition, priced at a small fraction of the retail cost. No doubt the lady was strong-armed into the purchase by a relentless in-home salesman, which is the worst part of the Kirby experience. She was probably simultaneously regretting the purchase and relieved to get rid of the salesman.