Expert advice needed.

[madabouthoovers]

Ornery - we can obtain direct air machines in the UK - Kirbys - the problem is that most people cant afford them, and the only option is second hand, which not everyone wants to do.


 


If Dave wants an upright for under £200 then he is a bit limited as most Sebo uprights are more than £200 unless he buys a second hand one, or gets a deal on Ebay.


 


Dave didn't say if he wanted bagged or bagless. we must remember that dogs make any vac smell with prolonged use, so bagged makes a better bet as one throws the smelly bag out when needed. Bagless vacs used with dogs smell too, and require washing out of the cyclone assembly and filters to stop this. It all depends on how much maintenance that Dave wants to do.


 


Dave could consider a Henry but would need one with the Turbo head, such as the Henry Extra for around £150, or cheaper when sourced online. However air driven turbine heads get clogged easily with fur from long haired dogs.


 


Hoover and Vax make some good models like the new Turbopower from Hoover or the Vax FloortoFloor in Argos in Dave's price range - but neither brand is particularly reliable.


 


Miele uprights from the S7 range are bagged, but not particularly robust, and cost more than what Dave wants to pay.


 


In summary, I would recommend the Sebo X1.1 or X4, which Dave could obtain online for about £200 if he got a good deal. Many Euronics centres sell them as well. Although it has a rather dated look now, the X series is a very robust and reliable vac and bags are about a tenner for 10, so half the price of Miele bags. I'm sure Dave and his German Shepherds would be very happy with a Sebo X series. Also, if Dave bought the X1.1 he could get it in Red and Blue, or in White - as he has said that he doesn't like the blue and yellow of the X4 Extra. The X4 Excel comes in Black with silver trim, but is more money than Dave said that he wanted to spend at about £260.


 


It all depends on what Dave decides that he wants to spend in the end, and £200 is on the borderline. another £60 on top would ensure he gets a very nice Sebo upright.

 

[sebo_fan]

Um, lets not forget there's the SEBO X1.1! £199 from CoOp Direct also from Amazon UK.

To meet the same spec as the X4 you could buy yourself the extension hose for above the floor line or the stair tool turbo brush.

The X1.1 is just as good as the X4 Extra, but slightly less "powerful" with an 1150 watt motor compared to 1300 watts.

Believe me, there is very little difference between the X1.1 and X4 compared to the original X1 Automatic of 850 watts to 1000 watts for the dark grey/light grey model. I did have an X4 but only sold it last week. Now have an X1 Automatic and adore it, as I have always done.

If buying second hand, an X1 Automatic base line machine is good value but the X1.1 is better.

The red models are getting harder to find now - Euronics no longer stock the red models at every store, best to phone them and check if you really want the red upright.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sebo-Automatic-Upright-Bagged-Cleaner/dp/B0002V7U3C/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

 

[madabouthoovers]

Seems the Red models are now classed as X4 according to my local Euronics store - or model number 90559GB Priced at £239.99



http://www.ericalcock.co.uk/vacuum-cleaners/upright-vacuum-cleaners/seb-x4rg/product

 

[madabouthoovers]

There's an X1.1 in red here for 199.99 so within the budget that Dave wants to spend (Excl Postage which is £9.95)



http://www.appliance-direct.co.uk/more_details.asp?IntID=1266&Manufacturer=Sebo&Code=X1.1

 

[sebo_fan]

To be honest, the white X1.1 model is actually better because it hides scrapes better with use compared to the red, black and blue ones.

 

[dave]

Thanks everyone for your input, I'm going to get a Sebo X4 either the Euronics exclusive in red or the Pet in black/silver. A few weeks before Christmas I did see the X4 Pet for £199 so I'm going to hang a few weeks to see if any of the online retailers drop their prices a little bit more. I've noticed the DC25 Animal is now £240 in the new Argos catalogue, which I thought might see a few prices of other manufacturers machines drop. I did look at some reconditioned Kirbys on eBay last night at around the £150 - £200 mark which looked very presentable, but as an at least twice daily cleaner, would probably be a bit over the top.

 

[madabouthoovers]

All these models have their pros and cons - but I'd steer clear of the Dyson DC25 - along with the smaller DC24, these were notorious for premature brushroll motor failure. Sorry, but I just don't rate modern Dysons - they are overpriced and overrated. The Sebo is tried and tested - used in many commercial settings, and has one main motor that drives the brush via a twin toothed belt system and cuts the motor out if the brush gets clogged with dog hairs etc. In terms of reliability, the only thing that the X4 occasionally suffers from is a broken power cable where it enters the handle - but the handle opens up easily to shorten the damaged bit of cable. Bags for the Sebo are reasonable too at a tenner for 10. Sebos are very rarely on promotion and its unlikely you will ever get a brand new X series for less than £199. Don't forget though that the X1.1 does not come with an extension hose and turbo brush for furniture as standard - only the X4 Pet does. The X4 Extra comes with an extension stretch hose but no turbo tool. It all depends on how much your GSD's jump on the furniture


Going for a Kirby is always a good choice, They cannot be beaten on carpets. But spares, bags and belts tend to be quite expensive and if you need to use the hose a lot, you may find a Kirby hard work to keep changing the head over to the hose fitting.


With any second hand Kirby that's been refurbed you will be getting a very reliable and sturdy vacuum that will last years and years with the correct maintenance - you can get a good G series refurb as you said for under £200. Bags can be expensive at £25 for 9 from Kirby dealers, but can be obtained online for much less - but they are massive and take a long time to fill up. A Kirby will always give your carpets a much more aggressive beat and clean than most other clean air machines, and Kirbys don't block up easily either. They are a direct air system much like the old metal Hoovers of the 60's and 70's so care will have to be taken what is sucked up using the hose as the Lexan plastic fans can be damaged by sucking up large objects.

 

[turbo500]

The Sebo X1.1 is available from VacuSpares for £175. You could always get this and then, if you wanted, buy the additional extension hose from Sebo and it would come in at £205.

http://www.vacuspares.co.uk/buy-sebo-automatic-x1.1+20019

 

[madabouthoovers]

He might as well get the X4 Pet for £230 - this will give him the turbo tool as well.



http://www.vacuspares.co.uk/buy-sebo-automatic-x4-pet+20095x4

 

[parwaz786]

A Dyson DC25 animal should be a good vacuum.
the filtration is good, it has a twin motor system, cleans better than a DC14, has the Dyson advantages, 5 year warranty/guarantee and even a ball!

 

[sebo_fan]

Yes but Dave did want a vacuum cleaner at the £200 mark, Steve. This is why I responded originally with the X1.1. Its all very well recommending any vacuum cleaner from the SEBO range but with the cost effectiveness put into place PLUS HAVING TO BUY A BOX OF BAGS as well counts as extra expense.

Thats a good price, Chris at £175.

Amazon UK have a WHITE AND YELLOW X4 listed for £199 - SEE LINK!! I might have to get one myself!

IMHO recommending the Sanitaire or Kirby vacuums FOR A UK flat really comes down to the size of the flat. Kirby or Sanitaire "dirty fan" uprights with their massive bags, full weight and retro style would probably be good enough for the likes of a bigger home rather than an actual flat.

At least with SEBO or any other modern brand you have small cleaning tools and hose on board, even if they are small, at least that's a bonus and the X series is probably one of the most nimble and thinnest to get under low furniture.

The other SEBO to consider is the Felix. It is a smaller bagged capacity upright with a swivel neck and very nimble and compact. It has a 3.5 litre capacity dust bag and thus will require more emptying if you are willing to compromise for a more modern design. Not sure if you can find the Felix at £199 though the Classic, Fun and Navy models are older by colour and sometimes go for under the £200 mark.

Personally I'd stick to the X series -it may lack the variable suction control and swivel neck of the Felix - but you're getting a simpler well thought out upright vacuum designed to last and give superb performance.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sebo-AUTO-automatic-upright-cleaner/dp/B0018RYT42/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kh_8

 

[dave]

Thanks

I've ordered my new vacuum. I've gone for the X4 Pet from Peter Tyson at £230 delivered. http://www.petertysonappliances.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/sebo_x4_pet_vacuum_cleaner.shtml
Slightly over budget but I didn't want a blue one or a white one and this model was £20 cheaper than the red Euronics exclusive. Will post a few pics when it arrives.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

Good Choice Dave - I'm sure you'll be happy with it for many years.

 

[sebo_fan]

Good- Glad you got what you wanted, Dave! SEBO have also released new synthetic dust bags for the X model - they last longer than the paper bags and are slightly better at filtration too.

http://www.sebo.co.uk/store/x-series/box-of-8-ultra-bags-for-x-and-c-machines.html

 

[dave]

Arrived today (free next day delivery). I'm resisting the urge to break it out of the box as Mr Spangle thought it would be hilarious to play out in the pouring rain for an hour and I have a wet carpet!

 

[madabouthoovers]

Brilliant, a brand new Sebo. All ready to do battle with Mr Spangle's dog hairs. I'm sure you will be very happy with this vac. One tip, take care when using the hose that the vac doesn't tip over backwards.

 

[sebo_fan]

Love both pics! 'Didn't know you had an Alsatian/German Shepherd. My best friend had one - the dog was originally trained up to be a police dog but he was absolutely useless and licked everyone to death rather than attacking. So the force called him "Spencer" as in Frank Spencer lol. When I called into stay with my chum, it was a right laugh watching my friend "being taken for a walk," as Spencer never heeled properly and would literally pull his owner right along the road, hoovering up all the food scraps if they were found. Happy days. Spencer died a few years ago but he was a well loved dog and unforgettable.

 

[suckolux]

Great and great looking machine! Enjoy

 

[manchestervacs]

I'd stick with the DC14 and find out why it isn't performing as well as it once did.  


 


We can have any Dyson in the range as we sell them, but my wife still loves our DC14. 

 

[madabouthoovers]

Dave could always clean up the DC14 and use it as a second vac, but please realise that there is more to life than just Dyson, and as collectors we appreciate more than just Dysons, and that, some of us DO like bagged vacs and Vax's.