Help! Shopping for New Vacuum and Overwhelmed

[durango159]

The Simplicity power head is powerful!!

Tacony power nozzles on the Riccar/ Simplicity do produce more noise than the Miele SEB228 nozzle and maybe the SEB236. However, that still doesn't make them loud!! It's a much quieter nozzle compared to the CenTec CT14DX that everyone loves on their 1990's Kenmore Whispertone canisters. It's also quieter than many Hoover power nozzles and that's hARD for me to say too as I love the noise of Hoover Power Nozzles so much!!

The Riccar/ Simplicity nozzle has a metal base plate, and metal brush roll. It has 6 heights, it's a wide width, nice headlight and very sturdy. It runs on a virtually maintenance free serpentine belt, and has rubber wheels in front and back on metal axles. The height adjuster actually does a great job. It gets super low to carpet on the XLow setting, much beter than the CenTec heads and Sebo. On X High it also does well. It's significantly more powerful and aggressive than the Sebo ET-1 which in my opinion acts more like an air turbine nozzle. The Tacony head is also more powerful than many Aerus heads. I like the metal base plate and the few metal base plate guards make it easier to use on area rugs compared to the completely open agitator cavitys on Wessel Werk EBK340 and EBK360 which is what Sebo SEB236 and 228 are made by.

Pictured below is agitator view of Wessel Werk EBK360. This is the same head as found on Miele SEB228 and same agitator set up as Miele SEB236, it's all very similar design to Wessel Werk EBK340. These power nozzle are powerful, clean well and have chevron brush rolls. However, the complete lack of agitator cavity support bars means this power nozzle will constantly get stuck on corners and edges of throw and area rugs. Just something to keep in mind for what you're vacuuming.

 

[luxman107]

...

Quote " iI can certainly afford my own domestic help. Unfortunately, as the old saying goes, good help truly is very hard to find. In my 17 years in New York City I have yet to find a housekeeper who can measure up to my standards (and unsettlingly enough, I don't think my standards are all that high).

Alas -- even Joan Crawford had to do her own vacuuming. "


So true.

 

[GM1982]

The one thing about the Riccar/Simplicity nozzles including their uprights is there is a gap in the center of the brush roller brissles and side, that leaves uneven brush lines in the carpet...or for example if you are vacuuming an area of dirt or crumbs two or three swipes are needed to clean completely because that center part of the brush roll leaves a line of dirt. Not a big deal, but something I noticed when demo. The Miele, Sebo and Aerus machines do not do this because they have two complete uninterupted rows of brissles.

 

[ctsooner]

Just back from another vacuum store and the last one I'm going to. He dropped the Riccar/Simplicity due to many tech problems. Said it was as decent machine that broke down too much. He has the Perfect which seems like the old Elextrolux (he said the guy bought the dyes etc from them and it's a tank. The problem for me is that is seems so loud and heavy. With MS, I have to be a bit careful about weight, but only to an extent.

He wants 650 for it and that's with a box of bags, lol.

The Miele Titan is 500 even and he'll throw in the bags and an off market turbo head. That's a floor model and his last one. He has the Calipso in a box for 799 and he'd give me the turbo head and a box of bags. That seems like a decent deal. It also has the upgraded 236 head which I really like. It's just comfortable in my hands. If it was a blind test, that would probably be the one I go with.

The guy at the last store said that a Silver Moon isn't a good buy since it's 10 years old and the motor fix is 300. He says that and then says the the Miele's motors will last forever (when trying to sell me his demo or new one). What to believe?

 

[fantomlightning]

CTSooner...

I have a Miele S2 Delphi, my mother has MS and the only canister she has ever been able to easily use without tripping over due to her balance problems is the Miele. Best part is she hates and I mean HATES canisters, yet she fell in love with the Miele.

 

[hype822]

i have a miele titan, and i have 2 issues with it. the first is the hepa filter, which does not do a good job removing odors, such as pet odors. the other issue is the 217 powernozzle. i have 2 area rugs downstairs, and i have to vacuum those rugs on lowest setting, and have to run the powernozzle one way, or it hops and skips around. also, it has trouble cleaning my one dogs short hair from the area rugs. wish i bought a 228 or 236. wish it had a longer cord though. other than that it is built well, very quiet, and cleans well.

 

[ctsooner]

THANKS for sharing

Wow, this is what I'm talking about. I LOVED the Perfect but no way I could use it. I may do Miele. Should I suck it up and go Titan or Calypso or the used Silver Moon? What's a fair price to offer for the Calypso. Can I get it for lower than 799 with a turbo head, bags and the 236 PN?

 

[ctsooner]

Oh I missed by two hours getting the Titan with a barely used 236 head. He would have given it all to me for the 599. I would have brought out my card for that on the spot I think, lol.

 

[director12]

What about the Hoover Elites and Bissell Powerglides Zach? Those are a great choice for vacuum buyers, even for you.

 

[hype822]

if space is an issue, the titan is a small unit. but, the good thing with miele is that all of their canisters use the same motor, filters, powernozzles, etc. the s2 series, which the titan is considered, has a unsealed system, but still filters well enough for most people. if asthma or allergies are an issue, dont buy a model from the s2 series.

 

[kirbyultimateg]

NYCWriter and CTSooner,
Here is the Miele S8990 bagged canister with the SEB236 PN:


http://www.mieleusa.com/usa/vacuums...bm=Vacuum Cleaners&thirdL=Canisters&fourthL=&

 

[kirbyultimateg]

NYCWriter and CTSooner,
Here is the Miele S7580 bagged upright vacuum:


http://www.mieleusa.com/usa/vacuums...um Cleaners&thirdL=Uprights&fourthL=Products&

 

[kirbyloverdan]

As a former owner

of a Vacuum Shop Miele USED to be a good Vacuum Silver/Blue Moon`s , Aluminium ect. were the best machines they ever made PERIOD IMO .
I gave my Sister a Capricorn and I owned one also both machines had numerous problems electronic, motors,replaced hoses broke .

We both used them gently and myself being a collector owning over 400 Vacuums used mine with the utmost care and it failed . I will never own another Miele until they go back to the Quality they were known for .

Simplicity/Riccar a Tacony company which I sold Simplicity and was a dealer for them .I never had any returned for repair other than a belt or a Fan on the Freedom series.

They are very reliable and out feature any Miele with things such as longer hoses larger normal sized attachments all which are VERY important .

Aerus is another Quality brand my family has owned for generations .I have 40 years experience and own mostly all TOL vacuums produced .

Aerus, Simplicity/Riccar , Rainbow , Filter Queen , Kirby ,Royal, Vortech Force ,TriStar ,Patriot, Hyla and Oreck would be the ONLY brands I would recommend .[this post was last edited: 1/3/2013-20:39]

 

[kirbyultimateg]

I don't know what to recommend anymore. I recommended everything under the sun in this thread. I am at a loss of what to recommend.

 

[ctsooner]

There are a ton of recommendations and like anything else, folks have favorites and that's why they make so many models. I vacillate as learn more and more, but that's a good thing. The Miele's are comfortable. I really love the Silver Moon with the newer 236 head and he's throwing in every other head and bag/filter you can think of to close the deal at 455. He claims the hose is new so I assume the former owner traded it up for the Capricorn because the hose died on him somehow.

It's 10 years old and that's a concern for a motor. He'll give me a 1 year on the whole system, but will that motor go 10 more years at full speed? I really dont' want to spend more than I need to in order to get a great vacuum and I know I don't have to. I'm waiting out my bid on ebay for the Moxie still before I make a decision.

How much is a fair price to offer someone for a Moxie? If I go that route, I want a really good buy obviously. The one he's selling me is a demo I believe. Demo price vs new? How much for each one? What is the difference between Riccar and Simplicity?

 

[fantomlightning]

CTSooner

Does the Silver Moon have power controls on the handle? If it does I would suggest you go with it. I have no idea how far your MS has progressed or how severe your symptoms are, but I could see a few problems arising with an S2 or lower end S5 series. The variable power controls on the others aren't something you could easily use without bending, depending on how your symptoms are now or how bad they'll become this could become a serious problem during cleaning. Also with the S5 series with the way the power and cord rewind buttons are shaped and how glossy and slick they are they can be a problem to press.

 

[hype822]

riccar and simplicity vacuums are made in the same factory as eachother. they are mechanically the same, and use the same bags, belts, filters, etc. of eachother. the only differences are colors of the vacuums, and headlight design.

 

[GM1982]

I've been to several vacuum stores and 99% of them say Miele, they will last longest and have fewest problems/repairs. The Simpl/Riccar are also good lasting about 8-12 years depending how you take care of it. Miele is subject to stringent factory testing, it's no uncommon to secs 15-20 year old Miele.
Sebo will give you 10-15 and Aerus around 20 or so years if maintained. Older style Royals.

The most repair prone: kenmore, bissell, dyson, dirt devil, electrolux(eureka)
Most bagelss types

This is coming from a third gen vacuum shop owner. In business for over 70 years

 

[GM1982]

Furthermore

I do not believe Tacony Simpl/Riccar puts its machines through rigorous testing before it leaves the factory as does Miele in Germany. Simpl/Riccar is assembled in US with globally sourced components in St James, MO. Hose pull tests, drop tests, cord failure tests etc I never heard of being done on them... Rather a more simpler inspection on assembly line.

 

[ctsooner]

Yes the Silver Moon has the controls on the handle and that's what draws me to it each time. I would want the Capricorn Miele if I bought a new one, but I most probably can't afford one. I don't know the lowest they'd go for one with the 236 head which I like the best. The silver moon has a newer 236 and a new hose (he claims it's a new one).

If I went for the Silver Moon, with all the tools from an off brand turbo head, an adaptor, a blower deal (I'd never use this though), a newer swivel head floor tool and a finger deal for blind, how much should I offer?

Should I worry about a 10yr old motor/housing? How much longer should it work? I only vacuum a couple of times a week. Will this unit be better than a new Moxie that also has controls on the handle?

I've been contacted by a few of you and that's awesome. I'm usually the one helping others make choices on audio, knives, OU sports info/recruiting, woodworking machines etc... as I'm into those items, so it's neat being on the other side of things.

Every single store owner who's in touch has said Miele, Miele, Miele. They always say they are built as good as anything on the market. I've never heard a really bad thing about them.

Riccar/Simplicity seems to give a good unit, but maybe not great. There have been some problems, but they seem to fix them, but since I'm buying once and hope not to have to buy for another 10 years or more, I'm only concerned about their current models. I like them a lot as they seem to offer a good balance of things.

If I was able to carry the Prestige, I'd probably buy it as it seems like a tank and the suction seems great. The problem I have at the stores is that they throw debris on the short carpets and every unit does a similar job. The Panny was the only one that didn't pick things up as good as the others upper end units.

Fantom, you get it! Yes, I've noticed the cords etc... I should be fine with them, but it's an issue. I do like the feel of the Miele too as I have carpel Tunnel in addition to the MS, so comfort is most important (knocks out the Prestige).

I ramble and I'm sorry. It seems like I need to figure out how much the Silver Moon is really worth and how much longer it should last as long as I take great care of it. If not, then I need to see how much a Capricorn would be or should I just deal with the suction control on the body instead of the handle. How often will I really change suction? If I have to have the controls on the handle, but can't afford the Miele's, then I'm looking as the Moxie and will need to see what's a fair price for his demo unit.