I have had that machine since I was 19! It is very powerful! I got 2 of the attachments with mine, I think the bare floor tool and the crevice tool... it's not the most durable thing in the world, but it is powerful and beautiful. When I got mine, the cord winder didn't work, and the plastic nub on the bare floor tool broke off and the side of the power nozzle where the brushroll end cap seats broke off and I was very gentle with it... it was just old and brittle. I've fixed all of that and I enjoy using it. I hope you have fun with yours. I do wish it had a geared belt!
I love the bare floor pedal with indicator on the power nozzle and I also love the bare floor tool... it really glides and is small enough to get into tight spaces! Though I think this machines blows dirt around when used on bare floors.... it's been a while since I've used mine.
Rob, since you're kind of an expert on these machines, for the last few years, every time I vacuum with this machine, it blows chunks of foam like insulation out all over the place through the exhaust vents... I have to keep vacuuming again with another machine to get it all up because if I kept going with that one, it would ever stop! What could that be from and is it something I should consider fixing? I'm sick of it "blowing chunks" and I don't use it anymore because of that. I thought that eventually it would all blow out and that would be the end of it, but it just hasn't stopped! I'm thinking it's either sound insulation (which would make sense because the thing is not quiet despite it being called the quiet series), or the internal filter that wrapped around the motor that maybe deteriorated and got sucked through?
Anyway, to the op, have fun with your new toy and congrats!