I Finally Got an Elite!

[funnynet1231]

Hello. I know what a lot of you are probably thinking. "Heh, I can go to a thrift store right now and pick up seven different elites!" Well I'm not that lucky when it comes to thrift stores period. Though I picked up this hoover elite sprint on ebay around a week ago and I feel like I got screwed over. Why you ask? Well because the seller said it was in good and working condition. So when I got it I ran it and after I did there was a burnt belt/motor smell. So I took off the hood the the motor housing was filled with hair and dryer lint plus the belt was stretched beyond belief. But 45 minutes and a quick stop at vacuumpartswarehouse.com later, (Not sponsored) the vacuum was in working order and all it needs is a new bulb. I also got a Hoover windtunnel supreme from my grandmother that works great, but desperately needs a cleaning. I can't tell what year the vacuums are from. I think the elite sprint is from 2000, 2001, or 2002 because I think that's around the time elites started to die out. If anyone can tell me the year these cleaners are from it would be very appreciated. (P.S, the windtunnel is a translucent green color)

-Cam

 

[mpbyrd]

If I remember correctly

The first 4 digits of the serial number is gonna be the month and the year the vac was made. So the Elite would have been made in March 2002 and the Windtunnel in August 2002. Several of my Hoovers have came from thrift stores but I don't see them that often either and I go A LOT. A good place to check for these machines would be any of your local vacuum dealers, Kirby, Rainbow, Aerus, etc that's where I get a lot of my machines and have had some good finds. I have noticed a lot of people donate these or put them at the curb because they usually can't figure out how to change the belt on the elite, also with the Hoover Empower line as well. Congrats on your machine though!

 

[funnynet1231]

Thanks for the tip Mpbyrd!

All I find at my thirft stores are the same bissell 3 in 1 stick vacs and some obscure brand of steam mop. (I think it's H2O or something). The only times I considered myself lucky was when I found A dirt devil featherlite plus for 8 dollars, A vhs-c camera for 8 dollars, and a sony playstation 1 for 4 dollars. I already had a boxed playstation so I didn't even think that was a big deal. Anyway, thanks for the vacuum hunting tips and thanks for explaining how to find the manufacture dates.

-Cam

 

[suckolux]

They are great cleaning, lightweight machines, lots of cleaning power for their price

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I was told by Dick Pike, retired Hoover

exec,that they couldn't make them fast enough! They never 'planned' on them replacing the Convertible,  but, it did.


 

 

[alexhoovers94]

Well, it has to be said, I know it doesn't want to be heard...The Elite is better in almost every way, than the Convertible.

 

[kloveland]

I think they both cleaned well.. But were the elites as durable as the convertibles? They were both good cleaners.

 

[sptyks]

The Elites are mostly plastic so they are probably not as durable as the Convertible.


 


 

 

[suckolux]

To my ears the Elite spins quite a bit faster too, or am I wrong?Much smaller fan, so it makes sense to me

 

[gottahaveahoove]

AlexHoovers...............

I like them both. The Elites are strong, light, nice tool suction, etc.
Changing the belt, etc is FAR worse than that on a Convertible (just remove the plate vs. the hood, etc.)I like the sound of Convertibles, and the balance, (will not tip). Some like the on board tools on Elites, too. They're both great cleaners in my opinion.
But, IF I had to choose ONLY one............... it's Convertible all the way.
But, that's just ME. And I have NUMEROUS versions of BOTH.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Your Elite was made March 2002


 


Your WindTunnel is from August 2002


 


Serial #s--1st two digits is month; 2nd two digits is yr

 

[alexhoovers94]

I agree with you there Jon (think that is your name! Lol!) I just couldn't imagine using one everday over an Elite, I think the Elite excels in manouverablitity, performance and speed/convenience for everyday use.

I love the Senior An icon much like the Junior and would be something I always love, just not for modern day practicality, everyone is different and their needs are I suppose.

 

[kenkart]

A Convertible

Will outlast and out CLEAN a Elite any day, its built better and lasts longer and is MUCH quieter.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Took the words right

outta my mouth!

 

[daknx1994]

I still see more Elite type machines being used in homes than Convertibles now a days. Some of these Elites are pushing twenty to twenty five years old and in most cases still going strong. I like convertibles due to their purring sound that I can not find in any other vacuum. I like Elites mostly because they are a childhood machine for me. I do prefer the tools on most Elites since they are stored on board. Either way they are both great machines in my opinion.

 

[tolivac]

Convertible RULES over the Elite.The Elite is better than the bagless dreck out there!