LATEST VACS/New

[sebo_fan]

Just spotted a new bagged Panasonic upright on EBay UK, also being listed on Amazon UK but not on Panasonic's own UK website - a "new" bagged upright. Seems to be on the U.S site already under the label name "Platinum Opti-Flow." The blue one is from the U.S site and the red one is available in the UK. It is good to see Panasonic are offering something a bit more modern than their current UK line up and perhaps in time, it will reach other franchises.

The UK has a few conflicting stats but the blue model has 6.8kg weight, 7.5 power cord metre length and a bag capacity of 3.0 or 3.5 litres. Seems to use one single drive belt though - which is always nice to see AND a claimed 1200 watt motor.

However, the U.S has two models with the red model having a push pedal to stop the brush from rolling. It's a pity Panasonic UK haven't carried this over with the UK red version.

Anyone tried the Platinum Optiflow?[this post was last edited: 9/26/2012-19:54]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-MC-UG522-Bagged-Upright-Cleaner/dp/B009377MDO

 

[trebor]

It looks like...

they put a bag in a bagless design. What is the bag capacity?

 

[sebo_fan]

See above - 3 litres for the dust bag apparently.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well, my new Panasonic upright arrived today. 



First impressions:


 


<ol>
<li>Better quality hose, see through/clear acrylic stretch -and it has quite a good stretch on it despite having to hold the upright close by.</li>
<li>Looped handle makes it easier to push and pull the upright along.</li>
<li>Still uses the same awkward one direction "down" upholstery brush & 7 metre cord.</li>
<li>Not too noisy for a 1200 watt vacuum cleaner, plenty of power.</li>
<li>Seems to have a light coloured brush roll, but will check again to see if its plastic and not wood look.</li>
<li>Not much hot air out the front.</li>
<li>Has a quick draw extension tube locked onto main hose with option to use long crevice pipe that no longer has the air outlet hole with past Panasonic uprights. </li>
<li>Much better quality - this one is made in Mexico. </li>
<li>Self adjusting floor head is larger than before and gliding dependent on how far you hold the handle at the top - very much like Dyson's original DC01 in feel here. </li>
<li>Easy to change dust bag and HEPA filter. Also the dust bag has a 3.5 litre dust bag capacity - uses the same bag as the recently introduced Panasonic MC-UG614 model with the swivel floor head (Kenmore in the U.S).</li>
</ol>
 


Downsides:


 


<ol>
<li>No additional tools, no smaller turbo brush.</li>
<li>No bag indicator/piston valve on the door.</li>
<li>Uses U13 bag code, hard to find at the moment with UK suppliers and no dust seal covers.</li>
</ol>

 

[madabouthoovers]

Bags are expensive, and only 4 in box - seems everyone is now following Miele's example. Sorry, but if they want people to buy bagged cleaners again, they are going to have to do better than 4 bags for £10, and they have made them smaller than previous bagged uprights at 3 litres - thats even smaller than the Miele S6.

When you can get 10 Sebo X4 bags for about the same price, and they hold twice as much, I know which I'd rather have.

The price of bags is a rip off, especially now that most suppliers only put 4 in a box, and keep making the bags smaller as well.
I wont be buying one of these - at least until generic bags are produced by Qualtex etc for half the price.

Bags for the Panasonic: £10 for 4 and £1 postage charge



http://www.buydustbags.co.uk/panaso...92,111295:495388&refine=bag&model_ref=2497774

 

[turbo500]

Having grown up with a Panasonic, I will always have a soft spot for them. They are probably the best upright on the UK market under £100. However, the post-400 series models have that ridiculous 2 belt system that is prone to snapping and, at 1900w, is a little bit over powerful. My MCE-47 has incredible suction and it's only 700w.


 


Still, for the price, you can't go far wrong. Glad to see you're pleased with the new Panasonic Ryan. Have you had chance to use the Eco Max and Eco Light cleaners at all? I'm very curious about these.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well, not really - they match Miele's S6 capacity at 3.5 litres, plus the Panasonic upright isn't a full size upright vacuum in so far as just offering the basics with a lower motor and sparse features; its also pretty lightweight for a Panasonic and it seems to have been made well compared to its current range.

If the Panasonic had a lot more features on it, to mirror the Miele S7 or Sebo X, then I would expect a much higher cost price, more power as well as more features and a bigger dust bag capacity. Plus, its a new model and Panasonic UK are clearly on a roll getting newer machines to replace their outdated ranges.

Sebo's own Felix that Panasonic/Kenmore's swivelling MC-UG614 was clearly made to rival has the same dust bag capacity - at the end of the day, these vacuums are offering buyers a more compact unit to the larger bagged vacuums like the Miele S7 and Sebo X series. Just as the case with bagless uprights and bigger or smaller dust bin capacities.

 

[madabouthoovers]

"Well, not really - they match Miele's S6 capacity at 3.5 litres"

Apparently everywhere I check they are 3L - even the site in the link I gave above says they are 3.1L
At least the Miele bags are made better with plastic collars and 7 stage filtration, the Panasonics are just cardboard collars.
I'm not arguing that I dont like the cleaner, but why doesnt it even have a bag check indicator, the old models did, and they were cheaper - with such a small bag, you would really need a bag check indicator.
Its just that I feel that those bags are not worth the price they are easking for them, and that, for me, is the deal breaker - I'm fed up with greedy companies trying to milk as much out of the consumer as possible, by making bags smaller and smaller, but more and more expensive.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Oh...

Oh..I've seen one of these at one of my suppliers.
It seems to be a nice vacuum cleaner. I like it)

James)

 

[sebo_fan]

I take your point - but you refer to Miele as if they are new to the market - Panasonic's synthetic dust bags are new to the UK market - they'll learn in time about dust bag seals - especially if the Japanese are anything to go by with their fastidiousness and cleanliness.

Also and I'm sure you'll know yourself, the Sebo dust bags can take a lot more than what their statistical data provides. Same with any vacuum cleaner really - you need to own it to see how much dust is required to fill the bag and then judge the expense of the bags versus how many you go through a year.

With the Sebo X I go through one dust bag every three to four months. A service box or a box of bags tends to last 1 year and a half with me. The Sebo Felix bags on the other hand aren't as long term, even though I've been surprised in the past when one Felix bag can last for two to three months - but it depends on the kind of dust the machine is required to suck up and like the Panasonic, the Felix is a bit newer to the market compared to the X series which has been around since 1990 - go figure there on the cheaper costs of the dust bags for the X alone.

 

[sebo_fan]

Chris - I tried the Eco light at a local shop who sells them - my new bagged upright has the same kind of looped handle. However, the Panasonic Eco Light seems to be very flimsy and rattly due to its swivel mechanism and "quick draw" handle with the suction tube incorporated on it. The actual foot pedal at the back that unlocks the handle from the hinge is also flimsy in feel. It's a good performer though and has a 1000 watt motor. Pity the bin capacity is around 0.9litres, so it would need constant emptying in a medium home. The ECO MAX is simply the bagless version of the red one I bought.


 


I loved the Kenmore model though  - the MC-UG614 white and purple model that uses the same bags as the red Optiflow bagged upright - but the tools and flexible stretch hose are all included in a bag in which you'll have to help yourself and none of them are stored on the machine. The big electric floor head on it is bulky despite being very powerful. 


 


I notice that AEG have a new vacuum cleaner out - the UltraOne Mini Vacuum. AEG claim that machine is smaller in size but still has an 8 metre cord on it. They also claim that it is at least 38% smaller in physical size to their other models. 


 


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<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">1800 Watts</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">Bagged</li>
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<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">3 Litre dust capacity</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">AeroPro Remote controls operated from the handle</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">Auto suction control – to easily move from one surface to another</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">Soft wheels and bumpers</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">Metal plate and brushes – easy glide with side angled brushes for close-to-corner cleaning</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">Electronic display</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">AeroPro 3-in-1 nozzle (brush, crevice and upholstery nozzle) stored onboard the cleaner</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">Parking clips at side and back</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">HEPA 13 filtration – captures pollen, dust mites, allergies and odours</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">8  metre cord with rewind</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">11 metre action radius</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">Weight (cleaner only) 4.5 kg</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">5 year warranty</li>
<li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; background-image: url(http://newsroom.electrolux.com/uk/w...wsroom_3_0/Graphics/Various/list_bullet.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: initial none initial;">Colour: Steel Blue Metallic</li>
</ul>
 

 

[fan-of-fans]

Those aren't bad looking machines. I would like a larger size bag. That bag seems okay in the Kenmore Progressive Glide, but to me that is more of a quick pickup upright whereas these new vacuums would be a full use machine.

I have had my eye on the Progressive Glide, as there's one on clearance at my local Sears, appears to have the same PN as my red Progressive canister, but without a headlight.

How are the attachments on the new Panasonics and do they suffer from hose compression/machine fall-over.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well I can't speak for the Progressive Glide, but it does have a bigger floor head than the Optiflow upright. I also love the fact that the U.S Panasonic Platinum Optiflow uprights come with a colour coded crevice tool whereas the UK make do with the usual black colour. Evidently whoever chooses the models for the UK doesn't think colour coded is an option fo us, buyers.

As with general uprights, the tools on the Panasonic are basic as per usual. Panasonic keep giving us the oval narrow upholstery brush with its "turned down" angled fixed neck and you'll get no other smaller cleaning tool on the base model other than the usual extension pipe and the connecting long crevice tapered pipe where the upholstery brush can be slipped onto.

Sadly though, with the hose being located in the middle of the vacuum, the usage of the tools and the hose can bring the vacuum falling backwards - but the hose here is far more flexible than of old and I like the added stretch, even though it can't go as far as cleaning stairs, it is far more useful when cleaning up high, with one hand on the looped handle.

 

[sebo_fan]

Miele in Germany have brought out a new Miele S2 series Ecoline model.

Thanks to Google Chrome, most European pages can be translated into English when the window suggestion pops up, even if it is partly translated:

1300 watt
SBD 650 Airteq heavy suction floor head.

This model will probably replace the S4 Ecoline once and for all, that also had a 1300 watt motor.



http://www.miele.de/de/haushalt/produkte/42621_S_2131_EcoLine-35804.htm

 

[sebo_fan]

Tried the new Vax Mach Air 3 yesterday in a local Currys store and was amazed to find that it isn't as nimble as I thought it would be. This is despite the fact that Vax have gone to the effort of redesigning the exterior body, making it blockier and rectangular in places. The main problem seems to be that the floor head is larger than before - or probably just feels like this with the extended hose at the front now being moved over like the Hoover Windtunnel Air with fixed movement. Any how, I felt the swivel, whilst being a good idea just makes the whole concept of the once, compact Vax Mach Air to be a bit more complicated in use. The machine however, does seem to appear to be lighter to lift, not that the original Vax Mach Air is heavy by any means.

Also tried the new Hoover Globe - nice machine but like my old Slalom, it had a problem to lock up back in the upright position - the machine's lock clog feels like its too easy to move left and right instead of being locked up properly after use. Also found it incredibly noisy compared to the Vax, above and the Vax seemed to lock up better. Much as I liked the more conventional hose release from the bottom of the floor head a la Purepower, I think I much prefer the old Slalom's top release handle with the hose attached at the back for quicker removal and cleaning with. Also I feel that the left and right angles don't go far enough to the left/right.

 

[sebo_fan]

Had to laugh at this - which someone could sue Hoover UK for false advertising. Uprights from £19-99? I know Hoover UK are desperate but imagine a Hoover upright at £19-99? Turns out it's the Jazz sticker kit and turbo tool - not exactly an upright as the original caption shows though!

 

[sebo_fan]

I do wish SEBO UK's site had something like this for their equivalent Felix models. Very enticing when you see three different colours with the Stars and Stripes on it taken from the U.S Sebo website. I love the white one (though based on the Vogue model) Much prefer that to our all red Union Jack model.

 

[sebo_fan]

Hoover Italy have released a new "30V" cordless stick vac called "Athen". Presumably to steal sales from Electrolux/AEG updated Ergorapido. Not sure about the poster campaign though - looks a bit rude!

 

[eurekaprince]

How many volts is the Hoover Platinum Linx? Maybe this is a European version of that deluxe Hoover stick vac.....