Lux Guardian Ultra

[electrolux~137]

I mentioned the new Lux Guardian Ultra in my posting about the 1521 I just got. The on-line photos of this new vacuum cleaner "do not do it justice." It's GORGEOUS!!

I received some stuff today from a friend who's an Electrolux dealer in Georgia. One of the things he sent me is a pamphlet showing the new line of Aerus machines.

Here's a scan of the Guardian Ultra. I really love the flowing, streamlined appearance of it. Glad they finally got rid of that klunky-looking filter that stuck up from the top!

Ain't it purty!!

 

[williamr1248]

Lux Guardian Ultra

Charlie,
I agree with you that the machine looks much better in person. It is loud but very powerful. It just seems like they went backwards losing the handle controls,3 speeds,shorter power cord and the flip over rug/floor tool.
I would like to try it out!
I have the Epic 8000 and again I agree with you and never liked that hepa filter stuck on the top of the later Guardians.

 

[williamr1248]

Lux Guardian Ultra

Charlie,
Did you notice that your picture has NO name on the side of the machine but there is a youtube showing the new Aerus and it clearly has in big bold letters "Aerus" on the side trim.

 

[scvacuumguy]

I went and checked this machine out in person last week. The one on display did NOT have Aerus on the side strips (that was disappointing). I feel like Joe Urso has allowed Aerus to take several steps backwards. Yes it looks very sleek on top, yes it has a tiny HEPA filter, yes it has a great power nozzle.

The new guardian is not unique when compared to the Legacy. The Legacy actually looks like a more substantial machine to the average consumer (bigger=better). The cost saving method of employing the SAME mold used for the classic, legacy and guardian is going to harm Aerus in the longrun. There is a retail of $1999 on the Guardian and $1299 on the Legacy. Is it really worth the extra $700 to have a hepa filter and maybe a slightly more powerful motor. I'm not sure that the motor in the Guardian is any different from the Epic- at least the Aerus employee didn't indicate.

The other thing that really gets me is the new Lite-Lux. It is a Hoover light weight (C1320) with a white body and Lux written on the grey bag. To give you an idea of how much we pay for the C1320, it is normally sold by online bulk stores for $109.99. Aerus wants $499 for the Lux Lite (same motor, same housings, same bag).

Aerus still makes an awesome sounding and looking power nozzle, and I love the design of the canisters. I feel that it is inevitable that they are selling out to some cheap manufacturing tactics that will come back to bite them in the long run.

 

[electrolux~137]

@williamr1248 - I'd like to see the YouTube video. Can you post the URL to it? Thx

I will say -- I am, in principle, turned off by plastic-body vacuum cleaners. Even if the plastic used IS “...space-age lexan, the same high-impact polycarbonate that the hull of the Space Shuttle was made of and that is used for bulletproof windows.” Plastic is plastic. That's partly why I really like the Grand Marquise. It's Heavy Metal, baby! ROCK ON!!

 

[elux89]

scvacuumguy

In regards to the Guardian Ultra, Legacy, Classic, they all have the same motor.

 

[scvacuumguy]

I thought so...I haven't gotten my phonecall from Leathbridge in a few weeks!!!

 

[electrolux~137]

I found the YouTube video. The Guardian Ultra is a very noisy vacuum cleaner. It has an intense, screeching sound which surprises me. It would seem that all that filtration would greatly muffle down the motor noise [Miele comes to mind]. But it has a fearsome high-pitched shriek. I could never stand such a racket.

[this post was last edited: 3/22/2011-01:08]

 

[elux89]

"it has a very high-pitched"

Charles,
This is very typical of the single stage motors that are used in most machines today. I'm assuming it's from the excessive rpms, ie 30,000 vs 20,000.

 

[bimmer740]

I briefly had the Lux Guardian and I was really disappointed with the suction, it seemed the HEPA filter just choked off its suction. I was in the Aerus store a week or two ago and the Guardian Ultra that was on display did have Aerus written on the bumpers. Charles I took that same brochure from the dealership and the missing logo on the side was one of the first things I noticed too. I haven't had the chance to try the Ultra yet but it really doesnt appeal to me. If you want a beautiful modern Electrolux then the Renaissance/Epic 8000 is it. My Renaissance has decent power and although it doesnt have HEPA filtration, it does have a variable speed motor, covered tools, control in handle, and a more solidly built body when compared to the egg shell machines. As scvacuumguy said above, Aerus is going to have a hard time justifying the $700 price difference from the Legacy, especially when it lacks all added features that the Guardian had. Cost saving is one thing, but price gouging is a whole other story. And what premium vacuum company would design a new TOL machine with a 20 foot cord?! This is an American company and homes in America have grown larger and larger over the years, why on earth would they put a mere 20 ft cord in the machine when the R-style machines had a 28 foot cord? Do they not realize how annoying it is to constantly be moving to different outlets? My only hope is that Aerus will revive the R-style machines using the newer motor(maybe a more quiet motor too) and a better HEPA filter design, then they would have a machine which would be worth paying $1999.

 

[eurekaprince]

I know some of you do not give value to Consumer Reports vacuum ratings, but for what it's worth, the Lux Guardian Ultra only rated a "good" in carpet cleaning. There were at least 5 other power nozzle canisters that were better at carpet cleaning, and were half the price (for example, the highly-rated Electrolux Oxygen EL6988 which was "excellent" at carpet cleaning for only $430). On the positive side, the Guardian Ultra rated an "excellent" at bare floor cleaning, removal of pet hair from carpets and emissions control. But so did many other canisters at half the price.

 

[sireluxomatic]

I'm not sold on plastic "Electroli" either, but after seeing the new Guardian on Youtube, I couldn't believe my ears. As far as design goes, they should have stuck with the Renaissance styling with an integrated filter. That machine was one of the "coolest" they ever produced, and, if the Guardian still had that style, it would give the consumer a sense of getting something better than the lower-tier model.

Around here, the Guardian is selling for $2399, and the Legacy for $1799. The Guardian I saw at the local Aerus dealer did have the Aerus logo in the middle of the bumper.

 

[elux89]

Airflow Improvement

The new Guardian Ultra has much improved airflow as compared to the older Guardian/Epic8000/Renaisance. When the older series was using a two stage motor, you could put this motor in either the "R" series, or an epic/2100, and the epic/2100 would blow the R series away in regards to airflow. Suction was about equal. But, for some reason, that bag chamber design on the R series canister hampered good airflow. Now, before anyone wants to challenge me on my findings, I suggest you go out and buy an airflow meter and find out for yourselves. And no, I just didn't do a test on one unit, this is on many. In regards to the hepa filter reducing airflow, yup, it does. Seems it does this in most applications. Nature of the beast so to speak.

 

[pr-21]

Air Flow

I had this vacuum and it has way too much power with a very small relief valve. Impossible to use the sidekick on the bedspread or sofa. You also cannot vacuum your drapes, it will suck it in and wrinkle them.

Also I reported a vacuum bag problem to Aerus, it separates the inner liner from the outer bag. Aerus actually had me send them samples, which I did. They said they were having the problem corrected but it would not affect filtration. That is bull if it leaves the outer bag exposed to debree. I have been using the DVC Brand Type C bags in my other Electroluxes since then. By the way, they sent me another box of 24 bags and they had the same problem.

So I gave this vacuum to my newphew who just purchased his first home and bought the Lux Legacy. Air escapes through the handle of the vacuum. I am done with Aerus until they can correct quality control and realize they need a variable speed motor for their top of the line cleaner.

I am truly an Electrolux and Kirby fan, but this is not tollerable.


Bud

 

[vac_whisperer]

Charles,

I was wondering, how do you edit your photos like that? is it photoshop or is it some other program?

VW

 

[pr-21]

One more thing

I think the reason it only gets a good at carpet cleaning is Aerus only makes one brush roll now and it is not stiff enough to groom the carpets. Especially high traffic areas. I tried to buy a stiffer brush and this is what I was told from the Aerus Dealer.


Bud

 

[electrolux~137]

@pr-21 you wrote, "...Air escapes through the handle of the vacuum..." Air escapes through the handle of which machine -- the Legacy or the Guardian Ultra?

@vac_whisperer Yes, I use Photoshop. I've had Photoshop since its very first release. It's a tremendously powerful and flexible program and I greatly enjoy using it whether for work or for play. btw, I really like your Vacuumland username. I can just see you leaning over your vacuum cleaners and whispering in their ears, "Good sweepie, good sweepie. Now go get that dirt!"

 

[vac_whisperer]

LOL

Thanks! And I actually found this site through yours! This belongs in the thread over in the vintage forum, but I truly think your site is wonderful. I found it and I was just, "Yes! I'm not alone!"
Anyway, I have caught myself talking to my vacuums a couple times. -LOL-

VW

 

[pr-21]

Air Escapes

Hi,

The Lux Legacy, not a problem with the Guardian Ultra.


Bud