My First Upright Purchase - Windtunnel

[lovecanisters]

Okay, so I didn't set out to buy a vacuum, BUT, I was in Sam's Club over the weekend and this Hoover WindTunnel caught my eye.  Mainly for the color, love the green color.  I'm not a fan of uprights at all, including all brands.  I have the Hoover 1030 my mom used in the early 70's before I was born and then she upgraded to a Kenmore Powermate Magicord canister and had that until the early 80's then to a Hoover Concept One. 


 


Anyways, I had to have it...lol  The color caught my eye first and foremost and loving Hoover pre 2000, I figured let's give it try.  Out of the box it was easy to assemble, just the handle had to be fastened with 2 screws.  I have to tell you the quality is not there, the brush roll and pulley end on the brushroll are plastic, yes plastic.  This is a far cry from the all metal roller on my 1030 and on my Hoover Celebrity and Dimension 1000 canisters...very sad....  This upright has excellent suction and the self-propelled features works really well.  The bare floor brush from my Platinum Portable Canister fits the wands, so I can do the bare floors with it.  Sam's Club offered this model with all the bells & whistles including dirt finder, headlight, air driven turbo tool, 2 wands, 3 attachments {upholstery, dusting, and crevice tools} and what they call a 2 year supply of Hepa Media bags {12 bags total}...I think cord rewind on this bad boy would have been another great feature, my opinion ofcourse.


 


We shall see how this lasts...I think I'll use this as a daily driver {for now} and give my other cleaners a rest.


 


I think my canister vacuums are in shock to see an upright...LOL


 


Any thoughts/feedback on this model?

 

[lovecanisters]

another picture with the box....

another picture with the box...my Oliver had to sniff out the new vacuum...in off mode ofcourse lol

 

[vacman117]

I've got the same one except it is the blue Anniversary model. It was at Menards on sale for $130, and I had a $65 dollar rebate, so I walked out of the store with it for $65. I much prefer the ones from 2001 and 2002, they have a slightly different noise to them, a better self propel system it seems like, and a different kind of hose material. Either way, it is a great vacuum, and I LOVE Windtunnels. I think they are some of the best Hoovers out there.

Chase

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Wow, what an awesome color that is! I haven't seen one w/o the plastic cover over the turbo tool yet.... but that is just fabulous. I have the silver one and I do enjoy it, but the hose fights you when you try to use the attachments!

 

[kirbylux77]

Nice vac, Brian....the Windtunnels, in my opinion, were Hoover's best cleaning uprights ever, along with the Elites. But as Chase said, the older models had a better self propel mechanism, & overall were better made. Plus, these newer models don't have the 3 tools in front in the tool compartment with the clear door, & you aren't getting the true Windtunnel turbobrush like the older models used to have. Call me picky, but I'd rather have the 3 tools in front & the turbo tool stored in the back.

And, I'm not crazy about the color either....give me the blue Anniversary Windtunnel or a early Windtunnel in dark green anyday over this! Too lime green for my liking.

Rob

 

[vacman117]

The turbo brush was never stored in the back. If the machine had a turbo brush, then that was stored in the front under the plastic cover, with the tools on the back right hand side at the bottom. If the model did not include the turbo brush, the crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool were stored on the front under the plastic cover.

Bobby, you are absolutely right about using the tools! Especially the turbo brush! It is almost impossible! And that really stinks because these have the perfect amount of suction to where it doesn't slow down very much when applied to an upholstered surface. It is such a shame!

 

[lovecanisters]

Thanks

Yes, I would have to agree that the quality on the earlier models was most likely better. Was the first Windtunnel Upright released in 1996?!?! I believe it was the burgundy model and Hoover even had a TV infomerical on it's launch...at least in NY there was an infomercial...

I hope this holds up...I'm a bit leary about all the plastic pieces, especially the brushroll...

Thanks for all the comments/feedback.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Turbo brush

I hate that style brush! I wish it had the older style (shown below) which had TRUE WindTunnel airflow & cleans better instead of that pathetic new style (pic on Reply #1)

This turbo brush was the best I've ever used; it even beats my RainbowMate PN. Why did Hoover stop offering this style brush?

View attachment floor-a-matic++6-21-2011-16-45-27.jpg

 

[vacman117]

Hoover just stopped making it not to long ago, unless another machine still comes with it. But my Hoover Windtunnel Anniversary came with it.

 

[kirbyloverdan]

That turbo brush

is the same one they use for Dirt Devils since TTI owns them its easier to use one for all machines. Most of Hoovers attachments are used on both Hoover and Dirt Devil.I miss the old Hoover but I do own many of the Hoover Windtunnels brand new that were made in Ohio in the begining . The dark green powerdrives, burgandy and black and an Orange metallic Farrington edition Windtunnel SP .I also have 2 new Blue anniversary one with the old real windtunnel turbo brush.