Favorites? Hmmm. This will arch some eyebrows but my fave is a Panasonic Jet Flo 240. It's a quiet and sophisticated vacuum, lots of suction and you can see the love lavished on them at the factory. Every bit a high end machine.
My favorite modern machine is also a Panasonic, the MC-CG-937. Knock yourself out and spend another grand on a trendy brand like Aerus Lux or Miele, but you aren't getting any additional value for all that extra expense. Panasonics might not be trendy but they are sturdy, durable and do everything the more expensive trendy brands do.
My least favorite are cloth bagged uprights. Been there, done that, never again.
