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(More customer reviews)I purchased this vacuum from Amazon after I had just gotten a Bissell Momentum.I thought I would like the Bissell because it was bagless, but I soon discovered what a mess it would make every time I had to empty the canister.I finally got tired of getting fine particles of dirt all over the place and decided to go back to a bagged vacuum.I chose this vacuum based on the Consumer Reports review.I did about 3 weeks worth of research prior to deciding on this particular model.I also looked at the other two Hoovers (bagged models) recommended by Consumer Reports -- the Tempo Widepath U5140-900 and the cheaper WindTunnel Anniversary U5491-900.I came very close to getting the cheaper WindTunnel when I downloaded the user's manual from Hoover and discovered the placement of the hose relative to the cord hooks.It appears as though the cord has to be wound from a high point on the handle of the vacuum to a low point at the base of the vacuum at a diagonal angle.Additionally, the cord is situated so that it crosses over the hose, which looked like an entanglement problem waiting to happen.And I did recall another reviewer having this same problem and also mentioning the awkward placement of the tools on the back of the vacuum.So, I decided to take a look at the Tempo, which has hundreds of awesome reviews.I almost went with it, except for the fact that it lacked some of the features I wanted, like a bag-full indicator light, edge cleaning, and non-marring wheels.I also discovered that the Tempo appears to be a discontinued model which even Hoover is selling at a discounted price.I didn't want to risk the potential for needing a part that might not be manufactured anymore.So I decided to go with the U6485-900 model and here is what I've found:
PROS:The hose is placed at the side of the vacuum, so there's no struggling with trying to get it back in place after removing it for cleaning;
The power cord hooks are situated in the back of the vacuum at a reasonable distance from each other, so you don't have to bend down really low to wrap the cord;
The power cord and the hose are distinctly separated from each other, so there are no entanglement issues;
The cleaning tools are perfectly placed so that they're easy to get to and do not interfere with the power cord or hose;
When the vacuum is on and locked in an upright position, the brush roll automatically stops rotating.This is such a handy feature because I'll often leave the vacuum running and propped up to go retrieve something in another room, or to use the tools to vacuum something up high.This prevents the brush roll from needlessly rotating and damaging the carpet;
The self-propel feature is awesome!I didn't purchase the vacuum for this particular feature, but I have found that I really like it!It can be turned on or off, and it feels as though the vacuum is 10 lbs. lighter when pushing it forward or pulling it backwards;
The bag-full indicator light takes the guessing out of when to change the bag.I was also surprised at the high quality of the bag -- it almost feels like thick cloth;
The vacuum came entirely assembled with the exception of the handle, which just required two screws.All of the accessory parts and bag/filters were installed, so there was no guesswork about where the cleaning tools are supposed to be stored;
Lastly, it performs fantastically!The suction power is great and the brush roll spins so fast, that I had to look twice to see if it was even moving (there's a small clear window where you can actually see the brush roll).
CONS:The way it was shipped was not typical of Amazon.There was a big gash in the side of the box and I was concerned that something could have been damaged in the shipping process.However, as long as it works, I could care less about the appearance of the box;
The self-propel feature is a little jerky.It could be that I'm not used to it yet, but it seemed to suddenly jerk backwards as you're pulling the vacuum toward your body;
This vacuum is a little heavier than I would prefer, approximately 21 lbs.However, the self-propel feature seems to negate the weight while vacuuming and you can always remove some of the onboard tools;
The hose is indeed short.I noticed that other reviewers had mentioned the same thing, but I didn't pay much attention to it, since it appears that an extension hose is available for purchase.But it does seem shorter than most other upright vacuums.
Overall, this is a great vacuum.I had done several weeks of research prior to settling on this vacuum, particularly with regards to finding a good price.I looked at all of the online retailers and only found 1 that was selling it for $10 cheaper than Amazon.However, when you tack on the cost of sales tax and shipping, it was actually cheaper to purchase this vacuum through Amazon.And Amazon has always been really great about returns, so I didn't hesitate on purchasing this product through them.You can always return it if it's not what you wanted.But I have been very satisfied with it and would purchase it again.I will post a future update should anything unexpected occur with this vacuum, though I have been very pleased with it so far.Just a word of caution -- I have seen a couple of reviewers on Amazon that have posted the same negative review for multiple Hoover products.In one instance, someone had posted the same critical review for 11 different Hoover vacuums.Don't get discouraged by this; do your own research and you should be able to determine the phony reviews from the valid reviews.UPDATE 10/04/09
This vacuum is still working great, though I do not believe that the "bag full" feature is very helpful or even functional for that matter.I just replaced my first bag and it was very full, but the "bag full" indicator has remained low this entire time.Another thing I discovered is that the handle at the very top is a little wiggly.It will move slightly up and down as you're vacuuming, and if you're not careful, your fingers can possibly get pinched in there.I definitely recommend not lifting the vacuum by the handle and keeping your hands and fingers away from that gap.Also, this vacuum is rather loud.It's fine if you're just vacuuming, but if you're doing something that requires bending over or getting on the floor to use an extension part and your head is close to the vacuum, it would be very wise to wear earplugs.One final thing -- be sure to change the setting to "hard floor" before vacuuming over a bare surface.This basically keeps the brush roll from rotating, so only the suction feature is operating.A couple of times I was too lazy to change thissetting and the brush roll actually left marks on my laminate flooring.But overall, I'm still very satisfied with this vacuum.I haven't had any belts or other parts break and it's still performing as good as day one (usage approximately one time per week).
I also wanted to mention that I saw this very same vacuum selling for $168 at a large members-only warehouse "Club" store just yesterday!I was so disappointed that I spent an extra $60 more, but what can you do???Like all things, prices change and will go down the longer a product is out on the market.If you're able to find a price like that on this vacuum, I would definitely go for it.I'm even thinking of purchasing a second one because that price is so great!UPDATE 1/30/10
I've discovered that it's probably not the brush roll that's leaving marks on my laminate flooring, but rather the self-propel belt.You might want to turn off the self-propel feature when vacuuming over bare floors, especially if they're susceptible to scuffing.
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Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Upright Vacuum, Self-Propelled, Bagged, U6485900Product Description: Equipped with patented WindTunnel technology, this bagged upright vacuum delivers powerful, deep-down cleaning performance. The self-propelled unit offers nearly effortless maneuverability in both forward and reverse, while three distinct air channels lift and trap dirt, keeping it from scattering back into the carpet, so dirt ends up in the cleaner not on the floor. With red and green lights, its embedded DirtFinder system indicates areas that may need more cleaning attention. The green "clean" light remains on while vacuuming except when the detector senses a larger amount of dirt; then the red "dirty" light will illuminate to suggest additional vacuuming in the area until the light changes back to green. The unit also traps 99.97-percent of dust and pollens down to 0.3 microns in size thanks to its HEPA media bag. Even more, it provides a deluxe stretch hose, a complete on-board tool set for above-floor cleaning, and a pet-hair tool with rotating brushes that effectively removes stubborn pet hair and dirt from upholstery and carpeted stairs. Other thoughtful details include non-marring wheels with bearings for lower push effort on carpet and safe use on bare floors, custom cleaning controls for moving from carpet to bare floors with ease, and an ergonomic D-grip handle for added comfort and control. The cleaner also comes with fingertip on/off power control, five-position height adjustment, edge-cleaning bristles, a headlight, and a 31-foot power cord. The vacuum cleaner measures 13 by 15 by 43 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.
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