We are in need of a vacuum and don't want to go broke buying one. So no Rainbows for us. We looked at the Dyson's but $400 is a lot of money for something that doesn't shoot. Consumer's Report had good things to say about the Eureka Boss. Any suggestions?

bite the bullet and get the dyson.

Kirby on eBay.

Quoted: We are in need of a vacuum and don't want to go broke buying one. So no Rainbows for us. We looked at the Dyson's but $400 is a lot of money for something that doesn't shoot. Consumer's Report had good things to say about the Eureka Boss. Any suggestions?

Keep it out of the bird cage.



I have heard a lot of good and bad on the Dysons. $400 for a descent sucker ain't too bad.

Just bought the Eureka Boss 4D in the ultra hip Solar Yellow plastic.

It's actually a pretty damn good sweeper. The first time you use it, it will frickin amaze you how much crap your old unit was leaving on the floor.

I JUST got one before christmas.  I was very confused at all the different ones, with prices ranging form $70- stratospheric.  I had no clue which was the best.  Lots of folks like the dysons, and I keep hearing about them, but $500+ is damn near another AR15.  I did what I normally do when I don't know what to do.  I went to Sears.  I asked the sales guy.  He said that the industry is returning to "bag" style vacuums, because the bagless don't work as well as a bag one can.  If you want bagless, the Dyson's are hot sellers.  If you want a cheap, yet outstanding vacuum, we have this $150 yellow kenmore bag style unit.  I checked it out, it was rather basic.  They had on display, a big thing about their #1 rated kenmore vacuum, that outperfomed everything and cost $280.  The differences between the $280 and $150 kenmores were minor, and not of consequence to me.  They used the same hepa bags, had an additional exhaust filter, $150 has variable speeds with manual settings, the $280 was automatic.  They had dirt sensors.  $150 has belt drive, the more expensive was direct drive.  I test drove the $150 over some dirt in the store.  The carpet looked visibly cleaner where I had vacuumed  vs. the surrounding carpet.  I took home the $150 model.  
I did not make it through my 1300 sq. ft. house ONE SINGLE TIME, and I had filled a bag.  That probably does not say much for how clean my floors are, but I would rather you look at how good a job this vacuum did versus my old one.  I was impressed.  The dirt sensor really works, and this thing really works well.  For $150 I *HIGHLY* recommend this unit.  Its the yellow kenmore progressive vacuum, and it uses bags.  The only downside is that the bags cost $9 for two, but you can get cheaper paper bags instead of the cloth hepa bags if you want.

Dyson - Pay a lot once & be done with it.

Quoted: Kirby on eBay.

That's the second best option.

The best option is a Kirby (or clone made by Royal, Electrolux, etc.) from a thrift store. Around here, they typically sell for under $10 in average condition, or under $25 in near-new condition.

Vacuum cleaners have become like automobiles - Everyone wants the latest model, even though nothing being built today comes even close to matching the build quality of any of the classics. Result: Mom gets a brand-new all-plastic Dyson for $800, and some thrift store customer gets a good-as-new all-aluminum Kirby for $20.

Dyson.

We have a Dyson and it sucks!

You would not believe the stuff it picks up. We have the DC14 Animal and love it.

I went to an Oreck store one day when waiting for my g/f who was dress shopping.  It was the most interesting place in the strip mall.

Anyway, they are light, have a good warranty, and start around $250 I think.  Alot of them come with a hand vacuum, rather than dicking with hoses and all.  They come in a choice of colors.  Some of them acted like they were self-propelled but really weren't the brushes just pulled them along nicely.  

The salesman was great, and I fully explained I wasn't interested in buying a vacuum but just wasting some time.  He thought it no problem and demoed a couple for me and let me try them out.  I would have no problem buying one.

I must say that a Kirby is most impressive though, I've seen a new one in action here and ended up wanting it for some reason.  I felt silly lusting after a vacuum.  

Dyson Animal is the way to go

All of them suck, take your pick.

Danny

P.S. Dyson Animal

We have a  Sears Kenmore canister vac and love it. It comes with a power head attachment and everything else we need to clean the hizzouse. $240 or so out the door.

I never gave much thought to vacuum cleaners, pushed around a Sears Kenmore for years, it was very heavy.  I tried an Oreck XL one day at a friends house, just out of curiosity due to seeing the commercials, guess what, I was sold! Bought a like new XL model from eBay for $160, damn thing is light and powerful.

Have good luck with Sears brand canister vacuum. Sale price was $450. Bought a bring back for $250. Beats the hell out of my mother-in-laws Kirby. Plus can't get a upright to go under anything and sure can't do the vehicles with them. Buy a Canister Vac.