Want to replace my Dyson DC03 vacuum cleaner

[Taz]

I've got a 4-year old Dyson DC03 vacuum cleaner. It's a slim, upright cleaner and is very lightweight. It requires no bag or filter changes and comes with a lifetime HEPA filter. Of particular note is its ability to clean up the tiniest of dust particles.

Normally I would just go out and buy the current equivalent model from Dyson but was wondering what else I should consider? I need a lightweight upright with all the usual tools and accessories on board, bagless, lifetime filters (washable if need be), the ability to vacuum up the tiniest of dust particles (this is very important) and excellent customer service.

I bought this particular Dyson as a display model and there were a few accessories missing. I called up Dyson and explained what was missing and had my credit card ready to buy the missing bits over the phone. They said they would send them free of charge and they arrived the next day! Hence, I am very, very impressed with Dyson service. It's also never gone wrong even though I am quite heavy-handed with it when cleaning my flat!

My budget is around £300 max.

[Tumble]

We've just got the "pets" cylinder model.. it's hellishly easier than the upright to weild, and comes with the usual bits & a mini turbine head (really handy for stairs). The best bit is the hose wraps around the machine when it's not in use and the head clips to the back - it's not much larger than a fat laptop case to lug around.. and it's got all the jubbly filter-age inside.. plus the same capacity as the upright. It's that powerful I accidentally lited a corner of the carpet up with it yesterday..

[Taz]

Tumble, is that a Dyson model you've got? I think they do 'Pets' and 'Allergy' models of their cleaners. I would probably favour the Allergy model as I have no pets!

[directhex]

there are no good bagless cleaners - "okay", stylish, whatever, but not good

if you're prepared to consider a bag, look at Miele, whose entire range can be considered superior to every Dyson on the market for suction (especially for allergy sufferers & pet owners)

[Howard]

All the Dysons look absolutely ridiculous anyway... Hardly what I'd call stylish!

[pr0p4g4nd4]

Originally Posted by Howard

All the Dysons look absolutely ridiculous anyway... Hardly what I'd call stylish!

I agree, I think they're made by fisher price ^_^

[Rave]

Originally Posted by Taz

It's also never gone wrong even though I am quite heavy-handed with it when cleaning my flat!

So...er...why do you need a new one?

[smelly]

I would recommend a VAX http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/4052085.htm
ok it's not bagless but it can sure suck and it goes forever. My vax is over 6 years old and it still works great. TBH i only remembered to change the bag recently (after 2 years) and during that time it still picked up everything but i thought it was loosing a bit of power. Having changed the bag it's sucking everything up now

[Howard]

Originally Posted by Rave

So...er...why do you need a new one?

That was going to be my next question, lol

[Taz]

LOL! Just because it's four years old. No logical reason really. I'll probably donate it to someone though.

[Howard]

We've had our Hoover for something like 6-8 years. It works fine, and there's no need to replace it just for the sake of it

[chicken]

Yeah it sounds fine to me too, I wouldn't change it, but if you do...

I'd say go for an upright if you have a big roomy house, cylinder if it's small or you have a lot of furniture. Going for a Pets one usually gets you the best brush set, but brushes are useless if you have lots of wooden floors and can dull them. Also I think Pets also includes the HEPA allergy filter since a lot of people are allergic to cat & dog fur, so it's not much different to the Allergy one.

So yeah, the questions you need to think about are: Is your house big, small, spaceous or full of stuff? Do you have wooden floors or carpets? And you should look for the HEPA filter but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to get the Allergy model.

Oh yeah and don't get another brand's attempt at being a Dyson, because of the patent restrictions they're almost all awful! Go for a bagged one if not a Dyson.

[Rave]

Originally Posted by Taz

LOL! Just because it's four years old. No logical reason really. I'll probably donate it to someone though.

I understand you're a reasonable wealthy chap mate, but to me replacing something like a hoover just because you've had it for a while is conspicuous consumption gone mad. I can see why people replace, say, cars and computers on a regular basis because they're more than just appliances, but at the end of the day hoovering is a chore, and it'll still be a chore even with a brand new uber-wooty hoover.

Think of what else you could do with that cash- a weekend city break, an 'experience day' (driving supercars, hot air ballooning etc.), a course of evening classes, sponsoring a child in Africa for a couple of years- all infinitely more rewarding than a new hoover IMO.

Think of the environmental impact too- a lot of oil and energy goes into making a new hoover, and even if you donate your old one to someone it seems to me likely that somewhere down the line a perfectly good hoover will end up in a landfill or incinerator. I have a really ancient Dyson, my wife brought it home from work when they replaced it as it had almost stopped working. A 10 minute strip down and clean and a new £3 drive belt later it was working like a good 'un again. I'm happy to have got a very nice effective hoover for £3 and ten minutes effort, but I still think it would have been better if they'd just serviced it themselves rather than splashing out for a new one.

I realise that this long hectoring post is not the advice you were looking for and I apologise, but I think it needed to be said.

[rox0r]

I really would just keep the Dyson, they'll go forever what with being modular and the spares so easy to get. My DC07 is years old and still goes as well as the day I got it and all it's needed was a spare filter.

Why spend a fortune replacing something that works perfectly well and will no doubt continue to do so for some years to come.

[Taz]

rave: I should mention that my current Dyson DC03 will be donated to a relative who has a vacuum cleaner that is on its last legs. It will not be binned as it's in perfect working order. I would never dream of binning something just for the sake of buying a new one!

I do change lots of electrical stuff in my flat on a regular basis but always make sure that the existing stuff is donated to charity/relatives/friends.

[hitman67]

I'd say get another Dyson. You know they are good, and a lot of people agree. We have one and it is a fantastic piece of kit, better than the Hoover we had before which had suicidal tendancies...