Do a search for miele vaccuums on this forum; there are other threads on the same topic with lots of positive responses.

We've had our Miele vaccuum for over 12 years. Not a single problem. And tons of cat fur in our home. We use it on wood floors, carpeting, area rugs, tile, & stairs. The HEPA filter is superb & really makes a difference.

It is definitely worth the cost. If you average it out over the life of the machine it is no more expensive than replacing inexpensive vaccuums every few years. Miele products are built to last 20 years.

Miele stands behind their products: excellent build quality & outstanding customer service.

Check out their website at www.miele.com. Give them a call & they'll be happy to answer any questions or concerns.

I wish you could get to a showroom. They'd be happy to let you try all the vaccuums. But they'll be able to answer your questions on the phone.

On a separate note, we're about to invest in a Miele dishwasher, cooktop, ovens, & laundry machines. They make very dependable products.

Good luck with your decision!

Very happy with both my Miele vacs for a long time. The one you mention is the top of the line of the new series. One difference in the 4 new series seem to be in where the controls are located.

Older models have suction control dials on the cannister -- I have to bend over to move that when I go from area rug to wood floor. Doesn't bother me but the Capricorn has that in the handle -- the upcharge is for that. It's automatic on another model etc.

One of our vacs doesn't have the HEPA filter. I prefer the one that does.

Floor brush and carpet brush are excellent. We use the vac for floors, upholstery, draperies, dusting.

No worries about the investment. I'd just say study the features very carefully as there might be savings there.

Also I'd shop around. I've never seen huge discounts on these but you can save a bit and perhaps tax.

Thank you both for your comments......they are truly appreciated. I will check out the website for Miele.

Do you know if you can shut off the power brush without removing it or changing to another head when you want to vacuum wood floors?

Do you need to change heads to do the stairs? What do you find the easiest way to to vacuum stairs? I have three set of stairs !!

With the research I have read so far I feel that this is one of the best machines you can buy......have not found anyone who doesn't love it. The excellent sealed unit and hepa filter is the way to go today!! I just wish I could see one
working. So your comments are so helpful.

Thanks again....

I have a Capricorn. Purchased it about a year ago. My husband and I are in love with this vacuum. Never thought I could feel that way about a vacuum.

I use the powerbrush directly attached to the handle to do the stairs. It's very easy. You can shut off the powerbrush (stops the rotating brushes) but I switch to the parquet floor tool to do my wood and slate floors. Super easy.

Things that impressed me when I saw one in person is how light it is and it's sooo quiet. I can carry on a cell phone conversation and vacuum (if I really wanted to). Well, at least I can hear it ring.

I have a Miele champagne canister vac with power brush head - not exactly the same model. It is quiet, and does a great job on carpet and wood floors. I don't think it is great on the stairs because the power head is just too unwieldy for the stair depth. Additionally, the hose is not long enough so I have to haul the canister up to the landing. I bought the car kit, (doesn't really attach properly to my model), but it has a long hose with a small non-power head that does a nice job on the stairs, and is much lighter. Stairs are just a hassle no matter what.

I did buy a Dyson upright on the advice of GWeb to have as 2nd vac. I did not want to carry the miele up and down the stairs every time I vacuumed. I will NEVER buy a bagless vacuum again. Every time I empty the Dyson, (each time I vacuum), there is dust everywhere. It is heavy, loud, and dirty upon emptying. I don't get the Dyson fan-club.

You will love your Miele.

I don't have your model, but I have been in love with my Miele Platinum Anniversary Model for going on 12 years. I thought I'd reply anyhow to speak to the longevity and trouble free nature of the beast! It has never given me a moment's trouble, works like the day we brought it home, which is to say fabulously. It's light, it's quiet, it tracks well behind me, and when I stand it up it fits on the stairs or extends to the ceiling fan easily. I will never love to vacuum, but a good tool makes the job less odious. Should this one ever bit the dust (so to speak), I will not hesitate to buy another Miele.

Cj

pixie -- I use the floor brush for all the floors and for the stairs. I only use the power brush for the carpets. But I also use the floor brush on the carpets sometimes and it works really well. My rugs are Orientals and don't have long naps. If I had fitted carpets I'd use the power brush more often.

My stairs aren't carpeted so I use the floor brush. I agree, stairs are a pain.

re emptying the bag: their bags have an ingenious slider that allows you to close them completely as they are removed. I don't get any dust blowback.

What a nice sense of humor everyone has today!!! Makes deciding on this vacuum cleaner a joy instead of a task. I think we should have a Miele Fan Club of our own!

I was glad to hear that you can shut off the powerbrush to stop the beater brushes. Do you still have suction so you can keep vacuuming when doing this?

Christina or anyone else with a Capricorn model: What power head do you have. I have a choice between the 236 which is more aggressive with the brushes (made for shag carpeting) or the 217-3 made for low pile carpet. The 236 has 5 height adjustments and a light. The 217-3 has a floating head and no light. I have low pile carpet and wood floors but the height adjustment and light seem to be benefits.....what di you think?

Thanks,
Pixie

I have a 236, and used it on my ugly, worn out, low pile carpet that came with our house. It worked wonders on it. It was still ugly but it was clean! I had that carpet for 13 long years more, and when they came to rip it out, the guys commented on the lack of dirt and fine dust under the carpet and padding, given the advanced age of the stuff. This was entirely due to the 236 and the suction on the Miele--nothing to do with anything stellar about my housekeeping. :-) I would always go for the beefier carpet head. That's just me, though.
c.

I purchased this model last year. I am not clean freak but this vacuum is a pleasure to use. When you stop the brushes the suction part of the cleaner continues to run so yes you will still have suction.

The telescoping wand is handy. You can adjust it up and out or down while using it. Adjust it up and out to reach up the stair steps, collapse it down a bit in tight corners.

I have the 236 brush and like it because it does have the aggressive brushes and it is adjustable. I have different types of area rugs throughout the house Berber, Indian and thicker Asian orientals which are all wool, as well as nylon type carpets and the brush does well on all of them. If I don't want as much "action" out of the head I just raise it up. This brush moves about 90 degrees in each directly so you can actually slide it sideways while using---direct it to the left or right without picking it up--while you stand in one spot.

I don't use it on my wood floors..instead I use the parquet brush which slides across the floors very gently while picking up dust as well as sucking up larger particles. I use this tool on my hardwood floors, hardwood stairs, and my tile floor in the kitchen.

The Miele web site states that the S5 series is made and tested in Germany but does not state where the other models are made. I also think the warranty on these is longer than the other series.

The discharge air coming out of the unit smells completely clean and fresh. There are also optional tools you can buy. I have the micro set which lets me clean small items like computer keyboards, AC vents, and hard to reach areas.

All in all it is a great machine - this coming from someone who is no fan of cleaning, but somehow I don't mind slithering around with this thing.

jerrod6 has touched all the bases.

Pixie- I have the 236 brush too. I played with both and thought this one felt better, sturdier. I love the light (I know, silly) and the height adjustment too. My rugs are in no way a high pile, but it doesn't matter... this brush fluffs it up.

This forum is great along with all the people who add to it. Thanks to all who helped me make some decisions with the purchase of a Miele Vacuum Cleaner. Looks like the 236 powerhead is the way to go. Sounds like it offers me many options. Today I will make my purchase.

Thanks again,
Pixie

Dear Pixie15, a good friend of mine now that she has bought a Miele vacuum says she will never buy any other brand but Miele. I have a Dyson bagless canister and I hate it. I wish it would break so I can buy a Miele without feeling guilty. With the bagless model, there is dust everywhere when I empty it. Also, I really don't think the suction on the Dyson is any better than the much cheaper Kenmore canister vacuum that I had until that unit broke. If other's experiences hold true for you, I think you will very much like your Miele vacuum cleaner.

I bought the Capricorn for my mother last year (I have the Champagne and Red Star models). It is a FABULOUS machine. You will never regret making that investment to keep your entire house, and especially your floors and carpets wonderfully clean. My mother has 50+ hand woven Oriental carpets scattered throughout her home over hardwood floors. The cleaning provided by this vacuum is amazing. All the controls are in the handle of the "wand", which is exceptionally convenient. Run, do not walk, to your dealer and invest in a vacuum you will be glad to use over and over again.

We have a Miele for nearly 10 years, not the model you're considering. I agree that the HEPA filter is a vitally important feature. I would never buy a vacuum cleaner that does not have one.

To do a quick job on the floors, I sometimes use the part that has retractable brushes. When the brushes are out, you vacuum the hard floors. When the brushes are in, you vacuum carpets. We have a lot of Oriental carpets on hard wood floors. So that part comes in handy for a quick cleaning. We also use the "power" tool for the carpets. Ours does not spin electrically, which I think some do. The suction causes it to spin. It works very well on Oriental carpets (at low to med suction) and on wall to wall carpets at full suction.

It's the best vacuum cleaner we've ever had. Considering the price, I want them to bury it with me.