You can't go wrong with a Polaris. I have the original 180 that is now over 15 yrs old and works great. If I were you I'd buy the 280 with it's own pump and backup valve. Best cleaner for the $$$ IMHO.

I've got a Polaris 280 and no complaints. Builder said he went with 280 even though there are newer models because of its reliability and ease of repair if something does wear out or break down. Cleans well ... easy in and out of the pool if I have company over and easy to swim around if I leave it in.

Polaris sure has added a lot of models...the 380, 3900 and 480. Anybody using any of these?

Anybody using electric robots?

The young child robot used to be a good option but the cost to own is prohibitive these days. You can't even rent one since everyone else's are all booked up with "activities." Whatever happened to good old-fashioned child labor?

I just replaced my original Polaris 280 with a new one it wore out after about 10 years. My pool is in a heavily treed area and there is always something falling in at the moment it is the acorns. I leave it in the pool pretty much permanently and it is on a timer so it cleans from about 4 to 6 am everyday. I have been really happy with the way it performs and after 10 years of daily use I guess it was destined to wear out. I also like having a pressure side cleaner because of the high amount of debris that is gathered throughout the year, I don't worry about it clogging the skimmer.

Beautiful pool. I especially like the way the rocks looks against the greenery.

One question. Did you consider any of the newer Polaris models and if so why did you decide to pass?

I did consider the other return side models but opted to go with what I knew had served me well, I checked other pool forums and online reviews and found that many preferred the plain old 280 for its basic ability and ease of use, not to say that some other model won't work as well I just prefer something I know that has worked for me over the past 10 years. Let us know what you choose and how you like it, I find these forums most useful for making final choices.

Used a pressure cleaner attached to the skimmer the first couple of years and could not put up with the constant cleaning of the filter.

Have used a Aquabot for the past 20 years and have found them to be the best unit on the market. Repairs/parts are easy to find.

Dolphins are the same principle but repairs are expensive and service centers are very hard to find (parents have used Dolphins for over 20 years).

Any suggestions as to which Aquabot model?

I have the Bravo and it cleans my pool 36 x 22 kidney, 9 ft deep, in 1 hour.

I have a the Polaris 280 and love it. Its easy to put in and take out and does a great job.

Polaris 380 with booster pump. No problems, love it.

I'm thinking of getting an electric drop in robot, only because I do NOT want that line in my pool all the time. The PB we interviewed tonight does not like the pop up pressure sprayers that push the debris to a central drain basin. He says they are not reliable.

BTW greenoaks, that is a gorgeous pool. The boulders are amazing. Are they real? (They sure look it!)

We had a Dolphin for about 3 years and it ust quit working! We liked it a lot, but to repair it cost more than to purchase a new one! Now we have an Aquabot Turbo and I believe it is a superior machine. We purchased it from Costco online and it came with an extended warranty. If anything goes wrong during the warranty period we can return it to Costco. Also, it came with a DVD showing how to repair a lot of issues yourself. We are happy with the Aquabot.

Purchased the Aquabot Turbo for $1,000 3 years ago. Best investment in pool cleaning that I ever made.

My sister and brother-in-law swear by their dolphin. Not sure what model. They have a dual main drain and two skimmers. They didn't like that the Polaris was designed to kick up debris and let the main filter get it. The dolphin's finer filter actually gets the small stuff.

We're building a new pool and will have an in-floor cleaning system. Will this work better with a Polaris? Will a Polaris, Dolphin or Aqua-Bot have a problem with the in-floor jets in their retracted position?

Re: in-floor cleaning Our pb said that he doesn't recommend them because he believes that putting a whole bunch of holes in the bottom of the pool will compromise the integrity of the pool eventually. Made sense to me, but wonder what the experts on the forum think.

I forgot to add that the pb also said that with our soil type, the pop up heads will get easy clogged and will quit working. They quoted us 8k to install it, which sounds like a lot of money for a cleaning system that is a PITA.

We have two robots, ages eight and ten. One problem, they more of a mess than they clean up.

The Polaris 280 is a work horse. Great cleaner. Hayward's Tiger Shark is a very good electric robot.