passatdoc
Well-known member
I recently bought a Miele S7 upright---base model. I have a ten year old S5 canister that is still going strong. Recently its electric wand broke and I had to replace the wand, to the tune of $115, though one could argue that the expense was well worth it to keep a $900 machine (replacement cost) going. I have the machine serviced (whatever they do to service it) every other year, and supposedly well-maintained Mieles can go 20-30 years, but I felt there ought to be a back up machine. (the canister happened to have been a gift from a relative, but over ten years the cost of ownership has been $90/year---vs. today's $150 vacs that last a couple of years and then have to be trashed).
Also, the upright does a better job on carpet than my 2002-vintage powerhead. Miele has recently recently an upgraded powerhead, with headlight and variable height adjustment and wider track, but it runs $250---the cost of many vacuum cleaners. Miele's original price for the base S7 upgright model used to be over $500, but it's dropped to $429, and with Amazon points I was able to get it for under $400. Better to have another machine than to spend $250 for an attachment. Below is the review I wrote for Amazon. I wrote it partly from the perspective of a current Miele owner with a collection of attachments that can be used on the new upright.
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">"This vacuum was purchased to augment an existing Miele S5 series canister vacuum. The S5 is ten years old and still going strong, but the 2002-vintage SEB 217 powerhead was doing only an "adequate" job on carpet. Miele now sells upgraded powerheads, with a wider sweep, a headlight, and variable height control, if one wishes to spend well over two hundred dollars for a single attachment. I felt it made more sense to add the S7, which as an upright would do a better job on carpet, and continue to use the S5 for hard floors and for use with attachments: micro cleaning set, wide dusting brush, handheld turbo brush, flexible crevice tool, etc. The price paid was not that much more than the cost of an uprated powerhead. </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The new vacuum arrived safely, without shipping damage, and assembly took all of 30 seconds: just insert the handle into the machine and you're ready to vacuum. The filter and bag were already installed. </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The S7 is solidly built and picks up debris from carpet that the canister, with its entry-level 217 powerhead, misses. Because of the twist feature, it maneuvers around furniture and obstacles nearly as easily as a canister wand, plus there is no need to pull the canister along. The vacuum does an excellent job on hard floors, and is the best performing upright on hard floors that I've ever seen. The suction and the beater bar/brush are both controlled from the handle. Many other vacuums have beater bar controls on the base, and are often a slider-type control rather than an on-off button one can tap with one's foot. Using the on-off control for the beater bar, one can turn it off for hard floors, or for vacuuming delicate rugs where you want to avoid using the beater bar. The suction can be varied to low (for cleaning drapes), to medium (for carpet) or high (for hard floors), using a dial on the handle. The only control on the base is the latch that releases the handle. The handle drops to a 180 degree position, allowing the user to slide the vacuum under furniture, as long as there is clearance for the base (about 5" clearance needed). </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The power cord, which does NOT have an auto-reel feature, is very long---longer than the cord on a canister. The attachment hose is long enough to reach an eight foot ceiling, and accepts all Miele attachments, even a Miele extension wand. The hose does NOT have electric power, and thus cannot operate a powerhead, but it can operate turbo brushes and all other non-electric attachments. Both non-electric and electric extension wands may be used to attach non-electric cleaning attachments. The ability to use Miele attachments is a bonus for those who already own a Miele canister model. If the canister were to die tomorrow and if I did not care to spend $800-1200 to replace it, this upright could make an adequate replacement. With 12A power, its hose suction matches the canister's power, and it can operate all Miele attachments except an electric powerhead (which would not be needed since the upright has its own beater bar/brush). </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the base entry level model. It differs from higher end models in that it lacks an LED headlight, and does not come equipped with a HEPA filter. Rather, it comes with a black filter frame and the standard filter that is supplied with each box of bags. By spending $45 for a HEPA filter, you can upgrade it while saving a lot of money. The motor is the same as on the higher end models. The higher models also include various attachments (car clean set, or turbobrush for pet owners, etc.) which are bundled with the machine. If you do not own any Miele attachments, and need the bundled attachments, it may be a better investment to buy the higher model. For veteran Miele owners with a collection of attachments, the base model should suffice, with an economical upgrade to a HEPA filter always an option. </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The negative attributes are few, but are worth mention. First, while the machine is rugged and rock-solid, it is also HEAVY. There is a convenient carrying handle on the back of the handle, but I wouldn't want to lug it up and down a long flight of stairs every day. It's better suited to a single-story home, or else in a home with a second vacuum for the other floor (and leave the Miele S7 on its own floor). Despite its weight, it's easy to push and maneuver the machine. Also, the end of the hose is aluminum metal, which will scratch wood and paint, so a crevice tool or dusting brush (or other attachment) should always be used---many of the Miele canister hoses have plastic ends which can be used to remove dirt and debris without an attachment (and without scratching), so a metal hose end represents a change for veteran Miele owners. Lastly, as is the case for most if not all uprights, there is no canister-style cord rewind spool---you loop the cord yourself, manually, around two hose supports on the back of the handle. One of the supports swivels downward to quickly release the cord. I hope that the canister goes another 10-20 years, but if not, the S7 will be a worthy replacement in a home which is half carpet and half hard floors. "</span>
[this post was last edited: 6/26/2012-09:50]
Also, the upright does a better job on carpet than my 2002-vintage powerhead. Miele has recently recently an upgraded powerhead, with headlight and variable height adjustment and wider track, but it runs $250---the cost of many vacuum cleaners. Miele's original price for the base S7 upgright model used to be over $500, but it's dropped to $429, and with Amazon points I was able to get it for under $400. Better to have another machine than to spend $250 for an attachment. Below is the review I wrote for Amazon. I wrote it partly from the perspective of a current Miele owner with a collection of attachments that can be used on the new upright.
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">"This vacuum was purchased to augment an existing Miele S5 series canister vacuum. The S5 is ten years old and still going strong, but the 2002-vintage SEB 217 powerhead was doing only an "adequate" job on carpet. Miele now sells upgraded powerheads, with a wider sweep, a headlight, and variable height control, if one wishes to spend well over two hundred dollars for a single attachment. I felt it made more sense to add the S7, which as an upright would do a better job on carpet, and continue to use the S5 for hard floors and for use with attachments: micro cleaning set, wide dusting brush, handheld turbo brush, flexible crevice tool, etc. The price paid was not that much more than the cost of an uprated powerhead. </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The new vacuum arrived safely, without shipping damage, and assembly took all of 30 seconds: just insert the handle into the machine and you're ready to vacuum. The filter and bag were already installed. </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The S7 is solidly built and picks up debris from carpet that the canister, with its entry-level 217 powerhead, misses. Because of the twist feature, it maneuvers around furniture and obstacles nearly as easily as a canister wand, plus there is no need to pull the canister along. The vacuum does an excellent job on hard floors, and is the best performing upright on hard floors that I've ever seen. The suction and the beater bar/brush are both controlled from the handle. Many other vacuums have beater bar controls on the base, and are often a slider-type control rather than an on-off button one can tap with one's foot. Using the on-off control for the beater bar, one can turn it off for hard floors, or for vacuuming delicate rugs where you want to avoid using the beater bar. The suction can be varied to low (for cleaning drapes), to medium (for carpet) or high (for hard floors), using a dial on the handle. The only control on the base is the latch that releases the handle. The handle drops to a 180 degree position, allowing the user to slide the vacuum under furniture, as long as there is clearance for the base (about 5" clearance needed). </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The power cord, which does NOT have an auto-reel feature, is very long---longer than the cord on a canister. The attachment hose is long enough to reach an eight foot ceiling, and accepts all Miele attachments, even a Miele extension wand. The hose does NOT have electric power, and thus cannot operate a powerhead, but it can operate turbo brushes and all other non-electric attachments. Both non-electric and electric extension wands may be used to attach non-electric cleaning attachments. The ability to use Miele attachments is a bonus for those who already own a Miele canister model. If the canister were to die tomorrow and if I did not care to spend $800-1200 to replace it, this upright could make an adequate replacement. With 12A power, its hose suction matches the canister's power, and it can operate all Miele attachments except an electric powerhead (which would not be needed since the upright has its own beater bar/brush). </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the base entry level model. It differs from higher end models in that it lacks an LED headlight, and does not come equipped with a HEPA filter. Rather, it comes with a black filter frame and the standard filter that is supplied with each box of bags. By spending $45 for a HEPA filter, you can upgrade it while saving a lot of money. The motor is the same as on the higher end models. The higher models also include various attachments (car clean set, or turbobrush for pet owners, etc.) which are bundled with the machine. If you do not own any Miele attachments, and need the bundled attachments, it may be a better investment to buy the higher model. For veteran Miele owners with a collection of attachments, the base model should suffice, with an economical upgrade to a HEPA filter always an option. </span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The negative attributes are few, but are worth mention. First, while the machine is rugged and rock-solid, it is also HEAVY. There is a convenient carrying handle on the back of the handle, but I wouldn't want to lug it up and down a long flight of stairs every day. It's better suited to a single-story home, or else in a home with a second vacuum for the other floor (and leave the Miele S7 on its own floor). Despite its weight, it's easy to push and maneuver the machine. Also, the end of the hose is aluminum metal, which will scratch wood and paint, so a crevice tool or dusting brush (or other attachment) should always be used---many of the Miele canister hoses have plastic ends which can be used to remove dirt and debris without an attachment (and without scratching), so a metal hose end represents a change for veteran Miele owners. Lastly, as is the case for most if not all uprights, there is no canister-style cord rewind spool---you loop the cord yourself, manually, around two hose supports on the back of the handle. One of the supports swivels downward to quickly release the cord. I hope that the canister goes another 10-20 years, but if not, the S7 will be a worthy replacement in a home which is half carpet and half hard floors. "</span>
[this post was last edited: 6/26/2012-09:50]
