New Hoover

[vinvac]

Wow,

Went to Sears tonight and about fell over looking at the new Hoover Z 400. I have not figured out yet how it is supposed to work. Did find the cord and attachments, still just the cheap hoover stuff. The vacuum was heavy and about as unattractive as unattractvie gets. To many people around to try using the vac. Bagless,,,Yuck!! What has happened to the industry. Doesn't anyone use a vacuum the way they were intended..

 

[portendere]

What has happened to the industry.

In a word?

Dyson.

This is Hoover's answer to the Dyson. Their own $500, funky-techno looking bagless upright.

For everyone else, there are the Hoover and Sanitaire commercial uprights.

 

[rickr]

Plastic vacuums SUCK!!

My cousin was here from out of town last weekend,and wanted me to go vacuum hunting with him. He is not "into" vacuums,just needed a replacement for his plastic Hoover. I took him to a vintage vacuum store,and just let him look around. He is 23 years old,and he started looking at the newer design plactic stuff. I said,"Zack,if you want a vacuum that lasts for a couple of years,buy another plastic model" "If you want one that will last for a lifetime,buy this metal one" Well,the metal one was a brand new Royal Classic,and after I showed him the quality built into that machine,he was hooked! Now everytime someone stops over at his apartment,he gets his brand new "chrome" Royal with the extra wide wheels,headlamp,and blue bag,with the matchine trim out and shows it off! You would think it was a brand new Ford Mustang! LOL!! He bought it for his wife,but so far she hasn't used it once...He vacuums their apartment every day! What a hoot!

 

[petek]

I saw a picture of that new Hoover, what a monstrosity LOL.
Last week chatting on the phone with my sister back east she mentioned her vac had bit the bullet. I asked her what kind it was but she wasn't sure, just some little plastic thing and from the description I figured it to be a Euro-Pro, cheapest of the cheap. She said she'd paid something like $69 for it new. So of course I admonished her for wasting money like that and told her to pick up a decent vintage one for way less. Then she says she did have an older one, again couldn't remember what type, but she'd given it to a friend, I summized from the description it was a Filter Queen, so I told her to go get it back from him.. he's probably using it in the barn anyways.

 

[petek]

Well Rick at 23 and even those 33 now, most have little or no basis for comparison anymore as the majority have grown up with plastic everything. Their own parents probably grew up with the better metal stuff but tossed it in the quest for more "modern" plastic junk. Now all this retro looking small appliances is so trendy.. well to me that's just the same thing as taking a turd and putting a red ribbon on it.. it's still a turd.

 

[compactc9]

I would never recommend, seriously use, or ever ever sell a vacuum besides a high quality vac shop brand vacuum. Even though the housings may havemore plastic than vintage models, they still make most to all of the wear part out of metal. And the plastic is usually thicker and not the cheap plastic found in cheap worthless vacuums. There are still good vacuums out there, but only in specialized vacuum shops, not these huge big box stores.

 

[tolivac]

Zacks vacuum

Rickr-Steeering Zack to the Royal vacuum is an excellent idea-Now Zack appreciates quality equipment!So glad he enjoys using it and showing it.I have always loved Royal vacuums.-Now to hunt down a Royal metal canister to match??Was his unit built in China-I now own two new ones that were built in China.Still very nice-I wonder how long they will hold up.-and wonder if the Chinese Royals will last as long as the older US ones.OH-OH don't let the Kirby salesman visit Zack!Usually folks who like Royals like Kirbys as well.Love-em both.

 

[vinvac]

I would agree that Royal still makes a great vacuum. The metal and motors will hold up for ever. There is some controversy over using them with the attachments. I love mine with the attachments. Once you have put them on they are not at all difficult. The suction is great and it has a descent dusting brush and upholstery tool. The bare floor tool is also made of a fine quality. I can't imagine using the Dyson for anything other than an upright. The tools are just plain terrible. A bare floor tool on wheels, give me a break.

Royals and Kirby are two of my favorites and if you could find him a used Electrolux G in good condition and use a new power head then you would have a great vacuum.

 

[hooverwheelaway]

The Z

Working at a Hoover store, we've had the Z for a few weeks now. I haven't posted anything because it had not been 'officially launched' and I didn't want to get in trouble. I took one home and played with it the first night we had it, and I thought it was a pretty cool, well built machine. It is definitely a VERY different vacuum... both for Hoover, and the industry.

It is meant to be used as either a canister (folded down), or an upright (unfolded). The handle/wand comes off and the hose stretches about 20 feet. All tools are on board, the higher end one has a strip of LED headlights. They have electronic height adjustment, ala SEBO... and the higher end machine has a feature that lets you cut the power in half (suction and agitator) called Gentle Brush--for doing orientals perhaps. It has a wooden agitator and that new type of "quiet drive" belt.

It also has a "self cleaning" HEPA filter-- it rotates while the machine is running, and there's a hook that catches each pleat in the filter and "taps" the dust off of it, and it drops into the dirt cup.

My initial impression was pretty good. It's heavy--not a lightweight machine by any means. But, it seems to be built very well--solid.

We haven't sold any yet, but get it gets lots of looks/questions.

They are priced at $399.99 and $499.99

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?photoshow=09@Upright%[email protected]&dir=/COLLECTIONS/HOOVERWHEELAWAY/

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Styling

I don't think it's an unattractive machine, it's just different--very different. I think it kinda looks like that robot "Number 5" from the movie Short Circuit.

My partner, Joe, was ALL OVER this machine when I brought it home--running it around the living room, pulling attachments off... I have never seen him react to a vacuum cleaner like he did this one. Needless to say he wants one, or at least wants me to get one for him to play with.

Here'a a picture of Joe inspecting it.

 

[petek]

Thanks for the pictures Jeff. It's too transformers like for my vintage taste but great to see it. Little quirks bother me like if you're wrapping the cord up and don't do it just so are you pushing bits of cord in to get the door closed? Are the hinges on the door just plastic and prone to snapping eventually and lastly how noisy is it?

 

[westytoploader]

Hoover Z 400

Now THERE is a "plastic vacuum" I would LOVE to get my hands on...and it's less expensive than the DC15 too!! And when in upright mode, it does resemble Number 5 or "Johnny Five" from the Short Circuit movies...only thing missing is the treads instead of wheels!

Heavy is good as far as I'm concerned...and I thought a self-cleaning filter was only something available on a BD Whirlpool or Kenmore!! Interesting concept...

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Re: Questions...

Hey Pete-

Yes, one would have to actually wrap the cord up.. if you didn't there really wouldn't be much of a place for it...

The hinges seem pretty beefy--I had that same thought as to the door flying off if someone opened it too hard. There were springs on the hinges--perhaps shock absorbers?

It's also pretty quiet from what I remember (it's been a few weeks since I've run it). You do hear a distinctive "clicking" from the filter being cleaned (the pleats hitting that little metal hook).

I'm off to bed. Happy Vacuuming, everyone!

Fred

 

[tolivac]

Vinvac:-Yes,I have attachment kits for royal Metal Classic uprights.when you use them-its sort of like the attachments for the Kirby-the Kirbys are just more conveneient to put on.The Royal metal canister vac gives more suction than the upright.Its said that the Royal tanks have more suction than most cansiter vacs out there.and they have high airflow-CFM as well.

 

[tolivac]

Hoover

Of all the new "plastic" machines I have seen-it looks interesting.but alas-that pleated filter bagless design clogs quickly.They need to provide a BAGGED version-just like bagged and bagless versuons of Windtunnels.And it sure does look like "#5" from the movie-almost expect it to move and speak on its own!!

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Filter

Okay, one more post before bed...

I agree, that the pleated filter does generally clog quickly. However, because this one cleans itself as the machine is running, it will ideally not ever "clog" and loose suction. It seemed to maintain pretty constant suction while I was using it, and that closeup shot I posted of it was after multiple uses, and the filter had been untouched by human hands.

-Fred

 

[tolivac]

Good-Hoover must have changed their bagless design for the Z.At the vac shop I visit-see MANY bagless Windtunnels waiting "repair"-tags on machines marked"Doesn't pick up"and the filters are hopelessly clogged.Some had to be replaced-even the air compresser blow gun couldn't clear them.We both say-Whats with the bagless-save a SERVICE CALL and buy the bagged one.It would still be interesting if Hoover made a Bagged "Z"-found with bagless machines(Dyson,Filter Queen,Etc) you need a BAGGED vac to clean 'em up and empty their bins without sneezing or coughing.

 

[vinvac]

Fred,

Thanks for the pictures and the review of the vacuum. The one Sears was carring was all white. Of course it was not described as being used both as a canister and upright. It did not have the turbo tool. It did have the control panel. I guess I am over the hill and like the apperances of the older machines. Same with cars,, I would not want to drive most of the newer models, they all look like the have cat eyes for headlights and tail lights.. Over 40 and don't like change...LOL PS.. Does the hoover have a bare floor tool or do they rely on turning off the brush roll?

 

[hooverwheelaway]

I forgot...

Yep, the high end model does come with an extra wand and a bare floor brush.. The white machine that Sears has is the $399 model. The blue one in my pictures is the $499 model.

I personally prefer the styling of older vacuums as well. Plain and simple, fun colors, easy to use... they sure knew how to do it right!

-Fred