
SEBO
AIRBELT E3 Premium
Ultra-durable, 10-year warranty, but expensive with short cord.

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Hey, I was thinking of getting a new vacuum cleaner because I got a cat now. He is a long haired Siamese Balinese. Anyway, I have a Miele S8340 it does its job, I’m just curious about what the best option would be for me. I did some research and heard that the Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog is pretty good, and that some Shark ones are good too. I just want a forever cleaner with no fancy gadgets, just a good, reliable loooovely cleaner. i live in a flat if it’s helps - Germany - 350€ ( based on the miele L1 for 319€) - many stores also i can buy it online - Hardwood floor, carpet, sofa, mattrrsses,…
Having now had both (our White Pearl Miele croaked when it got used during home renovation and got into a pile of unauthorized sheetrock dust), I will say the Sebo is lighter, leaves fewer marks on the walls (I got the Airbelt D1 and use it every day), and (I have been told) performs better in the event it too inadvertently encounters unauthorized sheetrock dust. Both are German-made, and both brands do come with nice warranties... better warranties than other vacuums on the market. Plus they can be repaired. A friend told me she was supposed to throw away her Dyson if it broke, because even if it could be repaired, the cost would likely exceed the value of the vacuum.
Say what you will about the V15 Detect, but I swear it picks up more than my corded Miele S550 does.
If you can find a used Miele canister, I have had mine coming up on 20 years and it's still amazing. They're pricy, but it's a buy once, cry once kind of thing.
I'm not a housekeeper, but I have a Miele - going on 20 years now. Its amazing. It makes cleaning go so fast. I have a cordless LG that I use for quick tidy ups in between deep cleans, but for monthly deep cleans, I use the Miele and the place just feels SO CLEAN afterwards.
Everyone I know who has ripped through cheap vacs and finally settled on a Miele wishes they had just bought the Miele to begin with. I have had mine for 20 years and love it as much now as I did when I bought it. I get not wanting to spend big bucks on something that you might not use for its intended lifetime (not saying you're old, but the Miele could last 4 decades) but, since you mentioned a grandson, you must have a son or daughter you could hand it down to :)
Miele S series bagged vacuums are one of the GOAT imo. Ours has lasted years and if you buy generic bags, upkeep is a minimum
S8s are super, super easy to repair. What broke? The C3 is still available in some stores, even from Miele directly. I tried many other vacs and couldn’t find one that had the power and comfort and the S8/C3. The Guard L1 models are slightly less powerful, but still very good vacs.
Alternatively, the Sebo E3 is probably the closest thing. It doesn’t have as much power, and it isn’t available with HEPA-13 (or HEPA at all), nor is it as comfortable to use but they are very durable and well-engineered. People that don’t like them tend to not like them because of the hose, which is also a common complaint with the D4. Overall, the C3 is significantly more comfortable to use, more power, superior filtration, more aggressive carpet performance, more suitable for residential applications. If it is the motor in your S8 that died, the motors can be replaced in 2 - 5 mins. Very easy, not expensive. $130!USD is what I see that listed at.
I see the appeal of a stick. I have a V15. It’s about 3 yrs old. It’s primary role is for in-between cleans, small messes. Touch-ups. But, if I am going to vac our main living areas or the entire house, I can get the job done a lot faster with my Miele. If I am going to deep clean the carpet, I don’t pre-vac with my V15. I use my Kirby. If I am going to detail a vehicle, Miele. If I am going to use attachments for deep cleaning, Miele.

SEBO
AIRBELT E3 Premium
Ultra-durable, 10-year warranty, but expensive with short cord.

Numatic International
Henry Canister Series
Budget king, super durable, but heavy and poor on carpets.

SEBO
AIRBELT D4 Premium
Durable, powerful, long cord, but heavy and pricey.

SEBO
FELIX Premium
Durable, powerful, good for allergies, but heavy with awkward attachments.

Miele
Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine
Durable, powerful, quiet, but very expensive, short cord.

Ranked #1
SEBO - AIRBELT E3 Premium

Ranked #1
SEBO - AIRBELT E3 Premium

Ranked #1
SEBO - AIRBELT E3 Premium

Ranked #1
SEBO - AIRBELT E3 Premium

Ranked #1
Numatic International - Henry Canister Series

Ranked #1
Dyson - V15 Detect Series