Type of Vitamix Blender?

[bethtastic]

Hello all,

I've been looking into getting a vitamix blender but there seem to be so many different models out there I'm wondering if there is a difference. Does the model number matter? Do they all work equally as well? If I get the cheapest one I can find, can I still trust that I will get perfectly creamy smoothies?

Thanks for any help,

Beth

[JinxieKat]

The only thing I'd recomend is that you get one that has the variable speed control instead of just on/off or high/low. I did the same debate when I looked for my vitamix and decided to purchase one of the professional ones off of Ebay. I'm so glad that I did because I cannot imagine trying to use a blender that just has two speeds. The variable speed control is worth the extra money hands down. Now my professional model (I don't know which one, I'm not at home right now) is different from the consumer model that is variable speed in that it only has one container where you can do dry or wet stuff in. It grinds flax seeds and sunflower seeds very nicely, but! you do have to watch the heat when doing so.

You may want to poke around the boards and see the various blender debates on here. I've noticed that some folks are fans of the Ktec (I think that is right, maybe Ktech?) blender over the vitamix. I decided on my Vitamix because the Ebay seller was local and I was able to pick it up next day. I'm an impatient cuss. :D

Jinx

[TP]

sounds like i may suffer for my two speed purchase but i just bought a consumer 4500 "buy it now" off ebay for $300 shipped (gets here tomorrow woohoo). the professionals were much more expensive so that was out of the question for me. i think the 5000 consumer series has the variable speed but is also going to cost more.. shivananda gave some good blender purchase advice recently but i couldnt find the thread..

[TP]

this is the thread i was looking for: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11596&highlight=blender

but he never did come back with this $20 starter blender recommendation :)

edit: i realized i didnt directly address any of your questions.. so sorry for butting in! but maybe theres food for thought here :o

[soprofound]

sounds like i may suffer for my two speed purchase but i just bought a consumer 4500 "buy it now" off ebay for $300 shipped (gets here tomorrow woohoo). the professionals were much more expensive so that was out of the question for me. i think the 5000 consumer series has the variable speed but is also going to cost more.. shivananda gave some good blender purchase advice recently but i couldnt find the thread..

i have the 4500 and it serves it's purpose well in my opinion. im sure you'll love it.

[Rawkinlocs]

I was trying to make this decision too (Super 5000 or 4500) and I went with the 4500 because my husband mentioned to me that the variable speed can burn a motor out faster - which is what happened to my Le'Quip Blender (which also has a variable speed dial). I really LOVED that blender...it was economical, it was powerful, it ground flax seeds into powder and it was sleek in it's design. But the motor burned out on me (probably my fault in part) :( Could have sent it in as it has a warranty (forgot how long) but I dilly-dallied around too long and I don't even think I had registered it.

My husband gave a more technical explanation (he used to be heavy into electronics and that sort of stuff) but what he said made sense...so I just went with the 4500 model through Alissa's site. I'm sure that the Vitamix 5000 is great and they probably made provisions so the motor WON'T burn out before the 7 years is up :p...but I'm happy to have the one I have after using my trusty lil' Hamilton Beach for so long. At least now I don't have to peel my apples before making a smoothie (hated those little bits of apple skin in my smoothie!)

[TP]

good to know ;)

[Shivananda]

this is the thread i was looking for: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11596&highlight=blender

but he never did come back with this $20 starter blender recommendation. Ha! Oh ye of little faith! I actually did come back with the icheeeeep blender nfo, on this thread: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11944

But anyway, in case you can't figure out how to use that link, here's the essence...

If you cannot afford a very expensive blender at all, the Hamilton Beach Wave Power now on sale at Bed Bath & Beyond is a remarkable value at $20. Not gonna do anything wild with it, but it will make you a smoothiie as well as many $100 machines.

If you are middle tier, the Le'Quip 900 watt blender, available from discountjuicers.com has nearly the same specs as a VitaMix, at $129 (or 1/3 the price). A SuperBlender for the independent thinker who does not need brand name status.

And if you've got the financial wherewithall to invest in a truly high end high speed blender, no matter what the cost, then a 1500 watt, 3 horsepower K-Tek, (Vitamix is maybe 2 hp, maybe, I dunno, hard to tell) available all over creation for $400 or less is a hands down winner. And as a disclaimer, I use a Vitamix almost daily. Unfortunately, I mean, yes, it is very good compared to $50 blenders, no question, yes, yes, but I find it to be wayyyyy overpriced and wayyyy underpowered compared to oher available SuoerBlenders

[vickiesltw]

Hello all,

I've been looking into getting a vitamix blender but there seem to be so many different models out there I'm wondering if there is a difference. Does the model number matter? Do they all work equally as well? If I get the cheapest one I can find, can I still trust that I will get perfectly creamy smoothies?

Thanks for any help,

Beth

I have had my vitamix for 7 or 8 years. My motor has never given me any problems. The only problem I have ever had was something in the blades got clogged from using protein pwder. After 4 years, the company replace the blades and told me how to avoid the problem in the future. The variable speed is in my opion very important.

Ex: Vegetable soup

You can make raw veggie soup with tomato, carrot, chuunks of celery, pepper, garlic, zuchini cabbage and room temperature or warm water. Turn it on starting at 1 going to 10 then turn to high for no more than 3 minutes. Turn back down to low and drop in more veggies, or nuts and it will dice them up and give you a marvelous veggie soup.

I am not sure of the rpice of the one your considering I know the price they offer mine at today is the same as we we bought it just under 400.00 I believe.

If you can afford it get the 5000.

Lil' Brat

[Shivananda]

Could have sent it in as it has a warranty (forgot how long) but I dilly-dallied around too long and I don't even think I had registered it.OK, take a deep breath... Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Le'Quip's warranty is 6 years, and this model has not yet been out 6 years, so you are ipso facto entitled to a free replacement! Go get it! Even if you wind up giving it away.

Registration? Oh no. No no no no. Nononononnno NOOOOO! That is a deep, deep, deep fiction. The ONLY thing that product registration gets you is a lot of junk mail and telemarketing calls. BY FEDERAL LAW you cannot be required to do anything at all to get warranty service excpt to prove date of purchase, and within the stated warranty period from initial release that proof is EXPRESSLY ASSUMED!

Not that you might not have to do battle with a $7/hr "customer service" rep to get through to someone who can authorize the replacement, but cummon, it's worth it!

[sunshine star]

Hey Shivananda-
Just wanted to pop in and thank you...Your posts are so informative!
I have learned so much.
Cheers!