Old Vitamix vs. Old Osterizer Blender

[mousebandit]

Hi everyone. I'm getting started with green smoothies and raw foods again after a couple of years of back and forth with it. I'm trying to decide if I should pick up an old (OLD!) vitamix off of ebay to use until my ship comes in and I can get a spiffy newer one, or if my trusty old Osterizer Kitchen Center blender will be sufficient enough for a few months to a year?

Basically, I'm wondering if the old vitamix (think sidewinder era - $50 or less on ebay) still had the speed and power which would make it vastly superior to a regular blender, or if it's only the newer ones that are THAT much better?

My old osterizer seems to be a workhorse, and has no trouble with chopping ice, etc. It just doesn't seem like it blends the greens as fine as I would dream of in the smoothies.

So, if I'm going to see a MAJOR difference for a $50 investment on ebay, then I'll go for it, but if the old vitamix weren't that superior, then I'll probably hold and just save my pennies for now.

THANKS!!

Tracey R.
Newberg, OR

[RaeVynn]

My Vitamix is about 25 years old, and works like a charm.

[GlimR]

I don't have any experience with your blender type...but I did have the old style, stainless steel VM for many, many years, as did my Mom and sister...it worked great for all uses..it could grind grain like the new one, make ice cream, smoothies, almond milk...I loved it..sold mine on e-bay about 5 years ago because I wanted to update it and liked the clear container...but it still was a workhorse!

[mousebandit]

Okay, then I'm in! I'll start scouring ebay! Thanks!!

Tracey R.

[DharmaGirl]

Don't know about the "older" VM's, but mine (5200) blends up the GS REALLY smooth. That said, prior to my VM days, I too, had an Osterizer which I LOVED.... I used to just let the thing blend and blend and blend and the smoothies were great. Also a workhorse, as it never did die or get weak after about 6 years of daily GS :D I think the Osterizer is a great blender for smoothies, and as a natural health practitioner, I always recommend them for my clients who just can't afford VM's right away.....

Hope this gives you some insight and helps with your decision ;)

Raw Blessings!!

[Jehote]

I don't have a Vm and I bought a Krups and it works awesome. Just do greens first with water until smooth. Then add the rest. That's what I did with cheap Oster I had. Works good.
M

[sprouts2go]

I am using my old Osterizer until I can afford a new Vitamix.

[Eva]

Tracey!

Good news for you if you go with the Vita-Mix... It works great but is NOT as good as the new one.

When/if you are ready to upgrade, though... Vita-Mix will offer you a $75 credit in exchange for the old blender!

I JUST did that with my old one that finally stopped working 3 decades after it was "born."

:)

[mousebandit]

Okay, I wanted to drag this back up, now that I got a vita mix. GET A VITA MIX!! Get an old one, get an ugly one, but GET ONE! Holy cow, my life is new and bright and shiny now!! Ice cream, mayo, heaven only knows what else. Green smoothies were nearly as good in the old blender, but there is SO MUCH ELSE that the vita mix does that makes it SOOOO easy to transition into raw! Gotta go, baby crying.

Tracey
PS - get a vita mix!!!!

[spicyfull]

Welcome to MY World:).

[raw_danceruk]

oo.. I am keeping an eye on this thread

would love a VM,Just cant justify spending a months rent on a blender...

an old one though...hmm..going to have a hunt around!!

[mousebandit]

Keep you eyes open and check craigslist religiously (use the search feature, and vita-mix and vitamix will return different results). I got mine at a yard sale for $100 - and it's the latest model, with all the books and dvd's still in shrink wrap!!! It happens, just keep watching and be ready to strike! I drove out over an hour, and waited around for 3 hours for someone else to not show up, and I got it!!!

Or, look on ebay for the old ones. I was looking at the sidewinder models before i found this one.

Good luck!! If you start to focus on it and have faith, it will come to you!
Tracey R.