Customer Reviews

Eureka 4870GZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright Vacuum

5 star:		(444)
4 star:		(289)
3 star:		(84)
2 star:		(58)
1 star:		(110)

 

 

Edited to say that I've now had and used the Eureka vacuum DAILY for 2.5 years, and my review wouldn't change. This Eureka has been durable and held up well except that the end of the hose where you put attachments on had chipped and cracked some. The only time I've had to replace a belt is when *I* or one of my "helpful" kids vacuumed up something like a stuffed animal or sock. I've been very happy with it and would highly recommend going to check this one out! I still think this is a top choice in the under $300 vacuums. So how did it still compare to the recently received Dyson DC18 Total Access(approximate retail $400 to $500 vacuum) as a gift from someone who knew I considering a Dyson at the time I purchased this? It's kind of like comparing apples to oranges since these aren't even in the same price category, but for those who have wondered....I've tried to do a main points comparison where applicable.

I have the 4870GZ model. It's metallic red and comes with the Power Paw (mini turbo) tool. [The Dyson I now have is the DC18 Total Access with extra accessories but didn't include the mini Turbine head which is $59 by itself. Fortunately the Eureka power paw fits and works with the DC18.]

I am going to rate the Eureka vacuum 5 stars even though I have a few neutral and one negative points. The reason for this high rating is that I have found it is simply the overall best choice for me in the under $300 price category and was only 1/2 of that--paid about $160, I think!

Pros:

Customer Service! It was so nice to have a 1-800 toll-free number to call and actually get to speak to a live representative!

Eureka's web site has good product information, and instructions can be downloaded.

Solid construction.

I haven't found any vacuums in the under $300 range with better suction. [The Dyson suction might have a little more suction, but I certainly did not pull up bags full of stuff that was left behind like you would from cheaper vacuums--maybe the same or a little more than I would have with the Boss and a new bag.]

Sealed HEPA filter that is easy to replace. Unlatch door, remove and replace filter, latch door. Eureka recommends replacing this filter every six bag changes or twice a year. They are about $20 a piece. I did notice that a washable HEPA filter cartridge could be ordered on the parts form included with the instructions for only $39.99. [Dyson DC18 comes with a washable HEPA filter.]

Foam filter that protects motor.

On/off brush roller. This is a convenient feature when only the hose is needed or to vacuum linoleum floors. This saves wear/tear on carpet if vacuuming drapes, upholstery, or something like that. Because the brush head is not turning, I can actually vacuum up the crumbs on the kitchen floor instead of scatter them. On/off brush is a hard-to-find feature in vacuums under $200--at least around here. [DC18 has this feature.]

The bag is easy to install. A guide holds the bag in proper place. Note: the front plastic piece of the vacuum will be difficult to latch if a bag is not installed. It's a feature to ensure the bag is correctly installed for maximum performance. [A push button releases the Dyson canister. Push down on a lever on the contents of the canister drop into the trash, but you might have to "help" it out.]

This vacuum can use the allergy/filtration bags which I found locally for about $2 a piece. [The Dyson uses a canister so no bags to buy, washable HEPA filter, and is certified asthma friendly.]

Headlight feature is nice for dark rooms. Replacing the bulb is as easy as removing two screws, the lens cover and old bulb and replacing with new and reattaching lens cover with two screws. [DC18 did not have a headlight. I miss this feature.]

Assembly was easy. The handle is attached by three screws. Click the onboard tools in place on the vacuum's housing. [Dyson's assembly was easy too.]

The vacuum comes with two nesting wands, crevice, dusting brush, and upholstery tools which snap firmly into the housing. This model also came with a Power Paw tool (mini turbo tool) that really worked well on my furniture compared to just using the upholstery tool. [Dyson comes in several models with most of the difference being the particular tools that come with it.]

Vacuum is designed to allow easy access to clear blockages if this condition occurs. Plus, some of the tubes are even clear so you can see if there is anything in them before taking it apart. Really nice feature!

12 amp. motor., 30 foot power cord, and reinforced plastic around roller brush housing, are nice extras. [DC18's cord is shorter, about 25 feet, that I have to plug it in two different places in order to do the whole house...might need to get an extension cord. I was able to vacuum the whole house from one outet with the Eureka.]

I thought the user's guide stated what needed to be stated clearly and had good illustrations.

Neutral Points:

The vacuum is heavy which may be a disadvantage for some. It wasn't a disadvantage for me. Even though I am extra small, I have no physical conditions that limit movement, and our home is just a single level. Also, it's not "cheap made" so it's going to weigh more for that reason. [The Dyson weighs about 15 lbs. so it noticeably lighter. Only time will tell how durable it is.]

The stretchy hose was too short for the task I do, but Eureka does include their 5:1 stretch hose (deluxe version). I needed more flexibility and length. I am putting this as a neutral point since some vacuums in this class either don't have a hose at all OR you must convert (unplug hose for vacuum and then insert hose for tools and then again reverse this process when you are done) the vacuum to use the hose. With this vacuum, I simply turn a knob (air selector switch) located on top of the vacuum. [The DC18 hose is really nice and very usuable. Leave vacuum in upright position to use.]

The handle release (pedal you step on) and brush roll on/off switch are a little stiff at first. In particular, the brush on/off switch may be difficult to operate for someone that has limited strength in their hands or a condition that makes it physicaly difficult to manipulate objects like this. [Dyson has a step-on latch that easily releases the vacuum from upright to vacuum position and a push-button to turn the brush on/off.]

Negative Point:

I don't see an option to order a longer, stretchier hose. The hose on the unit could have been longer since it is stretched some even when stored.

NOTES:

I did a quick test of comparing the different vacuums' suction by just testing the suction from the hose. Eureka actually has a feature that reduces some of the suction to the hose--a nice feature so you don't suck in the whole drape or something like that instead of just vacuum it off. However, I haven't found any vacuum in the under $300 range with more suction when it comes to cleaning carpets and floors. Some are the close or the same, but I haven't found any with better suction. Anyway keep this in mind if trying to compare suction at the store where you might not get to actually compare what is vacuumed up.

The Eureka is so often compared to the Dyson in terms of suction so that is why I've updated this review, but one has to remember that you could buy almost THREE Eureka's for the price of the Dyson DC18. As far as suction goes, I think both models are very comparable. Where the Dyson should be better over time is you get that "new bag" suction every time. The Dyson DC18's hose, "ball" design which makes it easy to manuever, push button brush on/off, easy to use lever to release vacuum from upright position, no bags or belts to buy, and the same suction as you get with a new bag everytime may make it worth the extra. As for me, it was a gift. It was really nice because it wasn't something I would have bought myself because of the price and it improved on the neutral or negative points I had about the Eureka (but keep in mind the Eureka is much less!), I am being honest in saying I was very happy with the Eureka Boss and had not been looking to buy another. By the way, I personally prefer the DC18 over the older, heavier Dyson models.

Either choice, is a good choice so choose what's right for you and your needs :-).

I chose this vacuum after reading Consumer Reports and Amazon.com reviews. I am so glad I chose this model. It is light, easy to use ... and, well, it sucks! I mean, the way you buy a vacuum to do! The suction, even with extension tools, is good enough to draw cobwebs from inches away. We cleaned up after a plastering job had rendered our entire house covered in that fine, powdery plaster dust. With all of the very easy to use attachments, we got the dust from every crevice and cranny. The couches and chairs look great. I even vacuumed off a delicate lampshade by holding the attachment slightly away ... the dust sucked right up and away. The one draw back is that if you are unstable on your feet, it would take getting used to. This is because it pushes extremely easily, but draws back with more effort. I live in a one floor ranch with a combination of hard wood floors and carpeting. The vacuum makes the transition easily. This is a great vacuum at a great price.

The Eureka 4870 is consistently rated very highly by Consumer Reports. I am still scratching my head trying to understand why. There are certain vacuum cleaners that are brought in for repair that I can guess what the problem is before the customer tells me. This is one of those machines.

This vacuum cleaner is our number 1 repair customer. The Eureka 4870 is brought in for repair MORE THEN ANY OTHER VACUUM CLEANER. The only reason I have given this vacuum 2 stars, is because when this vacuum is working, it actually does clean very well, however the number of times you will have to bring the vacuum in for service, outweighs how well it cleans. Let me first tell you about the Pros to the Eureka 4870, as this can be summed up with a few sentences.

Pros:
The Eureka 4870 motor actually is a very high output motor, and creates a decent amount of suction power. The motor is the only metal component to the vacuum, and is the only part on this vacuum that I have never seen problems with, or had to replace.

The vacuum has a nice selection of on-board attachments. Included is a nice on board hose, an extra wand for above the floor cleaning, a nice long crevice tool for those hard to reach nooks and crannies, a dusting brush, as well as an upholstery tool. The "power paw" (as standard attachment on the 4870HZ) attachment leaves a lot to be desired, as most of the time the rotating brush driven by suction stops as soon as you put it on upholstery, or stairs.

The electrical cord on this vacuum is a nice long 30 foot cord, allowing you to be able to clean more square footage without having to go and unplug the machine from room to room. This feature will actually save you substantial time on vacuuming.

The vacuum bag is a "top fill" bag. This means that the hole where the dirt goes into fills from the very top of the bag, allowing you to really jam pack the dirt in the bag, and filling the entire bag before there's any suction loss. A lot of other vacuums have the hold on the side of the bag, which is really pointless, as you have to throw away the bag before it's completely full.

The price is probably the best feature on this vacuum. For right around $150, the machine is very affordable, and feature packed for this price. You do get what you pay for in terms of quality.

Cons:
Weighing in at 25 pounds, this machine is VERY heavy. If you have multiple floors, and you have to take the vacuum up and down the stairs, you will surely hate this vacuum after the first few times of carrying it up and down stairs. The carrying handle is not very conveniently placed either, causing the customer to have to pick up the machine by the handle which makes it seem even more heavy.

The Eureka R belt "Extended Life Belt". The belt on this machine was a new design by Eureka. The belt is actually not made of rubber like most belts. It is actually a plastic belt. Eureka claims that this belt is "Extended life" however some of my customers are replacing this belt 3-4 times a year. If you vacuum anything that gets stuck in the roller brush while vacuuming, the belt usually stretches to a point where the brush will not spin, or if it does spin, it will spin very slowly, and sometimes even stop as soon as you put it on the carpet.

The roller brush itself. A typical Eureka roller brush, this roller brush (sometimes referred to as a "beater bar") has two PLASTIC bearing caps on each side. If something is vacuumed up into the brush while it's spinning, a lot of the times, the brush bearing caps will actually melt! Eureka does not sell these caps separately either, and you'll have to purchase the entire roller brush assembly if this happens. Do not expect to get any more the 1 year out of the roller brush before some melting happens. The plastic bearing caps are not sealed either. If you have pets in the house, or females (some males are also included) that have very long hair, this hair will get inside the bearing of the roller brush shortening the life even more. One way to prevent this from happening is take the roller brush out, taking the bearing caps off, and remove the hair, thread, etc that has wrapped itself around the bearings. You should do this every 2 weeks for best results.

The dreaded Carpet/Floor switch. Out of all the problems this machine has, this is by far the most common. Not only is the most common, it can also be the most expensive, as the amount of time and labor that it takes to replace the switch is very difficult, and you will have to take it in to a local repair shop to fix it. If you talk to any independent vacuum store, and ask them about this repair, 9 times out of 10 you they will tell you how difficult of a repair it really is. This is my least favorite repair to do out of ANY VACUUM CLEANER. You basically have to take the entire roller brush housing apart, and fight with a spring to fix it. The design on this switch is the problem. If a customer does decide to purchase this vacuum from me (I certainly don't recommend it) I always open the machine, assemble it, and I always test the machine before the customer leaves my store. I have opened probably 10-15 of these machines brand new out of the box, only to test it, and find that the Carpet/Floor switch is broken. Brand new out of the box there should never be any problems.

The last issue on this vacuum is the filtration. Eureka claims that this machine is "True HEPA filtration" vacuum. I have found this to be more like a "False HEPA filtration" vacuum. One of the many cool gadgets we have to diagnose and test vacuum cleaners is what's called a Particle Scanner. This very expensive machine will actually measure with lasers how many fine dust particles are leaking from a vacuum per minute of use. I measured the Eureka 4870 like I do all vacuums I sell. This machine registered 25,000+ fine dust particles per minute of use being leaked out of this machine. Now this number is definitely lower then any bagless machine on the market, however for Eureka to claim that this machine will help allergy and asthma sufferers is just false. If you own this vacuum try vacuuming in the sunlight, and you can actually see some of the larger micron dust exhausting from the machine. This is only the larger particles you can see. The most damaging particles to humans are the ones that are not visible to the naked eye. If you or your family has any breathing issues such as Asthma, Emphysema, or allergies, please beware of this vacuum.

You can kind of tell the quality of a vacuum cleaner by the warranty the manufacturer will give you. The Eureka 4870 has a 1 year parts and labor (required by the government, I'm sure they would give less if they could). Consumer Reports loves this vacuum, but as a vacuum repairman, I would tell anyone that asked me to STAY AWAY FROM THIS VACUUM CLEANER.

I purchased this product to replace an old Hoover that finally died. I had heard a lot of negative reviews about the bagless, so I was looking for a vacuum that used a bag. After reading all of the reviews, and hearing that this vacuum received high marks from Consumer Reports I finally decided upon this one. I have only been using this vacuum for a short while, but I have the following to say:

1. Overall the suction is better than my old Hoover (which is not saying much), but not quite what I expected. I thought it would do a better job with fluffing the carpet up.
2. I like the switch to stop the roller brush for hard floors, but I do not like that I have to bend down to flip it. It would be nice if I could use my foot.
3. The cord is a great length, and I like the hook to put the cord on while you are using the vacuum so you don't vacuum over the cord.
4. The foot lever is quite awkward to get used to.
5. It is nice to be able to turn the suction on for use with the attachments only, makes the attachments very powerful.
6. My vacuum came with the Power Paw attachment, it works pretty well, but there is no place to store it on the vacuum, and it is VERY loud, and makes an awful noise that makes it unpleasant to use.
7. The vacuum itself is the quietest that I have ever used, which is great with kids around.
8. A lot of bagged vacuums will come with around 6 to 7 extra bags, this vacuum only comes with 1 extra bag--so that was a bit of a disappointment.
9. It has a wide cleaning path which is nice.
10. It was fairly easy to assemble, but you will need a screwdriver.
11. The vacuum is quite bulky, but you get used to it.

This vacuum is also sold at [...] for $[...] less, but I bought it here off of Amazon using the $[...] off promotion this month and free shipping. For $125 this vacuum was worth the price, and I do enjoy using it despite the minor flaws. Great job to Amazon for the extra quick shipping for this item too..I ordered it on a Sunday, and was using it by Wednesday afternoon. I would purchase this again.

UPDATE (2/2/2008): My original review was from Oct. 2005, almost 2.5 years later this vacuum is still holding up fairly well, except for one thing....you cannot find these bags anywhere but online now! So, if you do not want to have to buy the bags online for this vacuum, I would not suggest buying it.

First of all let me say that this vaccuum has phenomenal suction (who knew my carpets were so fluffy?), as well as excellent Hepa filtration (you mean I can vaccuum without sneezing??). . .



That being said, however . . . man is this thing HEAVY! Even my husband was surprised. "Honey I'll do the vaccuuming from now on," he said, but I think I speak for wives everywhere when I say, YEAH, RIGHT! =P Suffice it to say, I am left trying to lug this thing all over the house and it is no walk in the park.


And just try and vaccuum your stairs and you will wish that you had quietly blown your head off instead . . . the brushes do not rotate in upright position, which the thing keeps clicking into whether you want it to or not, and it's extremely difficult to click it back down, even with the hardest stomp of a foot (believe me I tried). . . overall a frustrating, futile, and regrettable experience.


NOT impressed with the Power Paw feature, either--my Black 'n Decker hand vac works better and I think it cost me twenty bucks.


Last thing is, this baby generates so much HEAT! Which is nice in the Winter, because you could seriously heat your house with it, but in Summer . . . need I say more??


I guess my overall impression of this vaccuum is, yes it works fantasically. But what good is it if I can't actually USE the thing? I am 38 years old and in quite good shape, I should be able to run my vaccuum. =\


So I will give this item 3 stars, although I do sort of wish I could give it 3.5, because the thing does what every vaccuum is basically supposed to do: it sucks.

-- My older canister vacuum finally failed, so I was in search of a reliable new replacement. I decided to change to an upright vacuum since I no longer live in a home with stairs or much upholstered furniture to clean.
-- Consumer Reports Magazine suggested the Eureka 4870 Boss Smart-Vac as one of the best on the market. Consumer Reports claimed it as lightweight, easy to push, great for cleaning, and a best buy for its price.
-- I did a lot of shopping around first, to find the absolute lowest price for this model. I was quite surprised when Amazon's price was the lowest (including all shipping charges), even compared with walking in to Walmart. I was able to use a pretty standard discount coupon on Amazon's site, that applied to most housewares. The coupon appears to repeat it self several months in a row. You might check their discount section to find it. In August, it was called AUGQUICKDSCNT; and in September, it was called SEPTQUICKDSCNT (I believe).
-- Consumer Reports reviewed the 4870 model vacuum. I was able to find three different 4870 models. Most 4870 models contain a two-letter digit following the model number, which is a code indicating the color and optional extra parts of the vacuum.
The 4870 DT is green with minimal options.
The 4870 GZ is red with a turbo upholstery nozzle attachment.
The 4870 ?? is blue with a turbo upholstery nozzle attachment that has two switch settings.
Amazon carries both the DT and GZ models. I have only seen the blue model available at KMart, but I did not check online.
-- After receiving the vacuum, I pulled it out of its gigantic box, and spent less than five minutes assembling the handle to the base. (It required a screw driver, flat or phillips head.) I was very happy that there was a storage place on the base for each and every accessory tool. However, there was *not* a place for the bonus turbo nozzle accessory included with the GZ model. -- The first run of the vacuum was surprising. On the low pile carpet I started on, the vacuum had so much suction that it actually started walking itself forward immediately. (I almost fell over trying to hold it back! hee hee) On the thicker, larger pile carpet, the vacuum did not walk near as much. But, it had so much suction, the carpet looked incredibly clean. I don't think the carpet has been that clean since it was new!
-- The first few times I ran the vacuum, the HEPA filter, or some part of the exhaust of the vacuum emitted an unusual plastic-like odor, which I assume is due to the fact that this is a new vacuum. However, after a few times, the vacuum emits air that is fresh, and very clean smelling. Its like cleaning the air with one of those air filters while I vacuum.
-- The turbo nozzle attachment that was included with the GZ model is unusual. I was expecting a nozzle attachment with a small motorized roller brush for cleaning upholstery. However, this nozzle is *not* motorized. Instead, it runs on the suction power of the vacuum to turn its roller brush. At first, I thought that the suction of the vacuum would not be enough to keep the roller turning. However, it appears to work great. The only side-effect to not being motorized is that the nozzle makes a strange higher-pitched whining noise (instead of a vibrating motor noise). But I have used it several times on the sofa and recliner to remove dirt and pet hair, and it works great. The only complaint I have is that there is no place on the upright body to store the nozzle attachment with the vacuum.
-- The other thing that confused me is the brush roll control switch on the base of the vacuum. This yellow switch/tab that appears to be used to change the mode of the vacuum from carpet to bare floors cannot be operated by hand. Instead, the switch automatically moves by raising and lowering the upright half of the vacuum to and from its 'storage' position. When the vacuum body is upright, and clicked into its 'storage' position, the yellow switch/tab indicates bare floor cleaning, and the brush roll is automatically switched off. When the vacuum body is lowered, or angled, in its 'vacuuming' position, the yellow switch/tab indicates carpet cleaning, and the brush roll is automatically switched on. You cannot move the yellow switch by hand. In order to vacuum hard floors, you either have to leave the brush roll running, and use the dial indicator to lower the level of the vacuum head to the floor (which tends to fling dirt and dust everywhere no matter how low you set it), or you could put the vacuum in its upright storage position, and pull it around on the floor (this is awkward). I suppose another option would be to use the flat floor attachment and the suction hose to clean the hard floors, which is what Eureka must have intended. I have just stuck to using my broom and/or swiffer instead.
-- The one thing that I love about this vacuum compared to my canister and other uprights are the convenient carrying handles on its upright body. In addition to the standard push/pull vacuum handle, there is a nice cupped-handle below the HEPA filter on the front side, and a complimentary cupped-handle on the center of the back side. These two handles allow you to carry the vacuum at waist height very easily, and well-balanced. I don't have any stairs, but if I did, I would be greatful for these handles. I am extremely greatful for them to carry the vacuum around the house (instead of rolling it). The vacuum is indeed light-weight as Consumer Reports claims.
-- I have used this vacuum for more than a month now, and I can say that I LOVE to clean with it. I love using the double-length extension wand with the circular-brush end for cleaning dust and cobwebs. (I have not used the flat accessory tool.) I have been remodeling one of the rooms in the house, and the vacuum is sturdy enough to clean up the nasty mess left behind from drywall chuncks, sanding, trim pieces, nails, wood chips, and all kinds of dirt. I have tipped over a couple of houseplant pots the other day, and the vacuum cleaned up the dirt even when it was slightly moist. And, my long-haired cat is no match for the vacuum and the great suction it has.
Great vacuum! Highly recommended! Definitely worth the money! If you vacuum upholstery, invest a few extra dollars on the GZ to get the bonus turbo nozzle. It cleans vehicle interiors well too!

I bought the 4870GZ because it was highly rated by Consumer Reports and compared well in testing with much higher priced vacuums. So far, it has performed extremely well on both carpet and hard floors.

Out of the box, all that needed to be done was to attach the handle with three screws. This was pretty much straightforward and only required a Philips head screw driver. Alignment of the head was a little tricky but not impossible. Tools and the hose were then stowed appropriately.

I purchased this vacuum as a replacement for a Eureka Optima, so most comparisons will be made with this model.

EXCELLENT ON CARPETS:
At first blush, the vacuum appears and feels solid. The controls (foot pedal, adjustments) are stiff but operable. The vacuum did an excellent job on carpet cleaning up just about anything in its wake. The ultimate test here was provided by our Angora rabbit. Now in shedding mode, his downy, long hair is often a challenge for any vacuum. The 4870GZ showed that rabbit who was boss, and easily whisked it away.

USING THE HOSE:
Moving from the brush roll to the hose was easily done by turning the yellow dial on the side of the vacuum. When the vacuum is upright, in locked position, the brush roll turns off. This means that the vacuum will not cause friction damage to the carpet while you are using the hose. On cheaper models have had to place the vacuum on its side or use the hose with one hand and tilt the vacuum with the other if I needed to use the hose.

The shortcoming here, is that the hose is too short. The on board wand detaches into two pieces to extend the reach, but it is still a little short for cleaning high up. The hose is no longer than the hose on the smaller and cheaper Optima.

Of note, the brush roll is only deactivated when the vacuum is locked in the upright position. Simply diverting the air to the hose with the dial alone will not turn off the brush roll. Suction was excellent. Although there is not a variable control for power, you can adjust suction in the hose by turning the dial and diverting some of the suction to the brush roll. (Conversely, the same thing can be done to control suction when you are using the vacuum as an upright. This is helpful if you are vacuuming a small area rug. Sometimes the suction is too great and you end up sucking up the corner of the rug with your dirt.)

The `powerpaw' is an extra accessory that is used to clean upholstery. It works well but there is no place to stow it on the unit itself.

EASY TO UNCLOG
Courtesy of my children, and my carelessness, I clogged the vacuum twice with toys. Given the clear tubing, it was easy to identify where the blockage occurred. The tubes are easily disassembled without tools and I was back in business within minutes.

BAGS VS. BAGLESS:
When I last purchased a vacuum, I wanted a bagless model, thinking that I could save time and money in a bagless world. However, my Optima's DC-10 filter would clog with pet hair every two to four weeks. Yes, it can be cleaned but this was not easy or clean task. Moreover, the filters were not easy to find in the brick and mortar stores near me and cost $21.00 for a single filter (a knockoff, not Eureka brand). The lowest price per filter was $9.99+ shipping per filter on the web. Cleaning the filter was the only way to do things economically. Bags are a pain because you have to keep a supply always on hand but they are far cheaper than filters and are less messy to dispose of than bagless canisters.

It is interesting to note that HEPA filters are almost ubiquitous on vacuums. But when you empty the bagless variety, you always end up with a puff of smoke and a lot of those allergens are put right back into the air. Bag size could be better. It is about half the size you'd expect when you look at the unit. Nevertheless, the vacuum does not appear to appreciably lose suction as the bag fills. Changing the bags is very simple and doesn't kick up dust. I'm never going back to bagless...

MODERATE NOISE LEVEL:
This vacuum is not what you would call quiet. However, it gives off only moderate noise pollution when compared to other models. Despite its larger size, greater power of the motor and better suction, it is far quieter than the little Optima was with a fresh filter. (As its filter clogged, the Optima was deafening and would sound like a jet taking off of the tarmac).

GOOD ON HARD FLOORS
For working on hard floors, the brush roll may be deactivated using a switch. This didn't work when the vacuum first arrived. Frustrated, I opened the plate on the bottom of the brush roll which is usually removed to change the belt. Pushing up on the mechanism from below, I was able to activate it. After doing this a couple of times, the mechanism loosened enough for me to do this with the vacuum closed. On my vacuum, the switch can only be tripped in the upright/locked position and this still takes considerable force, but it works.

Once the switch is flipped, the brush roll is deactivated and you can lean the handle back and vacuum as needed. With the brush roll off, the unit worked easily and well on hardwood, tile and linoleum floors.

The major challenge here, was the basement. The vacuum easily sucked up basement dust and stray pieces of the rabbit's timothy hay--even long pieces as an upright. Not an easy feat. It was successful as well using the hose. There was no dust cloud in front of the vacuum or even dust that appeared to blow away from the unit. Unlike some of the negative reviews, I didn't experience overly loud noise when using the unit on hard floors.

ERGONOMICS:
Ergonomically, the machine is only so-so. The handle height is fixed. Not being all that tall at 5'4", the handle still felt as though it was too low. An adjustable height would be welcome.

As above, Eureka could have been more generous in the amount of hose tubing used. The tubing was about the same length as on the smaller Optima and really too short to get most high places.

As with all Eureka's I have owned, the tool storage is a bit lacking. All the `major' tools easily fit into compartments on the vacuum where they are easily accessible. They also easily fall out of these compartments which is frustrating. Moreover, the tubing never seems to stay in place on the unit either, occasionally flopping off as you are using the vacuum as an upright.

The tools are also of poorer quality than the overall vacuum, but are certainly serviceable. One notable problem is that the crevice tool is really too short. It is 1/3 shorter than the crevice tool for the Optima and really impairs getting into small places (like cleaning the coils of an old radiator). I'm not sure why Eureka skimped on this one.

Unless you are a body builder, take care when you use this unit to vacuum your stairs. The thing weighs a ton. It's not bad to push back and forth, but it is not light weight or easy to carry. If you have back problems or are very slight it might make sense to buy a lighter model.

The head of the upright vacuum is very thick and the handle does not bend low to the ground. This makes cleaning under beds or some furniture difficult. Cleaning in corners is also somewhat limited because of this and requires use of the hose.

As stated in other reviews and above, the controls are clunky and require a lot of force. I don't think it takes huge amounts of force, but stepping down on the pedal to lean the handle back is an acquired skill: it does take moderate pressure and you have to find the sweet spot.

I think some of the brush roll and control failure problems in negative reviews could be related to clunky hardware. After viewing the brush roll mechanism, it seems clear that some of the non-working brush roll problems stated in negative reviews may be due to the brush roll release being stuck in the off position. Some failures in the brush roll release that were reported may be due to its inherent clunkiness which requires heavy pressure to work and the fact that (at least on my model) it can only be activated in the upright/locked position (this is not specified in the directions, but appears to be true). Whether you like this vacuum or not, the negative reviewers point out quite correctly that this is a design flaw and I'm surprised that Eureka has not addressed this as the 4870GZ is not the first iteration of this model.

Moreover, the device comes with an extra belt--this tells me that the belt life is probably short and replacement in the short term is going to be inevitable.

UNRESOLVED ISSUES:
I cannot comment on the longevity of the vacuum, because I haven't owned it for more than a week. I must say, that some negative reviews on Amazon have pointed out the lack of reliability of this product, so I do have concerns. Given its overall construction, it is probably the case that this is not the 'lifetime' vacuum that you get when you buy, say, a Rainbow or Kirby. Those vacuums are constructed like tanks and can probably be repaired when they are 20 or 30 years old. I am okay with the vacuum lasting, say, 4 or 5 years, but if it breaks within 3 to 12 months I will be sorely disappointed. Perhaps I will do a follow up after some time passes.

The jury is still out regarding the HEPA filtration system. This needs to be changed about once to twice per year and filters can be costly. One can buy a reusable/washable filter that can be used and cleaned a number of times.

CONCLUSIONS:
On the whole, it performs quite well especially given the price. Although it has its flaws, it is far cheaper than other vacuums in its class and I think that translates well in terms of overall value. It is a significant improvement over the Optima in terms of raw cleaning power, versatility, and noise pollution. I WOULD, however, take the negative reviews quite seriously as they point to some negative aspects of owning this vacuum that cannot be overlooked. All this is not helped given that the users manual, although multilingual, is quite sparse and not all that helpful.

Nevertheless, it is an excellent carpet and floor cleaner and in my experience so far is a great value for the money.

PROS:
Excellent suction
Bagged system
Works well on hard floors or carpet
Brush roll deactivates when unit is upright
Cleans up pet hair well
Moderate noise
Clear tubing which is easily removed to clear blockages
Long cord
Excellent

CONS:
No variable controls for power (you can compensate with the hose/floor dial, however)
Item is HEAVY
Short hose length
Tools/hose don't store reliably in unit
Handle not adjustable
Crevice tool is too short
VERY Clunky/Stiff controls
Small bag size
Vacuum head is thick and may be hard to get into corners/under furniture
Handle does not bend back far to the floor making it hard to get under furniture
Poorly documented manual

I've been researching vacuums for 6 months. Toying with spending a fortune on a Dyson when I find out they aren't all they are cracked up to be. I feel like one smart consumer with this purchase. Got it for a deal on Amazon!

THE GOOD:
- LOTS of suction...I could hear it sucking up unseen dirt that my other vacuum would've never touched.
-Bare floor cleaning is great! There is a switch to shut off the brush.
- It's much quieter than my other vacuum. My old one we had to yell. This one I could just talk loud and be heard. I can vacuum the whole house while the baby sleeps.
-Has clear hoses so you can see what's going up and if it gets clogged you can see why. (Except the long extender hose, it's black, but the hose leading to it is clear.)
-It came with a "paw". A hose attatchment with a suction run brush to clean stairs, furniture etc... I really like it.
- Long cord
- My carpets look fabulous!
- self-propelled so there was no pushing, not like my other that I had to use my foot to push!
-comfortable to use. The handle is nice.

The BAD:
-the cord keeps coming out of the wall. Even when I spread the prongs out further. It's like the prongs are a bit small.
- The handle release and bare floor/carpet switch are a little stiff. Perhaps that will work itself out with time.
- It has an expensive HEPA filter which has to be replaced every 6 bag changes. I can buy a washable one for $40 (which I will do, the disposable ones are $20!)
-The dirt collecting bag is half as big as in my other vacuum, so I'll have to change it more often.
-It runs hot. During the summer I'll be sweating. The air coming out of the HEPA filter was hot. IT has a thermal sensor that shuts the vacuum off if it gets too hot which is good. But yet if it happens too often it'll be aggravating. Using it for 20-30 minutes it never shut off. I would imagine it would have to be used much longer to have a problem..I hope!
-The hose is short. Hopefully it'll stretch out with time.

Even with the negative points, it's a great vacuum. I can't believe how wonderful my carpets look. They seriously look brand new and they are 7 years old.

We have plush and berber carpet throughout our apartment, and I vacuum it once a week with the Eureka 4870GZ. Overall I'm very impressed, and I already talked my brother into buying the same vac. The suction is good, definitely, and it does what I need from a vac.

Here's a detailed list of the pros and cons:

Pro:

1) The hose tubing is clear when stretched but black when recoiled. I can see dirt and clogs but I'm not faced with that nastiness unless I look.

2) Mine came with the Power Paw brush attachment. The Power Paw ROCKS for stairs. It is like shrinking the vacuum to a more manageable size when doing stairs. Where has this attachment been my whole life?

3) The vacuum is NOT heavy like people say. It isn't light, but it certainly isn't the heavy monster I expected. Don't worry about weight; this vac is average weight.

4) The 4870 is engineered not to tip. I've never had a vac that stays vertical as easily, which is great when doing corners.

5) The motor will turn off automatically if too hot. I haven't needed this feature, but I like that it is there.

6) The extra-long hose attachment is much appreciated. There's hose, then there is an EXTRA hose attachment.

7) There's a switch to turn suction from the floor to the hose. This gives better hose sucking power, I've found. Much better than the Hoovers and Dirt Devils I've used.

8) Changing bags couldn't be easier. Press a button, take out the bag and you're done. Why aren't other vacuums I've known this easy? I mean, it usually isn't that hard, but this one has a really easy bag to change.

9) The vacuum brush automatically turns off when the vac is upright. Nice.

10) There's a nice stairs handle.

11) It came with an extra bag and belt. The bag I expected, but the extra belt I didn't. That was a nice little cherry on top of the purchase, unless of course they know something I don't about the belt on this vacuum. We'll see...

Con:

1) The attachments are tiny. I'm not sure why, but they seem small. Did I buy the Fisher Price vacuum by mistake?

2) I wish it were less a plastic appliance. I'm guessing it will hold up fine, but it seems like something that might melt in the sun. I would have preferred at least a bit of metal.

3) The upholstry brush attachment isn't easy to get when the cord is wrapped around the back of the vac. This isn't that big a deal, but it is unnecessary IMHO.

4) The hose seems awfully loose, and it gets in the way a bit. This can be fixed with some velcro, though.

5) A dirt sensor would be a nice addition. I should have checked if the deluxe model with that feature was much more.

6) This is a very loud vacuum. There's no quiet technology going on here.

7) The foot pedal to recline the vacuum is very stiff. VERY stiff. I think the designers expect you to wear a boot when vacuuming, because pressing the foot pedal is like pushing a shovel into dirt. It is manageable, but it is oddly hard to use considering the nice design elsewhere on the vac. An intern must have developed this part of the vacuum.

I've had this vacuum for several months now and as the previous reviewer mentioned, after a few weeks, I also had the same problem where the carpet brush would not run on our average carpet fiber height even on the highest setting (the brush would not spin) so it generates a constant rubber burning smell due to the fact that the belt is burning itself out. The belt is not flexible and you can't adjust the tension. I changed 4 belts so far and now I'm throwing this vacuum away. I've given up.

I subscribe to Consumer Reports and always purchase several items based on their recommendations as I did with this vacuum. I tell you one thing, they definitely messed up on this one. I guarantee you the people who work there, did not test this vacuum long enough to discover this major flaw.

The person that works at the vacuum store told me: Why in the heck did you buy this model? He told me he's had several people complain about the exact same issues...

So my advice to you is SAVE YOUR MONEY!!