Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

With bad arthritis I find the v8 a dream to use

I am not dependant on anyone else

I haven’t had it long about three month

But with spring cleaning coming up I am yet to see it it compares to my old one

Can anyone say if this model is a good replacement for this purpose

I will re-review after spring clean

But so far happy

I own a Dyson DC25 but, as I have a disability, find it a real pain to heave around as well trip over the cord. The V8 is a brilliant alternative, does a job equal to the mains machine, is very well made and is easily capable of cleaning my 5 bedroom house with power to spare.

I especially like its lightness and great manoeuvreabillity. The bin is plenty big enough and is easy to empty without coming into contact with dirt.

The one negative is that the clear plastics, such as the bin, become cloudy fairly quickly because of the hammering from the dirt particles.

A great machine which comes with no regrets.

The V8 gets rave reviews but when you look more closely at it there are a number of significant issues. Ours came with mouldflow marks in the plastics suggesting that the polymer was not mixed/injected correctly and the unit probably should not have got past quality control and out of the factory. Generally you feel that there has been too much time spent on a CAD design machine and not enough in actual use - overdesign for cosmetic reasons. The trigger spring is too weak so it is too easy to switch it on. The dust container is too small and a triumph of complex design over durability. Everything feels a bit flimsy - it has to be lightweight but you feel it won't last/could break easily. The wall bracket does not come with wallplugs and screws - come off it Dyson you cut the tiny cost of them on a £400 machine? Some plastics are too soft, eg the turnkey on the small rotating brush which jams easily and you have to be careful that brush bristles do not get trapped and the roller is too large a diameter for the hole it has to be pulled through. The machine will not suck up grit greater than 3mm diameter. It is a useful machine but would not replace a probably more powerful and not time restricted mains electric vacuum in most homes.