I had my heart set on a self propell vac because I have a bad back. After 14 months the self propell broke! It is now easier to push my car down the street then push this thing across the livingroom because the self propell unit inside the vacume is so heavy, it really weighs the vacume down. It still sucks great but if I'm going to keep useing it I will have to go back to physical therapy.This thing is such a tank if you run into a pice of furniture it will dent your furniture!Carring it up and down the stairs while trying to vacume is impossible. The self propell unit is so heavy it really defeats the purpose of having one.Hoover is still my favorite vac, just don't get a self propell!