I've had my other Vax for 6m, and immediately I saw that this is a better model: it's more compact and it's definitely lighter to pull. The bin section is definitely easier to empty. It is slightly smaller than most compacts I've had, but with the amount of rubbish it holds and the ease of emptying, this is not an issue. Despite its size and cheaper price, it seems to be a step up from the higher-spec model that I have, and so, great value for money. I also liked that the 'height' of the main hoover head seems lower/more tapered than most, as it went under a bathroom pipe, and under my cupboards very easily, and I didn't need to be as slow or careful as with my existing hoover head.
It's a pretty little hoover and with the transparent bin, you can immediately see if you've hoovered up something in error. I did my whole hoovering routine in less time than normal, and on a mid-setting, as opposed to the high-setting that I currently use, without any noticeable difference. When I did crank it up to 'high' to do a 6x4 rug that my cats love, I immediately saw the difference, and the rug surface was left fluffed up, rather than crushed, and I didn't need to run the hoover over it as much as normal. Setting it to the higher level didn't make the noise any louder, and the setting dial is very easy to use and to access.
It has the HEPA dust-trap technology that with 2 cats and 2 people who suffer from hayfever, our household really needs.
Set up was so simple a child could have done it: just pop in the hose in the hole at the bottom, insert the metal tube and it's ready.
The only disappointing things for me are that, like my existing model, this has plastic floor tools (the main hoover-head got damaged and had to go back on my C-90), standard/basic quality i.e. not above average quality hose (the same hose on my existing model snapped off inside the fixed bit and had to be replaced), but other than that, it's pretty much perfect, and great value with its cheaper price.
Just remember to store it on it's bottom (i.e. the bit where the plug comes out), upright rather than in the flat, ready-for-use position, as in this way, the hose isn't under pressure; something I've learned to do with my existing model. Doing it this way also means that it takes up less space!