While Coco and JJ slug it out over the Best Juicer, I'm still
talking Blenders.
Let's assume you've decided on a Vita-Mix. Now the question is
'which one?'. Paul likes the Pro 500 for it's three programmed settings.
I still favor the Vita-Prep 3
for it's extra power (12.5 amps to 11.5 amps for the Pro 500).
Some may like the 5200 better because of it's longer warranty (7
years to 3 for the pro series).
Here's the lineup from J.L.Hufford....which one would you buy?.....WY

[www.jlhufford.com]

For my tastes -

Vita-Mix TurboBlend 4500 - simple control layout, easy to use/clean. BPA free container, attractive price...what more could I need?

...oh sorry...guess that wasn't one of the choices you offered...

juicerkatz Wrote:
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> For my tastes -
> Vita-Mix TurboBlend 4500
> ...oh sorry...guess that wasn't one of the choices
> you offered...
Yes, it was one of the choices....any Vita-Mix qualifies.
Now I know where you're coming from. You like complicated Juicers,
and simple Blenders.
Does anyone else have an opinion? Show us what you're made of.....WY

If cost wasnt an issue? or if I was going to buy an expensive blender today?

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Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?

Curator Wrote:
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> If cost wasnt an issue? or if I was going to buy
> an expensive blender today?
If money wasn't an issue, which Blender (of the Vita-Mix
family) would you buy? I personally feel their 20 amp Blender,
with the sound enclosure, is too much blender for household use.
But if that's the one you like, lay it on us.....WY

Wheatgrass Yogi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> juicerkatz Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > For my tastes -
> > Vita-Mix TurboBlend 4500
> > ...oh sorry...guess that wasn't one of the
> choices
> > you offered...
> Yes, it was one of the choices....any Vita-Mix
> qualifies.
> Now I know where you're coming from. You like
> complicated Juicers,
> and simple Blenders.
> Does anyone else have an opinion? Show us what
> you're made of.....WY


Not really, Yogi;

I like a juicer that can do a lot of different things - make nut butters, fruit ice cream, spreads, mayo, dips, etc...

For a blender...well, all I really need it to do is blend greens & fruit into smoothie/shake consistency. If someone could give me a good reason to have the VSC option, I suppose I might go for that.


I guess the VSC is good to have for blending dry ingredients?

Wheatgrass Yogi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> While Coco and JJ slug it out over the Best
> Juicer, I'm still
> talking Blenders.
> Let's assume you've decided on a Vita-Mix. Now the
> question is
> 'which one?'. Paul likes the Pro 500 for it's
> three programmed settings.
> I still favor the Vita-Prep 3
> for it's extra power (12.5 amps to 11.5 amps for
> the Pro 500).
> Some may like the 5200 better because of it's
> longer warranty (7
> years to 3 for the pro series).
> Here's the lineup from J.L.Hufford....which one
> would you buy?.....WY
>
> [www.jlhufford.com]
> vita-mix&cat=

Lowest market price on the VitaPrep 3 is $499? Lowest market price on a VitaPrep 3 500 is $549 + the 5 percent price match on J Huffords is $22, so presumably it's $522 Vita Pro 500 vs. $499 Vita Prep 3. The Vita Prep 3 is more powerful, no question and is a commercial grade blender with a commercial 3 year warranty. Vitamix Pro has 7 years, and only one amp less. Plus the Vitamix Pro has a pulse button and 3 set it and forget it pre-sets. For $22, the Vita Mix Pro 500 is an easy choice for me. The 3 presets, soups, frozen deserts,and smoothies can be used for dozens of recipies which have nothing to do with the label. Nothing wrong with a Vita Prep 3. It's a workhorse and a great blender. Probably in fairness, it's component parts are higher quality than home blenders. So warranty isn't the sole issue. Durability has to be figured in as well. And I have no doubt, that the components on the Vita Prep 3 are better as a commercial blender than either a 5200 or a Pro 500. That's to be expected. And why the warranty is less, because it's expected to be used far in excess of what a home blender is. Thing of it is. I suspect that the durability of the 5200 or Pro 500 is good enough, that I'll pay the extra $25 and give up the added durability and take the warranty and convenience of the pulse button and the presets. No right answer here. Much depends on your view of tradeoffs. Mind you I don't own a Pro 500, at least not yet. As me in a month.

Paul

Caveat, I would buy from jhuffords just for the price match, GotGreensRevolution has the lowest price. [gotgreensrevolution.com] with coupon from cooking.com at $549.95. What's missing from the equation is shipping. I like the Pro 500 enough that I might pay upto $100 more, e.g. $599 if shipping were free. There is something about a blender that has both manual control and presets all at a higher quality materials and a better warranty that is pretty tough to beat.

Paul

pborst Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ......... There is something about a blender that has
> both manual control and presets all at a higher
> quality materials and a better warranty that is
> pretty tough to beat.
Yes, and I like the fact that the presets on the Pro 500
are programmed at the factory. I think with a BlendTec, you must
program each cycle yourself. Maybe someone who owns a BlendTec
will help me out here?.....WY

@WY

AFAIK w/ the blendtec it's not that you have to program the cycles, it's that the user is encouraged to assign programs that the user (or employees family members etc) will use the most. You can buy a device to add your own programs (blend cycles) that you design using software on a computer, the device enables you to transfer the blend cycle to the blender, then on the blender you can assign the program to a button. I have not used a blendtec so this is just what my understanding is from weeks of looking at the blenders and trying to understand just exactly how they work. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Function is important to me, and I was worried I would be stuck with programs that did not meet my needs.