Not my words, originally at any rate, but I can heartily endorse them. Over the years I have occasionally been called a snob for my insistence on finding the best available item, whether shopping for food, a car, hi-fi, or, in this case a household appliance. Over the past 42 years I have purchased Miele appliances for a number of homes and three businesses, and they have never, ever, let me down. The only downside is that when Miele bring out an improved model, as they regularly do, there are still many years of useful life left in the original machine. So now the faithful fifteen year old cat-and-dog cylinder cleaner is relegated to the garage for car cleaning duties - a regular event as our German Shepherd moults for Britain.
The 5211 cannot be faulted, unless you are allergic to deep black which I must admit is not my favourite colour. It is in danger, if used on full power, of sucking up anything that isn't superglued to the floor. Used with a turbo brush it manages to pick up hairs from carpets in a way I have never seen equalled. It can also be extremely quiet if you ask it to be.
This Miele may not be cheap but as with so many well made machines it will actually repay your investment handsomely. It is worth shopping around as the price can vary from as low as £157 to as high as £230 (quoting from today's internet ad's). A word of warning, learned from a very experienced engineer, not working for Miele - do not be tempted to buy cheap bags. The original Miele bags are designed to prevent dust getting into the motor. Inferior bags are generally porous and eventually wreck the innards.