This is my 2nd 5200. My last one started to have issues with the motor after 10+ years of owning it, so it was time for a replacement. I pretty much use it daily, sometimes multiple times a day to make shakes, sauces, and sometimes soups. It’s a staple appliance in my home. It has been very reliable. My only complaint is that I only needed a new base, not a new container to go with it as I already own all the container sizes. My go-to container is the stainless steel 48oz, which meets the majority of my needs and eliminates the food coming into contact with plastic. I wish there were stainless steel containers in other sizes.
Pros: Durability, Easy to use, Versatility, Power, Other
This Vitamix instructional video was key to me successfully making smoothies. In the video, the woman demonstrates ramping up the speed control: "This is a ramp." Before I saw that, I was slowly increasing the speed to somewhere between 4 and 8 and the motor was overheating and shutting off. I was about to return the machine.
Since watching that video and a bit of trial and error, it's acceptably easy to make a smoothie with the blender. (FWIW, I typically use milk, greek yogurt, fresh banana, celery, frozen spinach or broccoli, frozen fruit, and whey protein powder.)
I still find the machine kind of finicky. Some devices have to be operated just so whereas some are overbuilt and have margin for error; I wish this machine was overbuilt and had more margin for error. I wish the blender container was bigger. I wish the machine was more tolerant of thick mixtures. Smoothies that are thin enough to pour easily can still be too thick for the machine. Then I have to add water to continue blending effectively.
I have three other vitamixers: and just bought another one for a new home. This newer version is very light and plastic feeling. It is not nearly as solid as my other three. Plus, this newer version has that automatic stop if it senses any over heating ; which it days quit the first time I used it ; and I felt it was not over heating to cause it to shut down. The new one does puree very well - which is the main reason I like vitamixers. I love my other three older models. The new model is very disappointing- except it does purée wonderfully. Something must have changed as far as the quality during manufacturing…..