We bought the Vitamix 5200 Standard about 6 weeks ago. So far, we have only made smoothies with it and they have all turned out great. We are soon planning to try out soups as well. Making a smoothie is very easy as the blender will blend pretty much anything. The smoothies are perfectly blended and it all takes only about 45 seconds. Cleaning the jar is very easy as well. While there are a lot of recipes available out there, we have come up with our own. Every day is different depending on what is available. I would suggest not to use raspberries and segments of fruits such as tangerines and clementines as the seeds of raspberries and pith from the tangerines does not get blended properly.
Pros: Easy to clean, Speed of Service, Easy to use, Power
I bought this because I use my blender a lot for both dry and wet ingredients. I like to chop nuts, make flour, etc. However, in order to use it for dry ingredients, you have to purchase a dry blade for it. For the price, it should have come with it. I liked it but it didn't fully serve the needs of my lifestyle. I took it back and bought a cheaper brand that I could use for dry ingredients.
I have been dreaming about this blender for almost a year and finally bought it just before Christmas. I start my day with a green smoothie. Use Vitamix to make sauces, crepes batter, vegetable soups, ice creams and even to make a bread dough. Even my husband who couldn't understand why I'd spend so much money on a blender is starting to seethe benefits. One of the best investment I've ever done.
Pros: Easy to clean, Speed of Service, Quality, Easy to use, It's Many Uses, Power