I'm very happy with the quality of smoothies. However, this blender is extremely loud - more noisy than anything I've seen before. Also it leaves stains on a white surface because it has a black base.
I never though I would spend this much on a blender some the best money I have spent. It works great and is very easy to clean which is a big plus, have had it about 10 days and still learning how to use it. A little noisy but I can live with that , it works fast and does what is supposed to do.
I got mine just a month ago & have used it to make whole juices & smoothies. While it's a lil noisier than expected, I LOVE the power it has. Only one problem; my husband bought whole bean coffee today & forgot to have it ground, but he looked up blendtec & said, "hey, we can do it in the blender!" So we did. The ground coffee came out great, but unfortunately, even after just 5 seconds, it scarred the jar, so now it's cloudy at the bottom. I guess that's to be expected because it's plastic, but I wish there had been a warning. I'm sure it won't affect the performance, I just liked it to look clean, since it sits out on the counter. Still love the blender, though!
My mom bought this about nine months ago and hasn't really used it ever because she says you have to buy food that you usually don't have around the house. I wanted to prove her wrong and so I've been borrowing it, using it the last week. So far, I've made, all from food I had or wasn't too much out of ordinary from what I buy: Orange/Apple smoothie, Orange/Strawberry/Banana smoothie, Carrot/Lemon juice, Green Flaxy (spinach, pineapple, banana, flaxseed, ice). I plan on keeping it and then making juice/smoothies to start and bring them up to her and my dad's house so they drink their daily vegetables and fruits.
I have a 25+ year old VitaMix, which still works, but the Blendtec is soooo much easier to use, clean, and store. Once my mom begins tasting how great everything is, I'll be buying my own unit to replace the one I'm borrowing
I have used my Total Blender Classic for about 5 years now with absolutely zero problems and over 2000 blends. It has all the features for an outstanding price! I always recommend this model for anyone looking to get the most bang for their buck. Super powerful, easy to use, easy to clean. Really couldn't be happier!