This is a powerful machine - have wanted this for years, am not disappointed now that I've scratched this itch. Double batches of cookies, large cake recipes - haven't tried bread dough or pie crust yet, but am sure it will handle these just fine - are all much easier and faster to prep. There is some getting used to the bowl raising and lowering - instead of tilting head - but the attachments are simple to attach/detach in the right order, once you get the hang of it. The bowl also takes some practice to remove and install quickly - one point at a time, left to right to remove, then right to left to install. The bowl is huge; I have experienced little ingredient spray, which would be remedied by buying the guard they sell.Attachments release ingredients easily, ... MoreThis is a powerful machine - have wanted this for years, am not disappointed now that I've scratched this itch. Double batches of cookies, large cake recipes - haven't tried bread dough or pie crust yet, but am sure it will handle these just fine - are all much easier and faster to prep. There is some getting used to the bowl raising and lowering - instead of tilting head - but the attachments are simple to attach/detach in the right order, once you get the hang of it. The bowl also takes some practice to remove and install quickly - one point at a time, left to right to remove, then right to left to install. The bowl is huge; I have experienced little ingredient spray, which would be remedied by buying the guard they sell.Attachments release ingredients easily, especially the dough hook and coated flat beater, so little waste. And the attachments are really easy to remove from the drive.It is quite a heavy countertop appliance, so if you have difficulty with lifting you might need to leave the machine in one place or ask someone for help to move it to a cupboard, for example.I expect this mixer will last a long time. It's well made. Looking forward to a lot of fine meals coming from this appliance!

This is a decent mixer. On its own I’d even say it’s good, but it’s standing on our counter next to the one we bought 20 years ago, and that one was outstanding. A true workhorse.The handle on the new bowl is terrible, just a straight piece of sheet metal bent and welded to the bowl. I find it almost unusable. Fortunately our old bowls fit the new mixer, so we’ll give the new bowl away with the old mixer. And no handle on the lift crank? Just bare metal? You can buy a handle separately to cover it, but not including one is just cheap and annoying. The different parts of the old mixer fit together smoothly; it feels solid. This new one has sharp edges where the housing fits together; it feels less polished and less solid. On the plus side, I like the half-speed ... MoreThis is a decent mixer. On its own I’d even say it’s good, but it’s standing on our counter next to the one we bought 20 years ago, and that one was outstanding. A true workhorse.The handle on the new bowl is terrible, just a straight piece of sheet metal bent and welded to the bowl. I find it almost unusable. Fortunately our old bowls fit the new mixer, so we’ll give the new bowl away with the old mixer. And no handle on the lift crank? Just bare metal? You can buy a handle separately to cover it, but not including one is just cheap and annoying. The different parts of the old mixer fit together smoothly; it feels solid. This new one has sharp edges where the housing fits together; it feels less polished and less solid. On the plus side, I like the half-speed setting. A lot.I think we’ll get along fine with this new mixer, but after the old one, it’s a disappointment.

I bought this model and at the bottom of the platform where the bowl sits there are a few raised bubbles, like sand, under the paint. Because the bowl sits on the platform and with removing it and putting it back on the platform, one of the raised, tiny sand-like particles chipped off and removed the paint with it. Should never have happened. I have owned the mixer for 1 year and 9 months and use it a few times a year to make cookies or a cake or the occasional mashed potatoes. We all know when metal hits metal and my bowl and the stand now have rusted. I have contacted Kitchen Aid to repair and they want me to spend $75 to send it to them and then told me it could cost in the range of almost $200 to fix it. I should not have to do this for a product that was ... MoreI bought this model and at the bottom of the platform where the bowl sits there are a few raised bubbles, like sand, under the paint. Because the bowl sits on the platform and with removing it and putting it back on the platform, one of the raised, tiny sand-like particles chipped off and removed the paint with it. Should never have happened. I have owned the mixer for 1 year and 9 months and use it a few times a year to make cookies or a cake or the occasional mashed potatoes. We all know when metal hits metal and my bowl and the stand now have rusted. I have contacted Kitchen Aid to repair and they want me to spend $75 to send it to them and then told me it could cost in the range of almost $200 to fix it. I should not have to do this for a product that was painted by KA and got tiny particles of something in the paint and went out the door that way. The spot on the platform is a pinhole - literally - but it is exposed metal and when I wipe down the stand and store the metal bowl on the platform, as it should be stored, it rusted the platform and the bowl. I would love to add photos but the box below to add them doesn't give me an upload or paste options so no photos.