info on Kitchen Aide models, I think I'm ready to buy-- HELP!

I am seeing a bunch of factory refurbished ones on Ebay that fit in my budget (it's either that or used)

here's one that is 325 watt, 5 quart model RRK5AWW

not the tilt head model

what do you kitchen aide owners think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20679&item=4350253798&rd=1&tc=photo

or is the Artisan better?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20679&item=4351893342&rd=1&tc=photo

This was back in 1999. A retirement gift to myself. I finally settled on the Epicurean model which has proven itself to be all I need. I was very surprised that I found my best deal for a new one at QVC. They had a sale going on. It was on easy-pay so I paid for it over 3 months. And they offered a bonus of my choice of one additional attachment - I chose the meat grinder and use it often to make my own hamburger.

Keep your options open about where you buy yours. Mine is only the second mix master I've ever owned. Take you time shopping around. And I hope you have a blast with whatever you decide upon. These are powerful machines.

They seem to change model numbers once a week, so I got confuddled looking at even Kitchenaid's website. (Of course, I'm old, so I'm easily confuddled, too!)

The real key is the motor's wattage. Higher is better because higher means more power. This is an issue if you plan to make yeast doughs as they really ask a lot of a mixer. I think mine has a 450 watt motor and it seems up to any task I've asked of it so far.

All that being said, I had a 4-1/2 qt tilt head model for nearly 30 years and it was always able to do what I wanted except to make a batch and a half of pizza dough. It simply couldn't handle that and I either got by with one batch or made two and used only half of the second batch.

In all honesty, you'll likely be happy with any one you choose.

cuz I am really, but don't tell DH hehehe

I really like the idea of the unit above, it looks great and the head is removable to make a hand mixer

also, those Kitchen Aide bowl grabber thingies make me nervous. I think I'd be happier with one where the bowl "sits" on the base

thanks for the imput, I'm thinking hard. I have to remember the unit will be a display piece too...

not on arms that lift. It has this coarse screw thread in the bowl botton that firmly attaches to the base ..... probably much like the mixer you posted.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=100215&RN=437

At least mine is similar. It has been fine, except I would like a bigger bowl when I double recipes. It would be handy to have a second mixing bowl. Many recipes need two groups of ingredients mixed and then combined. It is a pain with only one bowl. I don't make yeast bread so I can't speak about that.

Do you ever get Bed, Bath and Beyond 20% off coupons? They send them to me periodically. I save them for a big purchase like this. I never throw one of their coupons away. They honor them even when the date is past.

I like this site when I am contemplating new purchases. http://www.epinions.com/Mixers-Stand

Kitchen Aid is the model I have. I got it used years ago.

I make bread often, in and out of my bread maker, and this model works well and has never bogged down.

I have a small hand mixer which I use, so it might be nice to have one that incorporates both. (I like the one in the photo)

Check with Kitchen Aid for refurbished mixers. They used to have them for sale, but you had to ask customer service about them (came with warranty too).

Sometimes they have free shipping, too.