Cookaholics Bulletin Board

My KA mixer is over 30 years old. At the time, there were only 2 sizes of home mixers, the 4.5 quart tilt-head and the 5 quart lift model. Colors were white or almond. Mine is 4.5 quart, tilt head, almond. There's nothing wrong with it, and I have a lot of attachments that I never use.

For Xmas, a friend asked a friend about getting me a new, bigger KA. Of course, the second friend told me, and asked if I want one (we're all kinda old, and I'm kinda broke, so my friends do stuff like this). Geesh! Everyone wants newer, bigger, better, right? Well yeah!

But, mine works fine, although there are times that I would like it to have more capacity. My dilemma is that I've heard that the old Hobart models are much better than the newer Whirlpool ones. Given that mine's and old Hobart KA, and the new one would be a KA600Pro, would you encourage this or not? How much stock should I put into the Hobart/Whirlpool difference?

It's getting late. I have to speak up or let the dice roll.

Get a new shiny one. I'll take the old one off your hands!

Kidding. Keep the Hobart.

The Professional 600 is a competent mixer that comes in handy for those times when doubled recipes require a bit more capacity. My Professional 6 is the same mixer except for the spiral dough hook and it has been churning out bread, cookies and cakes for seven years without a problem. It is more noisy than my tilt head and the motions to work with a lift bowl are not quite as convenient as a tilt head, but the tubular handle on the bowl is much more comfortable.

Mixers are a bit like friends. You can't have too many and you never give them away. Keep the tilt head even if you end up with a new Professional 600.

I'd stick with the Hobart. The whirlpool ones (I have one) just aren't nearly as good.

I think I have the same model, only white. I remember the thrill of opening that box! Many's the time I've wished for larger capacity but haven't succombed yet. The red one with the glass bowl is mighty pretty and sometimes I think I can hear it calling my name. But, at my age...... The only time I really need more capacity is this time of year with all the cookie and bread baking. And I keep mine under the counter and have enough trouble lifting it up to the counter top. The new one probably outweighs it by quite a bit.
fitzie

Well, you could do what I do. Have both...

I can't use my 4.5 qt. for most breads, so I very much like my 6 qt. for many of the things I make. However, there are times when 6 qts. is completely overkill and I use my 4.5 qt.

I think it depends on what you like to make.

Amy

Thanks, everyone. I don't make bread, and I really don't have room for 2 mixers, so I think I managed to stop this in time.

SS, If it were ME, . . .
I'd keep the oldie unit, and thank my friends for the offer by making them some goodies.

On advice from everyone, I kept the old one. I got 2 annual passes to Universal Orlando (AKA: Hogwarts Castle) instead. Life is good.