My trusty old Dyson finally needed a solution. Having hardwoods around the house I almost always use hose tools these days and rarely take the time to pack everything up after use as with three young children and two cats there is always some mess to vacuum! My guess is that the frequent bucking of the hose by the machine eventually caused the hose to break. This replacement came quickly, was cheap, fit my car and does the job. I feel like the suction power isn't quite what it used to be. The replacement is definitely thinner and lighter material. It seems a bit flimsy, but I've used it a lot (read the note above) and it seems like it's holding up really well. Whether it's because of the lighter material or just because it's new, it slides over the extension pole to roll it up and retract it much easier than the old hose. Now I try to clean it more often so it helps with that. Maybe one day my vacuum cleaner will no longer be part of my home decor? A girl can dream.