I run a vacuum review site and recently wrote up a review based on my tests of a Kirby vacuum. I got a comment on it that I just cannot answer though, and I thought I would turn to the people who knew the machines the best. The question was "I found a used Kirby Heritage 2 on Craigslist and I was wondering if it is the same quality as the G series?". I have no experince with the Heritage machines and thought perhaps someone here could help. If you would like to help, please reply to the comment at: this link
I have a (UK model) G7e and a Heritage 1, and in my opinion, the Heritage is a better quality machine, built without the tech drive, the 1970 - 1990 platform models are very simple and bulletproof machines. The Heritage 2 does everything that the Generation models do, except it doesn't have the tech drive whine and its lighter in weight than a G series. It has the 2 speed motor, and bag fill tube with mini emptor, just like the later G models.
I prefer using the Heritage to the G7 - mainly as I am not that keen on the noise the tech drive makes, and if the height is set correctly, the Heritage is fairly easy to push on a cut pile carpet.
The Heritage also uses less plastic parts than the Generation series and I think its more robust. The pre-generation models are still great machines, and if one is obtained in good order it will last for years, as Kirby still sell parts for them.