I have a Miele Callisto.  It's a very nice vacuum.  But as you noted the hose is too short.  The bags are expensive, but they're also indestructible and filter very well.  Overall, I think it's a great vacuum.  Although, I'm not fond of the small casters.  They don't roll as freely on carpet. 

Tell me about it! Miele UK are confusing to say the least, not helped by special "exclusive" versions that have an extra price added on because of the colour and a confusing model line up judged by the number variations. The white S2 shown here is an exclusive colour in the UK alongside the dark grey version and all we get are suction only heads and fixed height twin tubes that are smaller in height than the "standard" telescopic height adjustable ones. Buyers are strangely then pushed to spend more on the S6 which is supposed to be the new "S4" because it has a smaller body and a small dust bag - but when you've got the S2 with the bigger bags, sometimes it's a no-brainer until you get the machine out of the box and realise where Miele have been stingy.

Of course buyers who don't know any different without researching won't know this.

Miele makes an excellent vacuum and while they are expensive, after having owned three I have found them to be well made and able to tolerate abuse, such as a housekeeper. From my own use I’ve found them to be one of the best high-end modern canisters available. And, Miele vacuums are also much more readily available than some of their “supposed” DTD competitors, as they have even been selling Miele vacs and bags in the two different Bloomingdale’s by me for the past 3+ years. Even Williams-Sonoma carries their own special models of Miele machines.

Their bags are pricey, especially when compared to something like basic Lux C bags but I won't ever use a paper Lux C bag after using the Perfect Canister HEPA bags, which cost almost as much as what I used to pay for Miele bags. I had a Red Velvet (which I bought new shortly after it came out) and also had a Blue Moon at the same time. In the few years that I owned them I think I only replaced the HEPA filter in the Red Velvet once. The Miele bags at that time had just recently changed to the cloth like bags, and even back then they filtered the dust so well I never thought the HEPA filter needed to be changed. I only changed it because I thought that was what you were "supposed" to do. I never really noticed any dust on the filter so after that I thought it would be a waste to spend $60 on a filter that probably didn't even need to be changed, and never bothered with it again.

@williamr1248:
I’ve tried the SEB217 p/n, its compact, easy to move around, and cleans well if you have the right carpet (probably best suited for commercial style or very low pile carpeting). For my own personal use, I had the SEB236 with the Red Velvet, and I think it was the 226(?) for the Blue Moon. I can't remember what the model number was off the top of my head but it was the original full sized power nozzle that came out with the White Pearl and continued until the Red Velvet & 236 were released. Both power nozzles did an amazing job cleaning my carpets, and I would love to be able to use either one with my central vac. If you really want a power nozzle that can truly compete with the Rainbow's power nozzle, then possibly exchange the 217 for the 236. It will clean circles around the 217 and there will be no issues with the nozzle sticking to your carpet. In my opinion the 236 or even the new 228 are probably two of the best, if not the best modern power nozzles currently on the market. Best of luck with your new Miele and many hours of happy vacuuming!!

Well from my own experience Miele vacuums are good - to a point. I much prefer the older canisters even though they come with the FJM bag size as standard. S500, S300 - they're virtually indestructible = from a domestic point of view and the only downside is that they are heavy. In the UK Comet have started to re-sell older cylinder vacs from Miele but at a price, often being more expensive now when at a time before our recession hit, they were more sensibly priced, before the onslaught of the S2 and half way between the S4 series when it was on sale.

Grey tubes? I've never seen those - the demo machines in the UK at Comet, John Lewis etc all come with the default stainless steel tubes - and yes, I agree, they are pretty heavy. Even Sebo's D series all s/s similar tubes are slightly lighter and not much of a struggle. 

I have used lighter aluminium Bosch tubes before with my Miele S6 in order to make performance lighter but it soon becomes clear why a locking tube is so much more important - friction fit tubes are what Bosch always fit and are the same size as Miele, often allowing you to use the better well thought smaller cleaning tools- but when it comes to the floor heads they have a tendency to slide off or become loose as there is corresponding lock catch.

Handy! What's the product code for those dark grey tubes?

Ty for that info, but aren't both these tubes electric?

Well Josh, if you have a dusty smelling Miele and it's not the filter or the bag, then it's definitely the tubes, suction pipe and floor head or just your imagination. 

Hey, how heavy are the SET 210 wands, on their own?

Unlike Sebo's canisters though, don't all Miele vacs have the air outlet slider at the top of the handle? Surely with that adjusted on the highest suction, it would make a difference? Is the highest power always required? I don't find that with my own Miele vacs.

Ty for the weight - oh well I shan't be ordering these any time soon!