My floor is mostly bare wood, with one area rug.  I am looking for a canister vacuum with a LOW-Profile floor tool, good suction and a retractable cord.  The "profile" of the floor tool should be under 3" -- to go under my furnitures.  [Right now I am using a very old Eureka.]
 
HEPA is not a requirement.  Low noise is preferrable; so is inexpensive refill bags.
 
TIA

Hi,may i suggest the following machines,that will do the job.
 
1 bosch compact series
 
2 miele classic series
 
3 riccar 1400 series
 
4 sebo k2 series
 
5 aerus/electrolux classic series
 
6 kenmore progressive with the spare wand option.
 
7 any machine that you can use, and find comfortable.
 
  good luck
 
  O.T.

sorry... I didn't mean to misspell your name!  Carmine!

Quote from old-timer on 05/29/07 at 9:03am:

 
I have looked at Miele.  The profile of the floor tool that I saw is over 3".
 
Does anyone on this forum has any of the other canister vacuums mentioned above?  If yes, can you tell me how high is the profile of the floor tools.  [The specifications on the web site generally do not have the height of the profile of floor tools.]
 
TIA

There are going to be floor tools out there that will be 3" or slightly below.  There are some generic floor tools that will register under 3".
 
The Riccar 1500M(or 1500S)/Simplicity S20(or S18) are very good cleaners that are relatively quiet, have power and can use a natural-hair floor brush.  Bags will not be expensive.
 
Are you sure you checked out all of the floor tools for the Miele.  They do have a newer one-
 
http://www.miele.com/usa/vacuums/accessories_in_detail.asp?cat=1&subcat=1&acc=1&item=95