I am looking through Kitchen Aid Mixers on Amazon and there are soooo many different versions! What is the best one to get? I am just a hobbyist. Thank you so much!

Watch amazon for sales and rebates. I have three sizes. The pro 6 is the biggest and most powerful. I recently got an artisan to fill in with lighter jobs. One huge problem... when I make IMBC or french buttercream, it takes forever to come to room temperature and I finally figured out why. The smaller motor in the artisan heats up after awhile, preventing the whites or yolks from cooling down. i put the frozen vegetables around it, but what a pain. The pro 6 motor stays completely cool. I will never buy a smaller one again.

Thanks for the help. I'm seeing those for about $320. That about average?

Check ebay. There will always be something on there. I kept bidding until I got the price I wanted. I think I ended up paying about $290, including shipping, last summer for my new pro 6. Also, keep in mind that some colors will be more/less expensive than others on Amazon. I am very happy with my mixer. I got the biggest because I didn't want to have to buy another one when I started to do bigger projects, and I had heard the best feedback about the pro models.

Thanks! What do you guys think of getting a factory refurbished one?

I bought a kenwood chef last week , sooooo happy x

I got a pro 6 about 3 months ago for $250.00 after a rebate from Amazon, with free shipping. If you can wait, watch for them to go on sale, they do periodically. I love my mixer! I will never get a smaller one again.

I also recommend a second bowl if you can swing it. I hate it when I have to get out my hand mixer because a recipe called for something mixed and something whipped and then combined...

I had a KitchenAid with the tilt head for about 10 yrs. and it started leaking into the bowl. I opted to purchase a new rather than repair and got the Pro 6 model and love it! The folks @ Kitchenaid said all the mixers need to be run at high speed at least 10 min. a week to prevent the leaking problem, so I'm doing that with the new one. Does anyone have a similar experience?

Leaking what? I have never heard of that happening. Yuck!

Another note, the bowl lift on the Pro 6 took a little getting used to, but the whole thing seems a lot more stable than the flip top ones.

Do any of you have a factory refurbished one or know someone who does? Do you think it would be a poor decision on my part?

I live about an hour from the Kitchen Aid outlet in Greenville, Ohio. Purchased a refurbished Pro 6 for under $200 (get a discount with AAA membership.) Love it. I have had good luck with refurbished appliances as long as they are factory refurbished.