okay, I'm looking to buy a new mixer. My BIL bought me a Sunbeam for Christmas two years ago (to make up for forgetting to buy me anything the year before. 
) but it is dying with how often I use it. I found a KA here at a specialty kitchen store but DH says no way on spending $600+ on it. So we went looking yesterday and found two options.
Sunbeam--$400, 850 watts, two stainless steel bowls-3.5 litre and 2 litre, bowl spins for mixing, beaters and dough hooks, 12 speeds
Kenwood--$250, 1000 watts, one stainless steel bowl-4litre, beaters move not bowl, whisk, paddle and dough hook, splash guard, don't remember how many speeds. Has option to buy more bowls as I definitely need more than one,
The Kenwood actually sounds better to me but the Sunbeam is more expensive which I often equate with better even though that is just a marketing thing. 
so what do you think? any experience with either?
Thanks,
Tamra 
My Kitchen Aid is the love of my life...and I could have saved a lot of money by investing in one first then trying to save money by buying a Sunbeam. After burning up two Sunbeam mixers, I finally wised up. (I don't know why I didn't wise up after the first one went up in smoke...)
Thanks for the replies. Sounds like Sunbeam is not the way to go and since I can't go KA I'll have to go Kenwood. I'll start saving the money for the KA though. My mom has one and doesn't use it much so doesn't really like it. If we had the same power here I'd have her ship that baby to me but not really worth rewiring my kitchen for. 
Thanks,
Tamra
Call Kitchenaid directly. They have demo models that they sell as refurbished. In the last month, I have purchased two additional professional models fro $230 each ( the 575 watt motor with the 6 quart bowl). Or, kitchenaid has an Ebay store.
I just checked out ebay for kitchenaid mixers and there is a brand new six quart mixer up for bid that ends in 28 minutes .. it is going for 285.00$!! what a steal!
A liitle off note but I have a KA, but see that alot of the TV personalities are now using Viking...Anyone have a viking? I am wondering if it is any better than the KA.......not that I have a problem with mine.
Just wondering......
I have not actually used a Viking mixer either, but I remember a few years ago when Gale Gand started using a mini Hobart instead of the KA she always had it was because they were quieter on tv and they didn't have to yell over the noise. I have heard that more than once, so I wonder how true it is and if there's a notable difference in the performance of the other mixers. I do know I love my KA!
Tamra,
In the past Sunbeam used to be good my mum had a sunbeam mixer that she got for her wedding and it lasted about 30years 
and both my grandmothers had theirs for around the same time but as the saying goes they don't make things like they used to, her current sunbeam mixer I think is about 7 years old and is on the way out now (it is still a reasonable innings though nowhere near the 30years of old).
We used to have a Kenwood Chef at work (inherited a very old one but it did last a long time) which finally gave up the ghost recently and replaced it with a Kenwood (not the Chef but a lesser model) I think it was about $250-$300 mark (might be the same one you are looking at) it seems to be going well so far. It has the stationary bowl but orbital beater and came with a paddle, whisk and dough hook we haven't done any dough or anything really tough in it yet but we do cheesecake in it all the time and it handles that ok. The only little thing I found was that sometimes it does not mix all the way through in the very very bottom of the bowl so may need to give it a stir.
HTH
I have a Hamilton Beech, Ecelectrics line.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it
Would not trade it for any other brand.
The price was right, at JCPenneys and they come in lots of cool great colors.
I would recommend it highly, especially if you are not willing or ready to splurge for a KA
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