New Ka Mixer Needed...help Please
Decorating By luvmygirl Updated 28 Jun 2007 , 3:52pm by shadowgypsie
I got mine at Williams-Sonoma. I prefer the tilt head models as I find it less messy to use (don't have to remove the paddle when removing the bowl) than the lift-up bowl models. The downside is that they are only available with smaller bowl capacities and wattage. That's my preference though and I'm sure you will get a lot of different opinions on this 
Amazon has great prices. Especially if you can get free shipping.
I have the classic, 275 watt one. I make cakes and cookies (mmf and frostings too) all with no problems.
I am looking to upgrade though. I want to get one with a 6 quart and tilt head.
This site scours the internet for the best deals on KA. I check often
http://kitchendailydeal.blogspot.com/2006/07/great-deal-on-kitchenaid-artisan-5.html
Stephanie
I have a 5 quart with the lift bowl. I imagine that the tilt head would be a bit easier but you adapt to what you've got so I like mine just fine. 
Mine is not a professional series (I think it's 425 watts). I bought it at Costco over 10 years ago and it has been a wonderful machine. I did kill it with whole grain bread dough but after a little research I figured out what was wrong, ordered a new part and dh fixed it for me. Yes, I am a dork that way! lol (Oh, and when I say whole grain I mean really whole grain. I grind my own flour and bake all our bread, etc. For that my dh bought me a Bosch mixer so now I have two heavy duty mixers and I am totally spoiled! For the purpose of cakes, cookies and frostings the KA is a beautiful machine. I thought about parting with mine after I bought the Bosch but decided not to and now I'm thankful I kept it.)
Sorry for the rambling. I must need some adult conversation. 
I have two: the first one I bought through a closeout catalog and after about 15 years, I finally burned out the motor ... right in the middle of a week with 2 weddings and a large order for cookie favors for a 3rd!
So I went on e-bay and bid on two: neither of which I won, but there was a used one for sale, only about 2 hours from my house, and she was only asking $75! Her original post didn't get any responses, and since I didn't win either of the ones I'd bid on, I e-mailed her and we made arrangements ... long and short, I made it through the week and now I have a 2nd KA. Hopefully some time this summer I will be able to get my 1st one repaired so I will have 2 to work with all the time. I have the larger one with the bowl that raises and lowers (both of them). That's what I prefer, but like miriel said, you'll get a lot of different opinions on this.
HTH,
Odessa
Only piece of advice is, buy the biggest bowl size you can possibly swing. Since you can't kill it with a stick, you can't plan on replacing it next year with a bigger one when you find out the size you bought won't hold all your cookie dough 
I got mine at ChefsCatalog.com because they do alot of "free shipping over $99" promotions, but of course, not at this moment. Free shipping wherever you can find it would be a fabulous deal, since KitchenAid mixers of all bowl sizes are very heavy beasts! Have a cupcake ready for your UPS guy to make up for his hernia
I have two. The original 4.5 and the professional 600 which was a birthday gift from my kids. I use the smaller one more, maybe because I have three large bowls and a small one that fit the mixer. So far I have no complaints. I have had the smaller one for 25 years.
I have four, well 5 if you count the one that is permanently on loan to my mother. I got mine at Williams Sonoma, Costco, inherited one in marriage, and the most recent two I bought direct from Kitchenaide, who sells demo models for half off ( so I bought two of course)
My advice would be to get the biggest bowl and motor you can afford. I can't even begin to tell you how much more I like my 6 qt mixers than my 5 quart. The wider bowl means so much less mess adding ingrdients, easier scraping, and I can make all the IMBC I need for a 5 tier wedding cake in one batch. For me that is worth it.
I also went on Ebay and got extra bowls, beaters and whips, and those could be my best cake related investment.
Thanks you guys! In the market to upgrade....well, really in NEED of an upgrade. Let's pray that the little engine that could makes it until I get a KA.
I got mine on Ebay.. if you're not in a hurry it's a great way to go. I got the professional grade in black, the day It came via UPS i just took it out of the box and LOOKED at it, my hubby laughed and laughed said I was worse then a kid at christmas, but I'm telling ya I got a six hundred dollar mixer for two hundred fifty dollars, plus the guy sending it had free shipping if you ordered more then one thing so, I did a buy now option for some extras, like the pasta machine, which I like to use for rolling thin strips of fondant...
Jen
I bought mine at sams club in 2002 after killing my little 325 watt mixer in just two years this new one is 475 watts with 6 quart lift bowl but I have yet to put anything in it that slows it down even a triple recipe chocolate chip cookie mix and it only cost 250.00
the first one i bought was at a kitchen store... basic model. I bought all the attachments and it barely had the power to run them. I just upgraded this year to a 5 quart professional HD I got from Costco..... I LOVE IT! Start with a good one with large capacity and strong motor... you'll thank yourself later.
How does this sound???
Designed for long life and quiet operation, the KitchenAid® stand mixer is the one mixer that generations have depended on for power, performance and durability. Built to handle large batches easily, this professional mixer features a rugged, all-metal construction, a powerful 475-watt motor, and KitchenAid's unique planetary mixing action that reaches every part of the bowl.
Gadget set (Included):
Mixer spatula
Stainless steel measuring spoons
Attachments (Included):
Burnished flat beater
Burnished professional dough hook
Professional wire whip
Features:
Color: Onyx Black
Durable, all-metal construction designed for long life and quiet operation
Powerful 475-watt motor mixes large batches easily
10-speeds
Electronic speed control
Unique KitchenAid planetary mixing action reaches every part of the bowl
Soft Start mixing eliminates "puff" of ingredients on start up
Five-quart polished stainless steel bowl with handle
Commercial style, bowl-lift design
Heavy-duty bowl lift lever
Ergonomically designed bowl lift handle for a comfortable no slip grip
Large capacity
Five rubber feet to protect countertops and help ensure mixer stability
Fan cooled motor
Commercial auto reset
Locked rotor protection
UL listed
Dimensions: 13.3" W x 17.3" D x 19.4" H
Weight: 25 lb
It costs $279.99
Another option: check your local Salvation Army store ... someone suggested I try that, too, as they knew someone who had purchased SEVERAL from there in a variety of colors (I think they had 6 or 7 in shades like teal, frosty blue, yellow, etc.....lots of "retro" shades), and they paid probably less than $30 for each and all of them worked perfectly!
I tried with mine, but it was not to be that week. That's okay, I love my "Almond Joy" ... the only reason the seller was getting rid of it is because she had remodeled her kitchen and wanted a white one, not an almond one! Wow!
Odessa
Chefscatalog.com is doing their free shipping over $99 promotion now until 7/5/07 if you are still looking.
http://www.chefscatalog.com/Catalog/SpecialOffers.aspx
If ya don't mind the color you can almost always get one at Brandsmart USA for around $169. Thats where I got mine. Its a pale yellow Accolaide 400. Love it. They had several different models all under $225.
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