I need a new vacuum cleaner and am after your recommendations - good or bad.

I need power, give me power, nothing like a strong suction to make me happy! I have both carpets and floating wood floorboards. No indoor pets. Am happy to spend quite a bit on a new vacuum, especially now that there are a lot of sales on. Bags or bagless, not fussed as have had both before.

In the past I have had a dyson - we got it as a wedding present 11 years ago. That lasted around 5 years before we moved to a country town with a lot of red dirt and we just felt it wasn't as effective as we would have liked. So we upgraded to a super duper expensive Wertheim brand vacuum with a power head which I loved! Only problem is we have had quite a few problems with it - the rod has snapped twice, had a problem with the motor and also the connection down to the powerhead. BUT it sucks fantastically!

Sooo now I don't know what to do - do I go back to a Dyson again, there seem to a lot of different models to choose from, or is there another brand that people love?

Hit me with your suggestions!

TIA.