Vitamix 5200
The 5000 and 5200 have changed little across decades
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- Type
- Full-size high-speed pitcher
- Lifespan
- 15 to 32 years of daily use
Why it ranks here. Ask Reddit for a blender that lasts and the answer is a Vitamix, most often the 5200. Owners report fifteen to thirty years of daily use, the parts are sold separately, and the service is the best in the category. It ranks first without much argument; the price is the only one.
One owner inherited a Vitamix 5000 bought in 1994, makes 'protein smoothies 5x a week'↗ in it, and is 'blown away'↗ by 'a 32 year old blender'↗. A 2005 machine got a new potentiometer and, twenty years on, a new $100 pitcher when a child dropped the old one. When a five-year-old unit sounded odd, Vitamix said send it in and offered 'a loan blender'↗ for the meantime. Cleaning is soap, hot water and thirty seconds on high. The complaints: $300 to $450 new, though a refurbished one or a Costco sale brings it to $170 to $300; a blade that 'doesn't come off easily'↗, which makes hummus and pesto 'a royal PITA'↗ to get out; and a few motors that gave up around ten years, one owner concluding 'Not buy it for life'↗.
What owners like
“We inherited this Vitamix 5000 from my wife’s family this year after they’ve owned it since 1994. Since received, i’ve made protein smoothies 5x a week. I cannot begin to say how blown away I’ve been with its performance, let alone it being a 32 year old blender. I don’t think i’ll ever need another! Truly a workhorse appliance.” — Reddit post · u/iEatSwampAss · r/BuyItForLife · 2026-02-20
8 positive · 2 mixed · 2 negative · 11 voices · ✓ all 12 linked to source
Read all 12 quotes (11 voices)
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We inherited this Vitamix 5000 from my wife’s family this year after they’ve owned it since 1994. Since received, i’ve made protein smoothies 5x a week. I cannot begin to say how blown away I’ve been with its performance, let alone it being a 32 year old blender. I don’t think i’ll ever need another! Truly a workhorse appliance.
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You’re not kidding. I have owned several cheaper blenders (Nutri bullet and Ninja) and the blend that this Vita-mix puts out is not even comparable. I don’t even need to use the poker to jostle the stuff around inside, it friggin blends up anything I toss inside! Truly a buy it for life appliance. Not to mention how easy it is to toss in the dishwasher to clean it!
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I just rinse it lightly, fill it with hot water and a bit of dish soap and run it at full speed for 30s or so, and rinse again. Clean every time.
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I purchased a Vitamix blender 5 years ago. I've used it every single day since, sometimes more than once. It came with a 10-year warranty. I've noticed lately it sounds kinda funny but it works fine. I called Vitamix and they said, "send it to us, we'll check it out". I was reluctant because it was over the holidays and I didn't want to be without a blender. They said, "no problem, we'll send you a loan blender!"--all prepaid shipping. I got my blender back today and it looks brand new and I've still got another 5 years on the warranty. Absolutely outstanding and prompt service.
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My old Ninja Auto-IQ (bought in 2016 for about $120) finally called it quits today. ...A few hours later, on a total whim, I checked OfferUp. Someone had just listed a Vitamix 5200, brand new in box, posted only a couple hours earlier. I messaged, picked it up the same day, and paid $170...Feels like a pretty big upgrade from a Ninja, especially at this price.
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My motor is dying. Bought it in 2015. It's a 5200 model. I can run it for about 3 minutes straight before it eventually shuts off. Not buy it for life.
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I've had one for about 15 years, but I don't love it. It was great and easy to clean for smoothies, but I don't do smoothies anymore and my main use is for pesto, hummus and other pastes. It's such a royal PITA to get all the finished product out of it since the blade doesn't come off easily.
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Vitamix 5200 are used in professional kitchen and plenty of parts support.
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vitamix is the only blender that will survive that kind of use, my 5200 is on year 6 now with daily smoothies and still sounds like new
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I have two Vitamix one was recently inherited. The one We bought in 2005 I did have to repair. I did need to replace the potentiometer for speed control butt he guide and part were easy to find. Just this week (20 years of regular use later) my kid dropped the pitcher and it broke. The replacement part was available for $100 on vitamix website...I am not going to say I like every "improvement" vitamix has made or that there are no flaws, but they are repairable and even when abused keep on chooching.
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I love my Vitamix. My first one lasted 15 years with heavy use and my new one, which I bought at Costco, for $299.00 on sale. Love it.
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Unpopular opinion, but I _hate_ our Vitamix. It cavitates like I’ve never experienced and the blade can’t be unscrewed to clean. I’ve ended up with godknowshowold spinach bits in my hummus because I didn’t realize there was spinach stuck under the blade
