I have a KitchenAid used about every day for the past 25 years.  Used for bread a couple of times a week,  I never did like the dough hook and have always used the paddle for bread, it is a great machine, never any trouble and lives on the counter year round.  I have a question leandjean mentioned a pasta maker attachment that will make macaroni,  is there anyone out there who actually does that?   I have an electric pasta maker and also a hand crank one made by Marcati (spelling?) both of which are supposed to make macaroni. I can make excellent spaghetti etc with them but the pastas with holes in the center macaroni, penne etc have proved very difficult.   The dough is either too soft to cut cleanly or cuts o.k. but cooks up so tough it is awful.  If there is a trick to this I would love to know how to do it.

Put me in the KA camp.  I use mine all the time as well.  It's the 600Pro 6qt.  The first one I got broke rather quickly, but the replacement I got has worked like a champ.  I primarily use the Grain Mill attachment, but I've also used the meat/food grinder, & the chopper/shredder.  As long as you're careful & pay attention to how hot your mixer is getting, it seems to do fine.

Wow, what a lot of info.  Looks like the vintage KA mixers were the real workhorses.  I hate to hear that the quality has declined but not surprised.  One reason I am wanting one is for the attachment that will power my "Family Grain Mill" flour grinder.  The stand alone motor for the grinder is very expensive but the attachment is pretty reasonable and they make them for either the Bosch or KA.  My freebie hand mixer just stripped its gears last week so I guess it is decision time.