My parents have had a Hoover carpet cleaner for over 5 years. We love it. All of my realatives borrow it. My younger brother's friend come over and use it to clean the inside of their cars. It works great.
I think it was between $200 and $300. We have gotten our moneys worth. We have actually used it so much that we will proably have to get a new once in the next year or 2.