My pool is 10 years old. It came with a Ray Vac cleaner. That worked ok for 4 years then needed repairs. We paid the money and got another 2 years out of it. We then replaced it with a Hayward Phantom (adding the booster pump at that same time). This worked very well with no problems - I just replaced the bag once a year. It was able to keep the pool clean running about an hour a day. But now it is just going in small circles. I'm waiting for a repair estimate and thought I'd investigate alternatives. We have 3 very old, very large pecan trees in the back yard. So every spring we have a lot of pecan tassels and every fall we have an incredible amount of leaves. In addition, we have pecans and worse, pecan fragments that the squirrels drop into the pool from above while they eat. So I need something with good pickup. The repairman (while he was taking my Phantom into the shop for the estimate) suggested a Polaris 280. I've read all kinds of different reviews and opinions but decided to come to the experts. My pool has been so much better since I stopped going to Leslie's and found your site a few years ago.