This is our second one of these toasters and we will never buy any other toaster ever again. The first one lasted well over 10 years and made perfect toast every time. My family all like their toast at different levels of browning and we all know our own perfect setting on the toaster and it always comes out exacly the same way every time. Takes a little getting used to at first, but after that perfect toast every time. While expensive up-front, when you average it out, it is very reasonable and the only way to go.