KA mixers are very fashionable.
I bought my pre-1986 Bosch Universal at a thrift store in 2001. I Don't know the exact manufacture date but the control knob is avocado green. I should really clean and re-lube the transmission some day, and check for worn bearings.
I'd say if you want a KA, maybe hold out for one of the models for which KA says a spiral dough hook is available, because it sounds like the spiral hooks are much better, but the reason most of them come with a C-hook only is because the C hook doesn't try to press up into the gearbox, and the gearboxes in those don't have a thrust bearing to protect them from that pressure.
I'm not actually in the market I was just posting my observations.
I have a KA Classic 4.5Q, I've had that thing for quite a few years now and it sure has had a lot of use. I have a spiral hook I picked it up from Amazon. Depending on batch size, oil percentage, hydration & of course mixing time the spiral hook is no harder on the unit then the C hook IMO. I've been doing 18+ RTF for quite a while now so I mix half as long as I used to, my hydration is been raised to 66%+, 2% oil and a batch size with a total weight of 790-800g that mixer doesn't struggle too much. I've been quite easy on it since I've had it, smaller batch sizes, its never been past speed 2 for mixing dough, and I'll bet its been past speed 2 maybe 3-4 times (long time ago) for whipped cream/cake batter type stuff but I found its easier to just grab the hand mixer for that kinda stuff.
It gets used about 75 times a year, I've never serviced it I'm kinda scared too. If I take it apart I may need parts, idk if I can get parts. I should probably consider looking into a little further, ordering parts that would normally require replacement & watch some youtube vids.
BTW if you "or anyone reading this" have any knowledge on the subject of servicing/rebuilding these things in terms of does & donts, what parts should be replaced if I do decide to rip it apart I'm all ears. I think if I decided to service it and was going to go through the trouble of tearing it down then I would like to just replace parts rather then inspect condition.
There's always talk around the forum here and there about the KA mixers like mine having plastic gears and they dont last long and burn out, but that's all I've seen is talk about it, I havent come across any threads with any members complaining that this has actually happened to them. I dont know, but what I do know is its been a great mixer and served me well to this point and seems to still be going strong.
