I've had an old KA mixer, a more modern low end KA mixer, Bosch Universal mixer and now the Bosch inspired Nutrimill Artiste. The KA's are barely okay in my opinion, maybe if you step up to the higher end models but I never did. The Bosch was great but it burned out years ago from unknown cause. The Artiste is cheaper and does a bit less but for your sized batches should be sufficient.
I understand that under some conditions the motor brushes can become fouled and the armature just needs a good cleaning. Of course, other failure modes are always possible.
Transmission breakdowns happen too. Though my pre-1986 unit is still kneading dough. I know people who have burnt out their bosch universal one way or another but so far, somehow, nobody in my family? Though my eldest sister tells me that she had to have something replaced in hers at some point in the 90's. Her husband recently bought her a new one just because he didn't like how yellowed the plastic was.
I'm mulling getting a 2nd hand lift-bowl KA with a spiral hook just to compare, and then probably give it to a friend.
If one does get a KA, you want the lift-bowl version with a spiral hook. The C-hook is a joke, from all reports, and the spiral hook is not recommended for the way the gear head is designed on the tilt-head models.
I don't have an opinion on the nutrimill unit. A 2nd hand bosch of the 1986-2008 variety would be my recommendation, on a budget.
