The difference that having a Tm for me is the ability to get thru jobs a lot quicker while still maintaining a high quality clean. Using a portie makes new no difference to the quality of my cleaning, i just do it a lot slower and find it a lot more tedious. My customers always comment on how big and professional the machine looks, but tbh none of them probably care if i were to use the portie or a Tm. All they want is a clean carpet once im finished.
I personally think that using a tm is MORE expensive, my fuel costs are 30quid a day, plus oil changes and filters and in the last year i have had to replace pumps, gaskets, parts on the engine and temperature sensors on my tm. I probably spent about 1500quid on parts. BUT having the TM has enabled me to earn regularly close to 500quid a day which helps pay off the cost of fuel and having a tm. If someone is only earning enough to literally run a portie and cover business costs then a tm is a bad idea. If times get tough for me and i cant afford the Tm or fuel prices i would happily go back to a portie or the woodbridge mytee etm. At the moemnt im earning well enough to justify using the tm
Luc