My cheap B&D Firestorm cordless drill/driver just died.

I need a reasonably priced, reasonably decent replacement for general home use. I don't do anything "major" so don't need anything top of the line or heavy duty.

The guy at Lowe's recommended the Hitachi brand and suggested 12v is barely squeaking by. He said he would prefer 14.4v or 18v if I really wanted to cover my bases.

Please tell me your experience with Hitachi or with any other comparably priced alternative. Share your thoughts on volt power and size (3/8 vs 1/2).

Is it worth the extra money to step up to DeWalt? I had really hoped to stay under $100 but could go as high as $200 if I really get more value/longevity/power out of the unit.

I would go with the porter cable set they have at lowes. The one here had the drill and the circular saw for under a hundred bucks. And they are a great tool. And bigger is always better.

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Dewalt is a good drill. Millwaukee is a better choice IMO. Mine is over 20yrs old and I have never had a problem. A freind of mine said if 12volts won't do the job, plug it in. 12v is plenty of power in will drive hundreds of fasteners per charge.

Good to know Hank. I saw the Milwaukee on Home Depot's site but have never used one. Wasn't sure where they fell in the quality spectrum.

Keep the ideas coming.

i'm the furthest thing from a handyman, but i know mikita and craftsman are two of the best from folks i know that use them. mikita's aren't cheap though.

My father and I are big DeWalt fans for cordless tools.

A couple of things to note. 3/8" vs. 1/2" just comes down to what you will be using it for. 3/8" is fine for smaller screws, holes, etc. The 18V gives great power and lasts longer but the downside is that they are heavier. Battery choice is also another option. There are NiCad, NiMH and Lion battery options out on the market now. The lion batteries are much lighter, charge faster and last longer in my experience. They are also more expensive. Make sure you get one with variable speed. They probably all have this feature now but just make sure. I know the old ones didn't always have that and it was a PIA.

I have a 12 year old dewalt 3/8" 12v nicad that still works great although I need to get a new battery for it. My dad has about 4 of the 18v drills and some of them have the lion batteries. They work great too.