When I received the item, I was disappointed at first. It was so small not what I expected from the photos on Tanga. The instruction were sparse too. I didn't know what the cone thing was, so I played with it. I discovered how to take the vacuum apart and inside was the original filter. Question answered. Then the acid test-- I asked my wife to try it on her car while I was away at a meeting. She typically disdains some of my "gadget" purchases. When I returned, I asked if she had tried the vacuum. Her response was immediate and enthusiastic. Finally a success on my part. I then went to try it myself, and I was surprised how well it sucked up the accumulated sand and dirt particles from my floor mat. I didn't do the complete car, but I'm confident that it will be satisfactory. I hope it wears well, as our area has a lot of sand and dirt that we'll need to remove with this small, powerful vacuum.