Most people don't even know that Panasonic makes drills because they can't buy them in the big home centers. When I tell people I have a Panasonic they usually laugh and boast about their DeWault 18 volt XRPiece of garbage.

I say the best you've used is the best you know because most people are happy with what they have, until they use something better. This will happen to you if you put down your pretty rainbow tools and go for the black.

I don't know about now, but I know Panasonic used to make the batteries for just about every other brand. They save their best technology for themselves. I worked at Home Chepot and even the power tool reps sheepishly admitted that Panasonic was the best. They only did this after their long sales pitch about how great their product was to which I would always reply "I own a Panasonic."

The only guy that was proud of his inferiority was the Ryobi guy, so I have to give him credit.

Back to the drill, and this is not my humble opinion, why does everyone think they have to say IMHO before they say what they want to? Humble or not, I just have a few things to say about the Panasonic.

I have never actually paid for a Panasonic drill. Mine are always handed down to me after my dear old dad has been using them for two years. It started with the 12 volts then jumped to the 15.6.

He is an electrical contractor and for an electrician the drill is the most used tool. We probably use a drill more than any other trade. I don't have any figures to back up this statement, I'm just telling you the thing gets used a lot for everything.

That being said, I use the drills that are handed down to me after a good solid two years of abuse. I then use them for another two years or so. These drills are built to last. When we upgraded the first time the 12 volts went to wives and sisters for their own little projects because the drills still had life in them. Now daddy boy is upgrading to the Panasonic Lithium line and I am getting his second 15.6 drill. He upgraded from 3.0 amp hour batteries to the 3.5 amp hour.

I haven't read all of the reviews on Amazon, but I have read a few and I happen to have a few things to say:

If your drill smokes you are pushing it too hard. Here's a thought, let go of the trigger, I have smoked mine several times and it still runs like a champ, but I do know when to say when. I also know when to get a corded drill.

One fellow electrician said he drilled out an entire upstairs with his drill, while I find this awe inspiring, I also find it completely awe inspiring. Why would you do that to your drill? Get a generator and a Hole Hawg for Pete's sake. This almost sounds like the guys I saw burn up a DeFault 18 volt while drilling out an entire house for central vac.

If you can't get a small bit centered into this chuck you probably also have problems like grasping doorknobs and flipping the light switch with your finger on the first try.

Bit holders/bubbles/levels/toenail clippers, do not belong on drills made for professionals. However, I recently purchased a Bosch ps20 and the light is handy.

In short, Panasonic are the best drills made hands down. I wish they would come out with a more complete combo kit so I could own all Panasonic equipment. Their 15.6 metal cutter is awesome, cuts conduit and unistrut as fast as wood. I am not a fan of DeFault, I think it is Black and Decker painted yellow, but a guy in our crew swears by it. To each his own. But, IMHO, buy the Panasonic no matter what it is and you will be happy to have a tool to pass down for generations.

The Panasonic 15.6v is an excellent choice for the one tool that I reach for more than any other. I am a general contractor and have owned and/or used Ridgid, Dewalt, Ryobi, and Makita 18v cordless drills. This drill is by far my favorite. It feels good in the hand, is well balanced, lighter than the 18v drills but can drive more screws per charge than any of them. It has very precise speed, start, and stop control. The speed chuck is also my favorite because it has some kind of ratcheting mechanism in it that has excellent holding power and is easy to release. For a home owner, I would recommend the Ryobi since it's half price (with a flashlight) and still a decent tool.

These detail specs show a differnt drill than you actually receive. This says it turns at 1300 but the paperwork says 1450 and that is good (this shows 1450 as well but this is a minor infraction)

The torque rating is very wrong. This says 390 in-lb but the papers that come with the drill claim 282 in-lbs... why the 28% overstatement?? Retail List Price?? Are you crazy?? I cannot find one for over $220 unless you are also paying for the shipping. The reviews offer more truth than the information about the tool itself.

It is still a good drill don't get me wrong. I bought one 3 years ago - and although it is rated for a max of 1/2 in. bits for metal, I have been drilling 5/8 in. holes in .060 stainless steel nearly daily the whole time. The batteries are not lasting a whole day anymore, the motor has been seen smoking on occation, the chuck has been wobbling for just about 2 years and the power has dropped off a bit. This is very good when compaired to 3 other brand who did not make it 6 months under the same conditions.

This may sound like a bad review, but I just received it's replacement today. Yes, even after all I have just said, I bought another one... the old one is crapping out but it has had a very hard 3 years and I don't suppose any other cordless drill could do the same this one has done for as long as it has done it.

This is an outstanding, high quality drill. I've used DeWalt, Porter-Cable, and Bosch, and I must say that this drill easily competes with the best. The 3.5-amp, 15.6-volt batteries provide plenty of power on a charge that lasts forever (check the competitors for a similar amp rating and you won't find it, not even in the new lithium-ion). The compact size is terrific - you can get this drill into much tighter spaces than its bulkier competitors, except for the compact drills which are limited in performance.

Despite what many reviewers have noted, there IS, in fact, a bit holder on this drill. It's located in the base where the battery attaches. At first I thought this was inconvenient but it's impossible for the bit to become dislodged and lost. It only takes a second to remove the battery pack and take out the bit.

The ratcheting chuck can be mechanically or manually tightened. The high-pitch whine is not offensive, and soon becomes a familiar trait of the tool. To attach a bit, all you need to do is hold the bit at the center of the chuck and tighten the jaws to the bit in the typical fashion using the battery power. What makes this drill special is that you can further tighten the bit by hand, allowing the drill to grasp the bit very tightly. I've never had a small-diameter drill bit spin on me, as we have all experienced with other drills. And when that battery (finally) dies, you can remove the bit by hand if necessary.

For the price, quality, and features, I'd recommend this drill to anyone. I just wish Panasonic had a better selection of 15.6-volt power tools to add to my collection!

im writing this because i felt it only fair to share my thoughts about this drill. It was other reviews that led me to buy the panasonic. im a med. size contractor and use cordless drills daily. Since buying this drill i swear by it (about 3 mo. old). The guys are always fighting to get to it first. Its smooth as silk, comfy in the hand, the batteries are awesome. Bye bye DeWalt.Read some dewalt reviews you'll arrive at the same conclusion.

I bought mine from Amazon in November 2003. I'm a weekend woodworker. The drill (and batteries) are used and stored in an unheated and un-air conditioned shop (I live in central Florida). The drill gets heavy use one weekend and then sits idle for weeks. Due to health reasons, it was unused once for 4 months (no use, no charging). I've dropped it a couple of times from waist height and once from a ladder on to the concrete. The high fall knocked the battery off but caused no real damage. I've used it to drill 1/2" holes in 3/16" steel. I've had the bit catch in steel and twist right out of my hand (I'm 6' 1", 210lbs). It has more torque than I can handle easily - I use my big, corded drill with extra handle for the tough stuff. I can run a 3 1/2" deck screw into a 4x4 post - flush! In moderate use, one battery lasts all day.
br /
br /Just last month, the charger started reporting an error when charging both of the batteries. They still charge and the drill is still usable, but after 42 months, the batteries are probably starting to fail. They have easily lasted twice as long as any other battery from a battery driven tool I have owned. The drill is still running strong. Chuck and clutch work like the day I bought it. It's a little beat looking and has paint/plaster/glue/etc on it, but it runs just fine.
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br /I am considering buying another one before the batteries on this one totally die - it would be sweet to have 2!

You wouldn't think these are the best with the name but they are.
They're tough and the batteries last a long time. This is a top-notch drill and the keyless chuck I love. I work construction and I couldn't tell ya how many of these I see on the jobsites. Electricians, Carpenters, and even the General Contractors have these. Spend the money and be sure you won't have to buy another one for a long time.

I am a remodeling contractor and beat the hell out of this thing. It's dropped from ladders plenty of times onto asphalt, concrete, dirt, etc. I bought mine over a year ago after finally succumbing to drill envy after having used my father's EY6432 a number of times. He builds decks and has raved about his for at least 5 years or more. Now that I have one, I concur. I had a cheap Ryobi 18v that paled in comparison. You'd swear this thing has more than 390 lbs of torque. (Perhaps the others out there fudge their specs?) The batteries are OUTSTANDING. I have some DeWalt 18v XRP batts and can tell you they suck. These Panasonic 3.5 amp batts are Ni-MH instead of Ni-Cad and there is a HUGE difference. This is a very solid, smooth, precise feeling tool. No, it doesn't have built-in levels and magnets and frills like that. If it did, it would add bulk and pros don't really need those bells and whistles anyway. It does have a bit holder, but you have to remove the battery to access it, which kinda stinks, but since I use a magnetic holder and small bits anyway, it's irrelevant. This tool has the power of an 18v, but is more convenient in size and will make you very happy for many years.

The day this drill was delivered I started useing it to build a deck.It drives 3" screws like I was going into butter,its light wait, and fits my smaller hands with no problem.The clutch needs some getting used to.Over all,its fantastic!

This is the best drill I have owned. It is lighter than most, easier to handle and performs substantially better than any other I have used in the past. I would like to know where the advertiser of this ad gets an original list price of $360 which was crossed out to be $199. The latest issue of Popular Woodworking magazine rates cordless drills. Their "Street Price" for this model is $189.90 with a battery price of $79.99; a total of $269.89. But, the best drill I have found, and is one of the "Editor's Choices" in the referenced article.
Phil

I have been using this drill for 1 year now and am thrilled with it, light weight and powerful. I wonder if the batteries aren't nuclear powered sometimes.

Having read the reviews here I just wanted to clear up some perceived misconceptions about this drill. The noise you hear isn't from the gears, it's from the variable speed drive that makes the drill operate. The electronically controlled motor has the advantage of being able to keep the drill running at a given speed depending on how far you pull the trigger. You don't need to pull the trigger back any further when under load, it just goes at the speed you want. Get the drill moving slowly and try and stop it by grabbing the chuck, you'll have a difficult time if not impossible one.

All in all a pretty high tech piece of equipment with understated looks and kick butt performance. Love it, Love it, Love it!

Peace!

I would have given 5 stars solely on it's excellent performance. It's relatively light, strong torque, excellent batteries and retains charge for a good long time. I am glad I got this drill beyond any others. However, there are a couple fo things that do bug me about it. It doesn't come with any accessories/bits. There is only one place to store a bit and you have to take the battery out to access this area and will only hold one bit. I usually carry a couple of double headed bits on my old drill (ryobi) and they are always there and available and easy to exchange while I'm using the drill. So having to take the battery off and look for the single bit is a pain. The keyless chuck has an annoying click and takes a little effort to turn when you are constantly changing bits which I do on occasion. I would have liked some kind of indication on the drill/bit alignment on the drill itself when you're eyeballing drilling on angles. A level would be nice too but at this price, this drill is still awesome.
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br /I do love this drill though, I still would buy this drill again. Hopefully Panasonic will keep improving the design which will easily make it a solid 5 stars any day.

The nickel metal hydride battery packs on the Panasonic are the reason I bought this drill. It holds a charge for much longer, perhaps almost twice as long. It delivers much more power than the 18 volt Bosch or DeWalt through the cycle, and the power does not wane. When the charge finally does run down, it goes from full power to completely flat all at once. The drill is a little lighter and better balanced than the competition. The chuck makes an annoying buzz when you adjust it, but no big deal. Overall, this is clearly the best cordless drill in our remodeling business.

Had it for about 2 years. Finished a 1000 square foot basement on two charges of the battery including all metal studs and drywall screws. No kidding. This is the benchmark for cordless drill design. Bought it to replace my Ryobi. The Ryobi was good for the time but they discontinued the batteries for it and their new cordless tools suck. I read the reviews on Amazon and bought one. I don't use my corded any more. Chuck is loud and no external bit storage. Everything else is perfect. Get it.

I'm a homeowner who does some minor projects and home repair.This is the best drill I have ever purchased. The best thing is, the NiMH batteries hold a charge and don't develop memory. I've had two other cordless drills that were pretty much useless, because the NiCad batteries were never charged when I wanted to use the drills. I am happy I bought this drill. At $200, it isn't cheap, but it may be the last drill you will ever buy.

This is a very nice sized drill. Fits my average size hand very well. It also has plenty of power to drill about 15 1-1/8" forstner holes before the battery dies out.
I am using the one that comes with the 3.5mah batteries. They charge in about 30 minutes.

Before I purchased the Panasonic I tried out various other brands, Craftsman, Dewalt, Porter Cable, Makita and Milwakee. All of which did not seem to fit my hand very good or were very heavy.

Why go with an 18-volt when this 15.6v will out do a lot of the 18v on the market?

I've had this drill just over a year and it never fails to make me glad I picked it. I chose it primarily to get the NiMH batteries; they are so much better than NiCd it's not even close. The drill has excellent power and speed control. Biggests shortcomings: no bit holder for screwdriver tips, annoying whine from electronic control module, hard to chuck up on small drill bits. However, this model will do nicely until someone builds the "perfect" drill.

I purchased this drill back in December 2004 and I am very pleased. I use it for various tasks associated with my work as well as home projects. The drill is relatively lightweight, yet still has excellent power and torque. It is very well balanced and feels good in your hand.

The ratcheting chuck holds bits very secure. The NiMH batteries put NiCAD batteries to shame.

I've used several other cordless drills over the years (Makita, Bosch, DeWalt) and this one beats them all. (Maybe some of the newer drills are better but I have no experience with them.)

I have no complaints regarding this drill. It was money well spent.

I'm an occasional user, not a professional or frequent heavy-duty guy. With that intro, I feel this is a great drill, totally worth the somewhat steep price. Solid feel, nice balance, very compact and reasonable weight for its power class. Silky-smooth operation. Power galore. A real pleasure to use.

I can NOT corroborate the shortcomings some other reviewers have noted.
- Flimsy Build? Yes it's mostly plastic, but tough plastic, and it feels and handles very solid. Mine will outlast me by a long shot.
- High-pitch whine in operation? OK, maybe it runs at higher pitch than most drills, but it is not objectionable in the least, especially given how smooth it runs.
- Awkward chuck? I don't understand the issue here. I can mount the smallest and largest bits in my collection with no problem. It does take time to open/close the chuck from one extreme to the other--oh well.
- Touchy trigger speed control? I dunno, it's like sharpshooting--slow & steady squeeze til it's where you need it, no big deal. Eminently manageable.

In summary: Two amateur thumbs up, I'll never need or want another cordless drill.

This is a great drill. Plenty of power for almost any application, including driving 3" deck screws into dimensional lumber and nice big holes into hardwood.

The batteries hold an unbelievable charge. With two batteries, you will simply never run low on juice. I even go weeks at a time with occasional use without a recharge.

Variable speed is nice, although the hair trigger on this drill does overpower cheap screws. I've had my share of stripped screws, but that's hardly the fault of the drill. I only blame myself for being impatient, using cheap screws, and drilling insufficient pilot holes.

The keyless one hand chuck is a wonder. Absolutely no problem gripping drill bits from 1/2" down to 1/64".

This tool feels good in your hand with plenty of power and crisp start action.

This drill seems to be the favorite in every review I've ever read. It's one of my best and favorite tools.

I am an electrician by trade and I purchased this drill over 2 years ago. I also have a Milwaukee 18 volt hammerdrill, however this drill is the real workhorse on the job. This is mainly due to its lightweight, size, and outstanding performance.

This drill is awesome! After two years of heavy use it has done everything I've asked of it and performed well in every task, including some that I probably should not have used the drill for. Battery life is excellent, far outperforming the batteries for my Milwaukee. Ive seen other guys use their Dewalt's and Bosch's and the battery life cannot compare to that of this little Panasonic. Heck, I dont even carry my battery charger to work anymore. While the guys with the red, yellow, and blue drills are waiting for their batteries to charge, you can keep on working.

The best way for me to explain the performance of this drill is to give you some examples of my usage. Once during a rough in we had no electric power and no generator. I put a 1" diameter 18" long auger bit into the drill and drilled out the upstairs of a house. This was heavy usage and the batteries were dead at the end of the day, but the drill got the job done. I used a 4" hole saw to drill a hole through a 3/4 wood ceiling. I used a 3/4" diameter 18" long auger bit and drilled through 5 nailed together 2x4's. No problem. It fell from a 8 foot ladder onto a concrete floor. The battery case suffered a slight crack but I picked it up, slapped it back in the drill, pulled the trigger and kept on drilling. No problem. Sometimes guys ask me "Are you sure that little drill can go through that?" I tell them to stand back and watch Daddy. The drill has never disappointed.

I highly recommend this drill for anyone wanting a lightweight portable drill with excellent performance. I would not hesitate to buy another one.

I'm a homeowner who does a good many projects for friends and family as well as myself. I've used this drill hard over the past couple of years. This is a great drill and the Panasonic cordless saw (EY3531) is impressive too. The 18V Dewalt drill I bought a couple of years ago can't hold a candle to the quality of the Panasonic. I do believe one of my 3.0 NiMH is dying. Two replacement batteries cost almost as much a new drill (complete with two batteries, case, and charger). At $200, this drill isn't cheap; but if you appreciate quality tools I highly recommend the Panasonic. Make sure you buy the drill with 3.5 Amp batteries (not the older 3.0 Amp). batteries).

the batteries were recalled and that went o.k. its great buying from amazon because they let you know of recalls. the new batteries never really fit right, they were hard to get in and out but i thought they would eventually break in, they didnt. the plastic is cheap and will take no impact, i have dropped my bosch drills several times off roofs and landed on lawns and no problem. i dropped the panasonic about three feet and shattered a battery. the new battery is half the cost of the complete drill kit, why??? the trigger switch burned out just after warranty and it cost me fifty bucks. it gets hot, really hot!! the keyless chuck broke and i bought a jacobs for 35 bucks. it does have plenty of power but i think i will go back to the bosch or maybe a new 18 volt makita. after twenty years as a custom home builder and owning dozens of cordless drills, i would have to say no to panasonic.

Have worked as a carpenter/framer for 6 years. Have used Bosch, Dewalt, Makita cordless drills. Have used this Panasonic drill for 1 year now. VERY IMPRESSED.

Battery charge lasts longer BY FAR than any other drill I've ever used. Strong motor, light, compact, well-balanced, comfortable. Wide battery makes good base when the drill is set down. Chucking a bit is a little more fussy than with other drills, but is a very minor drawback. May not be quite as strong as some other drills but, if you need more power, you should be using a corded drill anyway.

Everything about this drill is very good or excellent. Battery life is the best!!!

I bought this drill because of the Consumer Reports top pick recommendation. Typically I like to purchase Bosch or other high quality tools. I don't mind paying if the quality and features are there. This drill has a few issues:
br /Location position of reversing switch is not good. I have accidentally switched it several times by accident.
br /Drill bits don't center easily in the chuck. I often have to remove and reinstall non centered bits.
br /I thought the battery life would be better.
br /Makes an annoying high speed whine sound when in use.
br /No LED work light like the Makita.

I will probably buy another one of these but my current one first lost its electric brake, then the chuck got broken bits of itself inside and now its smelling of burning electronics and works intermittently when I pull the trigger. I use this tool almost daily and it's given me about four years of service. The batteries are still strong. When I bought it I was hoping that I'd finally found a cordless that wasn't "disposable." Apparently, I was wrong. I love the relatively small size and the great feel and balance. Since I've got the two 15.6v batteries and a light I'm sort of stuck with this class of too. I plan on getting a cordless impact driver and I might get the 15.6v Panasonic even though I like the lightness of the 12v drivers.

Over the last 18 years, I've had multiple manufacturer's drill/drivers in my custom furniture shop. The one recently pruchased is the mate to one already in the shop....which I've had for years and has already taken it's share of abuse. The power of this drill is equal to higher voltage competitors....well worth the cost.

Not only does this drill come fully charged, it stays upright when placed on a work surface.

The ratcheting chich takes a bit to get used to at first...it's noisy.

I got this Panasonic 15.6 volt cordless because the batteries on my Makita 14 volt failed, and the cost of replacing each one was $70. So this drill was only a little more than 2 new batteries. Of coursee I knew nothing about the Panasonic except that Consumer Reports rated it the best, but I decided to try it. And wow, even I am impressed! It's slightly smaller than the Makita, more powerful, lighter, and well, it really performs! You won't go wrong with this winner! Congrats Consumer Reports!!!

I was also drawn to this drill by the reviews. My Makita batteries died after 4 years of moderate use and to replace them was almost as much as the drill, not to mention only 1 speed worked, but that's a different story.
The panasonic is extremely comfortable, light weight, and provides all the power I need. I'm a woodworker and it seldom leaves my side.
Centering a small bit can be tricky, if you're in a hurry.
I actually like the noise of the drill, makes me aware of what I'm using. Highly recommend it! See ya Makita

I've owned Black & Decker, Skil, Milwaukee and numerous DeWalt cordless drill/drivers over the years. Each one was better than the one I had before it -- power, versatility, speed and value. I read the reviews on this model Panasonic and despite the overwhelming raves and kudos from the reviewers, I thought to myself "How good can a drill be from a company that's famous for making stereos, walkmans and televisions?" Well, I'm delighted to say I was wrong and that Panasonic makes one heck of a cordless drill driver!!! True brute drilling and driving power in a relatively small and lightweight unit but make no mistake, it is well-balanced, solidly-built and exceptionally smooth to use and easy to hold. The 1/2" chuck is compact and so it behaves more like the 3/8" size. This is important because it keeps the drill's profile extremely compact and easy to use in corners and tight spots. No snapping of the wrist from dead zero to full because of the high torque, the drill brakes to a stop very, very quickly, reverses direction quickly, the torque adjustment actually works and the ratcheting keyless chuck holds round drill bits tight and rock steady. The 3.5 amp hr battery seems to last forever and NiMH packs can be charged whenever you want -- almost full, half full or empty of power -- and they won't develop a memory as will NiCads. That's a huge plus when you're away from the wall charger and depending solely upon the battery pack(s) to get you through a big job. Also, a minor point that I feel is worth mentioning is that the battery pack locks into the drill very well BUT it can be easily removed. Not so with some of the other manufacturers' models where you have to squeeze the retaining clips on the battery pack until they almost snap and pull hard to dislodge it from the drill. Three very minor drawbacks worth mentioning but that do not detract from my 5 star rating are 1) no bit holder anywhere on the unit, 2) the chuck has a very long slow travel to it when you're closing it. You'll really want to hold the chuck with the bit centered (as best you can) in it with your one hand while you gently pull the trigger and let the drill turn clockwise to tighten the chuck slowly down onto the bit; you then finish by hand tightening the final quarter turn. Otherwise, it seems to take forever to close the chuck from say 3/8" down to 3/16". And 3) the ratcheting chuck makes a strange high pitched noise -- like the unmistakable whine that comes from a fishing reel's star drag mechanism at the moment a fish strikes and pulls -- only when you open or close it by using the drill's rpm's. But, none of this truly detracts from the unit's incredibly stable and outstanding performance. If your wallet can stand the hit, buy it. You probably won't be buying another cordless drill driver for a long, long time to come.

I purchased a panosonic drill for home after many years of use at work. I am an electrician and I have worked for contractors that used panosonic drills and others (mikita was the worst) We commonly drill large holes in medium guage steel boxes (I have used 4" hole saws through steel with this drill). These are very rugged, I may have even _seen_ one of these drop frm the top of my 8' ladder (don't tell my boss, ok?). The ni-mh batteries are the best I have used for maintaining consistant charge levels through many recharge cycles. When they do fail it is fast (the charger will no longer accept them for charging). My magor gripe with that is the batteries cost almost as much as a new drill. Anyways, as expected, I have been quite happy with my panosonic at home, it is just a wonderful tool.

Have owned the Pany 15.6 1/2 DD for many years. Bought it shortly after it came on the market and it served well for several years. However, on visiting this site and reading some reviews giving it high praise, I found myself disagreeing. Not that it was not a great tool in its day, but in my tool box it has been replaced by an impact driver. A 14.4 impact driver, in my case a Makita, is just the tool of choice for high torque applications. It is far easier to use and 1.5 lbs lighter. For light duty jobs, the weight and bulk of the Pany works against it. This Pany only sees use on rare occassions now.
br /
br /For these reasons one needs to consider it in relation today's alternatives.

I was quite impressed with the power and smoothness of the drill. The chuck also seems quite secure in holding the drill bits. It did seem to be a bit of a problem inserting new drill bits. One has to hold the drill and the chuck while you click the trigger. There is so much power it wants to get away from you. I find it fun to use and enjoy the power it has. The battery seems to have a fairly long life also.

The drill works well under all phases of cabinetwork. Not designed for heavy-duty construction (i.e., heavy drilling of concrete or hi-torque needs) it's a marvel in the shop with battery change @ about 7hrs. continual use.
Holds its own compared to the DeWalt and w/ battery life comparisons, surpasses it, as the Nimh speaks for itself.
Compared to the Makita, the 15.6 is on par w/ the 12.0 cordless, also equipped w/ the Nimh batteries. The Makita 14.4 & 18v models far surpass the Panasonic in ability & durability AS LONG AS THEY'RE EQUIPPED W/ THE NIMH BATTERIES.
We use the Panasonic in the shop as its 15.6 makeup is not compatible w/ anything else, and therefore is not worth grabbing and taking in the field; bought for the shop, stays in the shop!

I have had a Milwalkee and 2 Dewalt cordless drills. The batteries lasted about 1 1/2-2 years. The motor finally burned out of 1 Dewalt and the Milwalkee was thrown out due to the battery replacement cost. I have had the Panasonic for 2 1/2 yrs now and the batteries are still running strong. I use it about 3 -4 days a week and it still performs the same as new. The only problem is the battery needs to be removed to access the driver bit storage. Not really a big deal! If you want medium duty high quality drill this is it. If you are looking for power and torque, buy an extra 1/2" corded drill. I plan to buy another once my other Dewalt's 4th battery replacement dies.

My wife got me one of these for Christmass and I told her that that was the first time in our 17 years of marrage that she got me something I would use. Well I wasnt that blunt but she got the point.

I cant say much more than what has already been said but this. I have use the drill on small screws at the low clucth settings without stripping a single one.

The only downside is that it is hard to center small drill bits in the drill.

Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit. I don't know jack about tools so I followed CR recommendation. I needed a drill/driver thingy for odd jobs around my place eg assembling furniture, building shelves, putting up frames on the wall, whatever (my walls are like a rock, I have trouble with push pins). So I enlisted my son's help with the various projects, though he isn't much of a handy man, but I'll get him there... Well he was impressed. Batteries charged up fast - back up battery is a plus. As a novice, he had no trouble getting things done. Now he wants one of these for Christmas. The real test is still to come... with me!
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Purchased first one 7 years ago and it is still running well after much use (and misuse) by students. Of all the drills available, this one is always in use. When my $99 drill went bad, I did not hesitate to by another Panasonic. My friends have also bought them after using mine. Have yet to find another brand with better fit, feel or power. These babies stand up to the big 19.2 guys.

Of the many cordless drills I chose this one beacuse it was rated highly in "Consumers Report." After owning other under powered tools this drill fits my needs perfectly. Easy and intuitive operation with more than enough torque it has a weight that invites frequent use.

This is the third panasonic cordless that I have owned. I use them professionally, and have been very happy with them. They have consistently outperformed and outlasted any other brand that I have tried. Comfortable to use, well balanced, the ratcheting chuck holds bits securely

They hit a home run with this drill. Hi tech battery...killer power...chuck holds even tiny bits...all the way up to 1/2"
I used this to stir joint compound in a power out !

Very sensitive and accurate trigger. Long lasting and not too heavy. Comfortable and stable on the ground because of the wide battery. I use it everyday and have not had a problem. Hope they will continue to make these drills.

excellent drill - good vendor: prompt delivery, etc. a little more fumbly that expected for ordinary bit insertion.

Having purchased a number of off-shore cordless drill kits over the last 5 years (3 to be precise)I figure I must be a slow learner because these either didn't last at all, had little power, and batteries were a joke. The Panasonic erased all my previous frustrations. This is definetly a professional tool and delivers everything I had hoped from a cordless drill. I have just finished a major porch reno and have yet to recharge the first battery. The drill is working flawlessly, I am very impressed and extremely happy with my purchase decision. Highly recommended!

I was a little afraid to buy a power tool from a company that is known for electronics and not power tools, however I am very impressed with this cordless drill. This is a smaller unit with a ton of torque.
I have had no problems with the chuck as others have claimed. I am very pleased with this purchase.

Out performed the craftsman 16v drill. Battery last twice as long as the craftsman 16v and the porter cable 14v. Excellent price!

I bought this for my husband for father's day and asked him last night how he liked it. He loves it. I asked whether its stripping his screws as one other reviewer mentioned and he said the brake on it stops that from happening because it stops screwing as soon as you let off the trigger. I love it, love the case, love the 2 rechargeable batteries, the unit itself feels very durable ... LOVE IT!

So far so good. The best feature seems to be the chuck mechanism which provides a really tight grip on drills. My last two keyless drills started loosing their ability to hold tight regardless of how I tried to lock them in place.

the chuck is great for holding bits,I also like the power the drill has,so much more than the one it replaced. the balance of the drill is great also,not too heavy but solid. the speed control is very easy to control. i would recomend it to anybody. the man named Hank that I talked to to order was very good, and knew what the drill was about. Thanks again Hank

Plenty of power even with a 1/2 drill in steel. Long battery time, lots of torque to drive screws and very comfortable to hold. overall an excellence product

This drill is a work horse for its size. The battery lasts a long time so you don't have to change it often. As an electrical contractor, this drill gets used hard drilling holes all day. We use hole saws up to 4" without trouble. If I need more power, I use a corded drill.

Cordless Drill/Driver kit is as described, an excellent tool that meet the best expectations for my purposes which included installation of Kitchen Floor. Very satisfied.

I read a ton of reviews before purchasing, and I have not been disappointed. I originally owned a Ryobi, but the charger died and I could not find a replacement ... then a Skil, but the charger went bad and took the batteries with it ... so I bought another Skil because it had the same batteries and was cheaper than buying the batteries and charger separately, but those batteries eventually just wore out ... after receiving the Panasonic I topped off both batteries, but I have yet to need the second one, despite re-screwing down the entire floor area of my kitchen, laundry, and a half bath with deck screws prior to installing new flooring ... I don't know how long it's going to last, but I am very happy right now! Cheers to all ...

Purchased my 15.6v Panasonic drill about 6 months ago for a little more than what it's selling for today, and I must say that I am still a very happy camper. This is a very well made tool, all seams are tight, and no sloppy play in any of it's moving parts (no play in the buttons, battery, chuck). This 15.6v drill blows my old NiCad 18v drill out of the water. It's not only about a pound lighter, but it has more torque and a better brake. I really like the ratcheting chuck preventing the chuck from loosening on it's own (some people don't like it, but I think it's a better design). Grip is smaller than others. I have a medium sized hand, and it's very comfortable. Was working on an addition to my deck, sunk over 200 screws, and still had power to burn on one battery!
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br /Pros: light weight, comfortable, powerful, well made, amazing battery life. Fantastic overall drill for DIY's
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br /Cons: Accessories for Panasonic are expensive. If you're looking to get a 15.6v Panasonic impact drill, saw, etc.. your going to be sinking a pretty penny. Their line of add-on tools is not as extensive as other major players, and with the way Lithium ion is going, this may be an obsolete drill in a year (unless Panasonic makes a line of Lion bats that will cross over to their Nimh line.)
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br /Summary: If you're just looking for a drill and not a lot of accessories, this is a good one and well worth the money. If you're looking to possibly expand your cordless tool arsenal, the selection Panasonic offers is rather limited and would recommend going with Makita's LXT line.

This is a GREAT drill. Who would of thought Panasonic could/would make such a great tool. This is the second one I have owned, and the only reason I bought this one is because the first one's batteries finally started not holding a charge long enough. Why buy a whole new drill you ask? Well because Panasonic wanted $119.00 for ONE Battery and after logging 6 HARD years on the original batteries and drill it made better sense to spend $199.00 for the whole new setup which includes 2 new batteries, charger, drill and case. You will never be sorry you bought this drill!!

we've bought dozens of battery drills, we have had the best luck with the panasonic battery drills. we really abuse them and they hold up well, considering. the absolute worse drill we've ever bought ( 4 of 'em) was the Ridgid 18Volt battery drill.
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I purchased this drill in August 2007. I've used it periodically on various household repairs and projects. Some demanding, others easy for a 15.6v drill. It is a top-notch performer. However, THIS is what really surprised me: battery life! I charged it once on August 8, 2007. It retained enough charge through all those small jobs that the first time I had to recharge a battery was today, Sept. 20, 2008. The battery held up for over a year! Amazing! I actually had to search my house to find the charger. Recommended.

This is my second Panasonic cordless drill. My first one stood up to 9 years of professional abuse including falls from scaffolding. I am very pleased with the size, weight, power, and features of this tool. I'm very happy with the performance of the NiMH batteries. I would highly recommend this tool to any serious cabinetmaker or woodworker.

I have never written a review before but I want to expound on what all the other writers have said. I have owned mine since March of 2007 and I couldn't be happier! I am not in the trades but my son-in-law is an electrician and he told me about this drill. I have flopped two decks with it and that's about 3,000- 3" screws. I can't count the number of landscape timbers I have bored holes in with this tool! It is comfortable to hold and the batteries last a very long time. I also have the Pansonic 12-volt N-cad model for lighter duty work. I don't really know about the Lithum Ion batteries on tools now but who cares! When you have these two tools, it doesn't make any difference. These are still going strong and I use one or the other almost everyday! If you want corded, go with the Milwaukee 0234-6....plain and simple! You get what you pay for!

I bought this drill after using an identical one my son owns through a a few intense weekend jobs. I am now using mine for various procedures around my workshop and continue to be impressed by the power and battery life of this drill. It gets used in messy glue jobs and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a drill that had features I didn't need. Considering the price difference, I didn't mind NOT moving up to the lithium ion batteries. This is a 3.5 amp hour drill, so the charges hold up for a lot of work.
br /One of the reasons for buying the same drill my son owned was so we could share batteries, but I doubt we'll ever need to.
br /Yes I would buy it again.

I purchased this drill after having a blackendecker and have to admit that the bd couldn't even drive a screw through my buck and rail fence I was constructing. The Panasonic was simply awesome! It drove 10" screws into green timber and never missed a beat. It's light and powerful which are the two most important things I wanted when driving screws into over 2000' of fence. You can't go wrong with this baby!

I bought this drill two years ago and I was a big fan of its excellent balance, weight, and build quality. The RPM's were fair and the chuck was difficult to tighten, but it was a pleasure to use. I was also blown away at the lasting power of the 3.5 Ah batteries, that is until they recently stopped working after only 10-15 minutes of moderate use. Most reviews probably don't capture this problem because most were written within the first year. I really liked the drill but I am extremely disappointed in the battery life. I am kicking myself for not following the advice from the few reviews that warned of this battery life problem. I no longer believe this was just bad luck.

A very powerfull drill; much more power than similar drills that I have used. It is comfortable in your hand. It would be nice if the drill had a place/slot to hold a bit for slotted and Phillips screws. If it did you would not need to keep one in your pocket or tool belt. All aspects of this product seem to be of "high quality".

This is a very powerful driver/drill. I was surprised it didn't come with any bits. Battery life is exceptionally good. It seems heavier and more awkward than my old Makita, but I'm getting used to its heft. If I were shopping again, I'd try handling several models in person before choosing.
br /I'd bought this one "blind," based only on reviews. It'll probably last forever.

Bought this based on CR recommendation of size, weight and battery life. Used it for first time putting up some closet shelving - not a very strenous test - but worked well. Don't have any read on battery life yet.
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br /Only minor issue was getting used to the clicking noise when you tighten up the chuck onto a drill bit.

I had this for 17 months and I love using it. Good battery power, quick recharge, good torque, comfortable to hold. Much better than the $50 HD stuff. Wish it had an extra bit holder on the exterior...

Well to start off with I will simply say this is an excellent drill. Ergonomics are second-to-none, fits in the hand perfectly, no fatigue from using this all day, and it fits into tight-spots well. For the size, the torque and power are equal to that of many of if not all of the 18V drills on the market today. Quite honestly, I think Fine Homebuilding has reviewed drills and says this is a fact.

My only complaint on this drill would be the batteries have had some updates and recalls from Panasonic over the past two years. Unfortunately, the series of battery I ended up with did not quite qualify for the recall, but should have for the simple fact they are now completely shot after less than 2 years, and only one major sized job where studs were screwed instead of nailed. I still think this is disappointing considering replacements batteries aren't cheap. Panasonic should have a buy-back program, where they test it and refurb for a small fee.

I actually just purchased a complete replacement battery and drill, so hopefully that shows I still have a high opinion of this drill. The only reason I ordered a second drill is because it was cheap ($85 on Ebay), I was ordering replacement batteries anyway, and because I dropped it off a ladder and it fell directly on concrete and bent the chuck. It still works but it wobbles (would have been $90 to repair), and I prefer my tools in good shape. Tough fall though and it survived though!

I would recommend this drill, just make sure you understand the batteries fall off considerably in power after a year, and they are very expensive to replace. Otherwise this drill is awesome, and not cumbersome like EVERY other drill on the market.

Drill is durable and battery packs last a long time. I can't believe how perfect the size is compared to other models! Lacks some modern features, such as level and LED light, however is well worth the trade-off for what you get. Other models that I looked at offered these features, however the battery packs didn't last as long and they didn't appear to be near the quality. I took a chance and ordered sight-unseen and am very glad I did! Bought for around-the-house repairs and light remodeling. Drill is probably more powerful than I needed, but I wouldn't change a thing.

I use this as a household drill and occasionally construction projects (screwing sheetmetal on a polebarn "lots of screws"). Under extreme use (pole barn screwing) the drill can get warm. Torque is sufficient for almost everything (drilling 1" spade bit through 3" wall header took its toll and I finally went to a corded 1/2" drill. batteries after 5 years are still working but have lost about half their capacity. They are very usable though and both recharge fast. The brake portion of the trigger switch went out after 3 years which was irritating.
br /something to look for is a drill that LOCKS when idle so you can use the drill as a manual screwdriver for that last 1/8 turn on the drywall screw. Some cheaper drills don't lock and I wont have one that wont..
br /Its been a good drill but I may try something different since I'm ready to replace this and the cost has not gone down...

After much searching and comparing, I decided on the pansonic.
I matched performance, weight,torque, batteries, etc and the Panosonic won hands down. I've owned this drill for four months and used it to help built a new work bench. The power and ease of use made this a pleasure to use. Drilling or screwing it never bogged down or stopped.

The drill feels good in the hand and has as much torque and power as is necessary for woodworking. I wish bit storage was on the exterior of the drill motor casing instead of inside the battery case. The latter place makes storage and access too cumbersome to use. Kind of a minor complaint given the tight feel and power. The size of the unit is great for toolboxes and carry alls. And it is stable when sitting on its battery. Batteries last longer than my 12v NiMH's. I'd buy another with no hesitation.

Compared to other drills I have owned, this one so far is superior, Excellent price, and the 2 batteries that came with it are a plus!

This is the best cordless drill I have ever owned. It has plenty of power, is lightweight and balanced nicely. I highly recommend it. I also like the universal panasonic charger and the carrying case it comes with, as well as, the extra battery too.

Great drill. Batteries seem to last forever and huge amount of torque. Lots of competitors now with LithiumIon batteries so I don't know if it is still the best drill value but it has been a really good product.

I purchased this drill based upon its top ranking per Consumer Reports - and I have not been disappointed! ... These NiMH batteries hold their charge better than silver cells- and the torque and range of speeds on this Panasonic surpasses 18 volt drivers that I have used. Fast charge/2 battery setup- and well balanced in the hand.

This cordless drill met all of my expectations. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a tool like this that needs something a little lighter weight.

It does everything it says it will do. The quality is high, the case is heavy-duty, the power is far more than the 10-year cordless it replaced. Used it for several projects already and its a pleasure to use - gives you feelings of great power that you can fix anything. Not even a hint of the first battery going down yet. No need to obsess about which drill to get - get this one, be done with it, you can't go wrong! You will use this thing over and over so its well worth the investment.

I have had three of the 12V Panasonic Drill/Drivers,(one I wore out after several years, one stolen while almost new, and one currently in service), and recently purchased the 15.6V version to get more torque (I use this drill with a socket adapter to lower/raise my travel trailer stabilizers for leveling) with only a little more weight. The first heavy use was a couple of weeks ago when I worked with my brother-in-law (BIW) to help my nephew remodel his home. My BIW has an 18.5V drill from another manufacturer, but he often borrowed mine to fit into small spaces and commented on how much torque and battery life mine had. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets one; a contractor friend of mine bought one after he used mine when we were working on a remodel of my house. You won't go wrong if you buy this, or the 12V version for lighter duty.

Very satisfied with this product! All the positive reviews were right on the money.

This product definately lives up to its review as being a "best buy" in a leading consumer's magazine. At 15.6 volts, it's plenty powerful, and the NiMH batteries last so long I haven't had to change one out in the course of any project (it comes with two batteries). Another thing I particularly like is this drill weighs a couple pounds less than the 18V models, but provides the same torque. Thus, over the course of a day, my arms aren't tired from holding this. As a long term benefit, the NiMH batteries should stay strong and hold a full charge for years (as compared to NiCAD that stop holding a full charge after a few years). Another thing I like is the drill is not top heavy. It sits upright and doesn't fall over like others I've owned.

Outstanding drill, power is that of a 18volt tool. Recharge is faster than expected and the chuck on this tool has incredible holding power

I am delighted about almost everything to do with this drill. It is powerful, quiet, easy to handle, and changing drill bits is easy on my hands.

My only gripe is that I find it difficult to center the drill bit when I change bits. It may be that I just need to work on my technique but I don't remember its predecessor (from Craftsman) being quite so difficult.

But that's very very minor and overall I think this drill is fantastic!

This is a great all-around drill. Top rated by CR, adn I understand why. Great torque and long battery life. It has very good ergonomics... except for one very small quibble. The forward-reverse switch can easily be depressed accidentally.
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br /Otherwise absolutely no complaints. It's a well-ballanced and powerful tool.

This drill fits the bill. I've used every brand of hand powered drills and this one is tops.

Recently purchased my second EY6432GQKW Drill, when I noticed it on sale at Amazon. I've been using this drill on an almost daily basis. My original drill is several years old, and only recently has the charge begun to weaken. It's fairly light and compact, and it doesn't hurt that it has been highly rated in Consumer Reports magazine.
br / Overall, a very well designed product.

There is no doubt in my mind that Panasonic has the longest lasing batteries on the market. I've had all different brands and since I've owned this one I'll never buy anything else.
br /Mike

This is a great drill. I have purchased 4. The main reason, it was a better deal to buy an entire kit rather than a relacement bat. and charger.

I have owned this drill for years and it is still awesome. The power and run time are fantastic. It is a bit heavy and unbalanced compared to my Makita 14v drill but it has more torque by far.
br /After tennis/ carpenter's elbow problems I look for the lightest tools and use a 14v makita impacter for screws and light drilling. It's small, light, balanced, and easy on the old arm.
br /The Panasonic is a staple in my shop these days. Why plug in?

Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit I really like this driver. It is light and powerful, and I use it on a daily basis. Very happy.
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br /Randall

Bought mine three years ago. Have since bought a couple more as gifts. This is an excellent cordless tool, my go-to for driving screws and drilling where I don't need a hammer-drill or the Hole Hawg.
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br /Superb battery life, quick recharges., great balance.
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br /Sounds like plastic gears grinding in there occasionally, but it just keeps working.

Plenty of torque; variable speed in high and low ranges effective; battery charging quick; ergonomically comfortable balanced. Yes, the bit storage in handle is stupid and impractical for frequent use, but why not put a combination bit in there as a back-up? I respect this professional quality tool: it's worth the price.

I have been a carpenter for thirty years, and have owned my own cabinet shop for 20. This is the best screwgun I have ever tried. It is light, well balanced, and powerful. The best.

2 stars would have been 5 if the reversal switch wasn't so poorly designed. The switch is located above the trigger as in other drills but this one sticks out so that it is easy to hit with your trigger hand while drilling. The drill works great and has good battery life but the reversal switch is enough to make me not want to buy this drill again when there are comparable drills out there.

I just got this drill and it feels very well made and powerful. It feels good in you hand and is well ballanced. So far no complaints but I need to have it a longer time to really judge its long term performance. Based on my research this item should perform very well.

I recommend this drill to everyone at work. It's long lasting and has alot of punch. Also very light weight. Great Job Panasonic!

Simply one of the best cordless drills on the market. A definite strong contender on the market of cordless drills. I would purchase this tool with confidence.

I've only used it for a few hours so far, but have been very happy with its performance. I was able to drive screws with controlled power at slow speeds, as well as heavy-duty drilling of 1/2" holes. I haven't run down the battery yet. I really like the 1/2" chuck. I researched drills in this voltage range and I think this is one of the lightest and smallest for the power (the NiMH battery probably helps). I have no way of testing it but it feels like this drill actually delivers more power than my corded drill.
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I was so pleased when I first got this drill, that I recommended it to my other hobby shop friends. But then the batteries didn't last as long as my cheap Craftsman drill, and now just 6 months after the warranty has run out, the motor caught on fire while drilling a dozen 3/16" holes in a 3/4" board. I'm not a full-time tradesman, just a weekend hobbyist - this tool should've lasted longer!

I've owned Dewalt,Makita,Milwaukee and Porter Cable cordless drills and this by fare hase the best batteries,they stay cool and they run forever on one charge.Some people conplain about the funky noise they make,but it's not unusal for a power tool.remeber the noise the corded drills made about 20 years ago.this tool does not even compare.But my favorite part is the phisical size of the tool,it has to be the smallest cordless drill i ever had,and thats handy for someone like me that builds furniture.
Overall it's a sturdy tool with little room for improvment,the chuck is a little weird.
Good luck

I've been using one now for about six months. It is comfortable to use and the battery charge last good. I'm buying a second one now for additional convienence.
I came from Dewalt 14.4 drills, one regular and one XRP model.

I've purchased this drill in 2004 - it is still going strong. Great for any size job. Batteries charge quickly and last longer then any cordell I've ever owned. The drill it self is strong. I've dropped it off ladders, off roofs, stepped on it, etc. It takes a beating. You can't go wrong with this drill.

Better balance, power, and quality than my 18V Dewalt and 18V Ryobi. You pay a lot for quality, but at least the Panasonic delivers. Unfortunately it is not carried by large chain stores. If you don't mind paying top dollar for superb quality, the panasonic is for you.

Fine cordless drill -- good feel, relatively quiet, firm and steady push, long battery life.

I have owned this drill for 18 months and am absolutely impressed with its torc, battery life and compact feel. Where I work we use Bosch, Makita and Rigid cordless drills. We work these drills very hard screwing/drilling into sheet metal. The Rigid drills have not held up but the other two are work horses. Most of the higher end drills are pretty damn good but wont last like a corded drill so if they are used hard they will fail. My point being it ultimately comes down to repair/warranty service and the Bosch has the best turn around time as far as replacement/repair. I haven't worked by Panasonic quite as hard as what we use at work nor have I had to replace it. I would agree that the Panasonic chuck is slightly fussier centering small bits but it seems to grip them a little better as I don't have the slippage that I have noticed on the other drills.
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br /The NiMH or LiON batteries are the only way to go with the LiON batteries being lighter. For fit and feel from a guy who uses these drills the Panasonic is best followed by Makita. For general home use most name brand drills will do you fine so it then becomes about price and fit. I bought the Panasonic based on research and am very happy with it. The Panasonic does seem more solid than the other drills but I can't give them an equal comparison on durability because we don't have them at work yet but I am trying.

This drill is simply fantastic. The torque is the best. Long battery life between recharge time. A little heavy, but worth it! I have used them all... this is the best!

I purchased this tool to use mainly on woodworking projects. It is easy to use and you don't get fatigued when you are using it constantly because it is so lightweight. You still have plenty of power for the task and it seems like the batteries last forever.

This is by far the best drill I have ever used. Don't fall into the DeWalt trap, this drill is lighter and more powerful than the 18V DeWalts out there. It works for around the house and for industrial jobs. There aren't enough stars to properly rate this drill!

I was very excited when i received my new drill. It had excellent power, was lightweight, and seemed well put together. However, after using it for 4 months, the chuck was damaged (some internal parts broke inside) and i had to have it replaced under warranty. I was happy with the warranty repair.
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br /After getting it back, I used it a few more months and the new chuck started acting up as well, and i believe it is only a matter of time before this one needs to be replaced as well. At about the same time, I noticed that the motor started to smell of smoke and would get very hot when I used it heavy. Now the speed control doesn't work at low speeds and the motor skips and jumps, and i believe the motor is damaged.
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br /On top of all this, the gears seem to slip sometimes.
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br /I am a heavy user of all my tools, but I have had a 9.6 volt Makita for almost a decade and eventually had to have the batteries replaced. The case has broken open and is now held together with electrical tape, the motor has been stalled repeatedly, and it has been left out in the rain, but it continues to work.
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br /The Panasonic has really left me cold.

I bought this drill to replace my ancient Makita 7.6V drill.

I used the drill today to screw concrete forms together, and I was not at all happy with the chuck, although the drill had lots of power and torque. The chuck would not grip a hex-shank phillips screw driver bit tight enough to prevent it from sliding into the chuck. The Makita with a keyed chuck never had this problem. I often use short bits in a drill-driver due to clearance problems, when the body of the drill plus the height of the bit is an issue. If I had realized this prior to purchase, I would have looked for a drill with a keyed chuck.

-Dave

Very comfortable and easy to use. Not yet used it enough to comment on battery endurance

First of all I use a cordless drill more than the average person, offen 5 days a week. A drill will usually last me 2-3 years. When I first bought this drill from my local wholesaler I was happy with my purchase, everything seemed to work well. After only 5 months this drill burned up on me, then I brought it back to the wholesale house, and they gladly shipped it to get it repaired. I got the drill back 6 weeks later (which I expected) put the battery into it only hummed, swapped batteries same reaction. so as of today may 8th 2006, I'm using my back up drill and will go out to buy a new drill. Thanks hope this review helps

Ergonomics:
I disagree with the reviews that say this drill is well balanced. (I've had two other cordless drills and numerous corded ones.) If you're trying to do level drilling or driving screws, the drill tends to tilt down.
If you are changing bits often, the effort the chuck takes to turn gets tiresome, but it does hold bits tightly. I may have to invest in a quick release system.
There is a holder for one small bit, BUT it's in the handle under the battery! That's poor design. Also for as much as I paid for the drill, I was irritated that Panasonic was too cheap to include a screwdriver bit.
Power and other stuff:
It does have plenty of power. I found that the torque settings actually worked (unlike previous drills) to prevent stripping screwheads.

The reviews I read before purchasing this item are exactly correct. The drill is really great. The only thing I wish it had was a light on the front for getting into small dark places.

I use this drill for light duty, around-the-house use. It is a very good product, everything it should be. I miss having an external clip for the screwdriver hex tip; on this unit, the clip is inside the handle. You have to take out the batt to get to it.

Have only used this a few times however it performed flawlessly. Can't comment on battery life yet but it's been performing on and off (light use) for two weeks.

All the power and Torque you would ever need in a drill! If I had just bought it before all the $30 & $40 Harbour Freight ones I went through I would be bucks ahead.

Overall, this is an excellent electric drill. I bought it for my Dad, and he loves it. The only comment he had was that it makes a clicking sound when opening/closing the chuck around a bit. It doesn't affect the performance, it was just unexpected since his other drill didn't make a noise (nor does mine), but both are different brands. Overall, fantastic.

Good general use drill. I do not use a drill often but this is better than most I have used. It does not come with drill 'accessories' and it really needs to be included. If it did I would rate this buy higher

The reversing switch is of defective design! period! Do Not Buy This Tool! Consider yourself forwarned!!!!

I bought the 15.4 volt for around the house,probably had about 3 hrs of run time on it and the motor fried,emmiting smoke. But since its out of waranty theres nothing i can do. So now i have 2 batteries i cant use. WE run DEwalts in our commercial cabinet shop and in 2 years the only problem we have had is the batteries give out,but only 1 or 2 of them. So I vote for dewalt and think that panasonic should stick to building TVs.