Makita 8280D 14.4V Combi Drill - Early Impressions

Having used the Makita 8280D 14.4V Combi Drill for a week now I am happy to give you my early impressions of this unit. The build quality is really good, it feels very solid in the hand and is nicely balanced. When you consider the price it is in the same bracket as a top of the range DIY type product, like a Black & Decker that you can pick up from any large DIY store. In comparison, you don't get that weak plasticky feel that you do with some products, this Makita really fits the brand and there has been no skimping on build quality at all.
Having used the 8280D on a few small projects, I went prepared with the charger and a spare battery just in case (the fact that you get three is a real bonus). I set about creating a wooden frame to take some boarding above a door. Plenty of drilling pilot holes, attaching metal brackets and driving in long wood screws. The job was finished with ease and I did not have to reach for that second battery once. The 8280D was still going strong when the job was complete. The torque has impressed me so far and my early view is that if I had a £100 budget, the Makita 8280D would be on my shortlist for sure.
Check back in around four weeks for the full review of this unit.