Noise can sometimes be improved upon, felt pads under the base or new rubber feet. Repeaded appliactions of oil do wonders, the same for a new rubber pulley. The mechanical parts have its' limits, but I know a 99 should run nicely and smoothly and if it doesn't it should be sorted out. I have no idea about the brown Domestic model; I have read some prefer belt driven models to rubber pulleys, but I think it had to do with replacement parts and developing flat spots.