Makita DA3010F 4 Amp 3/8-Inch Right Angle Drill with LED Light

I considered all of the right-angle drills currently available in this class before making my purchase. Here is why I decided against each of the competitors and bought the Makita DA3010F:
THE COMPETITORS:
--Bosch 1132VSR 3/8" Right-Angle Drill
I have many fantastic Bosch tools, but this one does not impress me. It is less powerful than the others in its class, and the bevel gears generate a lot of heat when being worked long or worked hard. It has an awkward power switch, which for safety reasons requires a compound motion to actuate. This unit has no side handle option. It is also expensive.
--Milwaukee 0375-6 3/8" Close-Quarters Drill
This drill is also comparatively underpowered. It too has no side handle. Personally, I don't like the 55-degree angle, and physical shape of this drill. I have no first hand experience with this tool, but it seems as though the shape would preclude use in some tight quarter situations such as a hole close to (and...Read more

I looked at a lot of right angle drills before choosing this one. My needs are to be able to drill holes for wiring etc, in floor joists, and also being able to access cramped quarters in building cabinetry. Additionally, I needed to have a drill that would not be too powerful for mounting screws. Well this drill uniquely fills that bill exactly. Not only does it have a larger amperage motor than the competition, in medium duty, moderately priced drills, but also it has an adjustable setting for the level of power, so it achieves a certain level of resistance. No stripping or overinserting screw heads. So combining the variable speed feature, with an adjustable default setting, makes it unique in the industry for a medium duty right angle drill. All this while maintaining enough torque according to the owner's manual, to drill a one inch hole in wood. I don't need to drill holes larger than that, if I did, and on a regular basis, I would look into the Hole Hawg.
Personally, I am...Read more

I looked hard at these drills before I picked this one. The head height and variable speed is what sold me on this one. None of the others had this minimum clearance.

One cautionary note, the paddle switch is large, which makes it easy to run the drill, but also easy to accidentially switch it on. So when changing out drill bits UNPLUG IT! Also you need to be a little careful when you put it down, as you could put it down so that the switch kicks on. It's not easy to do, but more possible than with your more regular style drill.

That said, I love it. It does the job I bought it for. Tight space holes. And I use it as a second drill so I don't have to switch bits as often when I need to drill a pilot hole and then the full sized one.