I think the higher-spec models are Direct Drive, not belt. I know the LG is, so this would reduce vibes that send the machine on walkabout. Bad news for wanton women though...
I think the higher-spec models are Direct Drive, not belt. I know the LG is, so this would reduce vibes that send the machine on walkabout. Bad news for wanton women though...
I'd very much recommend the LG models. Large capacity (ours is 11kg, I think), high spins, weighs the clothes to decide how much water it needs, we've had ours 2 years now, and it's not put a foot wrong... Plus it plays a nice ditty when it's finished, which is v. important ;0)
Yeah I know what you mean. I spent a few days looking into it before settling for Siemens budget range that came under 500 since it had most of what I need. I went down from 1400rpm to 1200rpm just to bring noise level down. HP at 1400 was like a boeing 747 taking off. Siemens can hardly be heard.
Whilst I was researching there was another make that is quite new on the market, ISE. It is only machine out there that has both cold fill and hot & cold fill options. It comes with 10 year guarantee, built using industrial parts and all for under a grand. It also isn't made of plastic. It is installed by independent repair shops who will supply the support. Check out their website.
Meile - machines are very solid in terms of build however repairing can cost quite a lot since meile make all the parts. They also have their own engineers so in the event of the problem you cannot just call a local repair guy. ISE get around this problem by putting in parts that are available cheaply and your contract is with your local independent engineer if you have one in your area. [you can search on their website]
I was asking for that!
After plenty of umming and arring, I've decided I'm gonna go for a Miele. They're expensive, but I'm using the excuse that since we're not going for a dryer, we'll spend the money on a good washer instead.
Thought about Bosch, LG, Siemens or ISE, but while I'm sure they're all very decent, Miele's 10-year warranty offer has swayed me. And the fact that nobody seems to have anything bad to say about them, other than the high initial cost.
So, now I'm on the lookout for the cheapest Miele I can find. It's a toss up between the W1613 (£620) or the W3204 (£650).
I have a W1614, it is a brilliant machine, quiet at full spin, fast and efficient. At 99kg it is heavy to shift if you move house. But at that weight it doesnt move around the kitchen. Never had any problems. The digital display tells you how long the cycle has left so planning jobs is easy.
I paid £540 about 7 years ago and got the free extended cover from Miele. I would happily get another :-)
I decided on mine after finding a website by an ex washing machine repair man which listed the various models and which company actually builds them.
Typically the more expensive machines have more programs available and a faster spin speed. However most people only use 2-4 programmes and anything above 1200 rpm will dry your clothes pretty well.
Last edited by hb904460; 23-04-2012 at 08:46 PM.
Separates. Although I usually air dry (line) and either finish off in the drier, or (preferably) ironing and then putting in the airing (hot water tank) cupboard. Driers are really useful if you need something dry in a hurry or it starts to rain with washing on the line and you don't want loads of wet washing hanging around the house, but they are expensive to run.
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We have an LG Direct drive, best washing machine we have ever had. I would like to add to the separates combo argument - Consider how much use each item will be used, my guess is that the washing machine will be used at least twice as much as the dryer. So go for separates and blow the larger proportion of your budget on the washing machines and cheap as chips dryer for when it is needed.
So, things didn't go entirely to plan.
Did have my mind made up, I was going for a Miele washing machine. But then we got the keys to the new place and the other half realised she wants new carpet downstairs. That, coupled with the fact that the Miele still seemed expensive for a washing machine, was enough for me to chicken out. Ordered a Bosch instead! Much cheaper to start with, and they're doing £100 cashback right now.
There's a chance I'll regret it when the two-year warranty expires and the machine explodes, but I'm taking my chances! Got a Bosch dishwasher and a Bosch chest freezer, too, so here's hoping they're reliable.
I would have suggested looking hard at Siemens if you were seeking to cut budget over Miele. I was certainly warned by one shop that it was a better bet than Bosch (despite being made by the same company) ..... but how reliable that advice was, well, who knows. It also depends on the price differential. Siemens tend to be more than Bosch, but they do do periodic offers in the likes of John Lewis, some of which are very good indeed.
But I'm never entirely sure whether it's like buying Skoda v VW v Audi .... are you paying for quality, or for spec, or for brand image?
All that makes me wonder is that typically, Bosch have 2 year warranty, and Siemens have 5 year warranty. I tend to work on the presumption that if they could, safely, offer a longer warranty, they would. Which makes me wonder why Siemens are 5 years and Bosch 2 years if there is no difference in what Bosch/Siemens expect, as a company, from failure rates over time.
Personally, I'd have absolutely, categorically insisted that the new carpet can wait a few months, and that we sort the washer, etc first. Then, having insisted on that, I'd no doubt have ended up doing what you did.
The Siemens machine did stand out as a result of its five-year warranty, but it was a fair bit more than the Bosch. Factor in the Bosch cashback offer, and I was easily swayed.
Also want to save a bit of dosh to put toward a PVR - want to be able to record the European Championships next month, though the missus doesn't know that yet.
I found my previous Bosch_washing_machine to be reliable, and when I bought the current one, they also had cash-back and a four year warranty. The previous freezer (fanned) was less so (problems with the fan motor) but not so much to stop me replacing it with another Bosch fanned freezer.
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Bosch washing machine installed and up and running! I now know what a dual trap is, and I didn't even flood the street.
It's lovely and quiet when it's running...
Thought you'd be pleased! Glad you are!
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Washing machine only here with temperature controls independent of the cycle length too allowing me to maximise my wash capability Its handy to be able to do a short 90 degree wash with cleaning clothes etc. most modern fabric dry quite readily at room temperature and for the more traditional fabrics such as cotton a good spin cycle will provide almost dry clothes before needing to hang them up to dry.
When the weather permits I dry outside otherwise I utilise those clothes airers in my spare room. and with warm air heating it does not take long to get things as I need them.
I quite like having a combo because it will go into the dry cycle immediately after the wash without user intervention. Since I run my washing machine overnight (electricity is 10p/unit cheaper then) having it ready to hang in the morning is useful. Not having a garden means I always have to indoor dry clothes, so even though the drier doesn't get them completely dry, it means they dry indoors in a day rather than hanging around for 2 or 3. Less humidity inside too.
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