Washing machines!!

[BEANFro Elite]

Thats right...

The washing machine my brother-in-law bought broke down after a week or two... fast forward a month and a half later and still nothing has been done to alleviate the problem...

So its down to me to sort the problem out (as usual), I'm not that knowledgeable about washing machines however (my expertise are with computers etc.) and so I would like some advice on the most reputable brands and what to look for in a washing machine (so to speak)...perhaps even recommend me a machine??

Since its me spearheading this initiative, I am placing a budget of between £200 and £300 wether the other people in this household like it or not because they're chipping in...

I thank you all who respond in advance...

[timread]

Washing machines are a pain! Is the one your brother-in-law bought still under warranty, since you say it broke down after a week or two? If it is then getting it repaired under warranty shouldn't be a problem.

If you really need a new washer, I've found Bosch and Zanussi, AEG and Miele to be reliable. AEG and Miele are a bit pricy though. Bosch are very reliable. I wouldn't go near an Electrolux, Hoover, Hotpoint, Servis/Indesit etc.

I'd also recommend buying whatever you do choose, from John Lewis. They don't drag their heels when it comes to customer service & warranty claims, like so many other retailers I could mention! I think all washers they sell come with a 2 year warranty. John Lewis recently brought out their own range of washing machines but I don't know who actually makes them so no idea how reliable they are. Their own models have a 3 year warranty though!

[Funkstar]

yeah i would second the John Lewis suggestion. they will also price match locally for identical models.

[BEANFro Elite]

Washing machines are a pain! Is the one your brother-in-law bought still under warranty, since you say it broke down after a week or two? If it is then getting it repaired under warranty shouldn't be a problem.

Unfortunately he bought it cheap second hand from some dodgey dealer against mine and my sister's advice...

But thanks for your advice both of you, I'm of to the John Lewis site for a recon mission...

[phunkygal]

i too need a washing machine but just the cheapest one possible anyone know where would do them?

[Funkstar]

don't know for sure, maybe comet or curries. or have a look at qed-uk.com i know they have a lot of white goods

[MonkeyBum]

...Live longer with calgon!

[Free Thinker]

We've got a Bosch, can't remember the model, but it's pretty good, very quiet, efficient, loads of functions etc. We ended up getting it from the comet web site because it was on a special and work out cheapest at about £260. As far as I can tell AEG is just a posh Bosch. The house we rent had an AEG (before we shifted it into the garage) and it looks exactly the same as our Bosch.

[nick_1]

We've got a Bosch, can't remember the model, but it's pretty good, very quiet, efficient, loads of functions etc. We ended up getting it from the comet web site because it was on a special and work out cheapest at about £260. As far as I can tell AEG is just a posh Bosch. The house we rent had an AEG (before we shifted it into the garage) and it looks exactly the same as our Bosch.

Bosch machines are very good and generally last for years (german engineering at its best). There are a few makes to avoid unless you need it in a hurry. Hotpoint are one to really keep away from, the were bought out a few years back and the are still no better. I think bosch include a 2 or 3 year waranty which is worth getting as these things do go wrong. Its a shame dyson stopped making their washing machine, we have one and its the best one we have ever had. Dyson even came round to upgrade it!

Good luck with the washing.
Nick

[mike_dowler]

I thought the Dyson one chewed ppl's clothes up or something?

[RufusA]

Worth having a trawl of www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk. Particularly under the Articles & Help - Buying Help and some of the forums.

In a nutshell most whitegoods are manufactured by only a few companies and are badged (and priced) according a perceived worth. For example AEG, Zanussi and Tricity-Bendix are all owned by the same company and share most parts, but you'll typically pay double the price for the AEG over a Tricity Bendix but not get double the reliablility!

Most machines are built with a life of 3 years (rather than 10 years of yesteryear) and single major spare parts often cost more than the machine.

From what I've read get a Bosch, but check country of origin to make sure it's not one of the recent Spanish/Italian ones. If you have the money get a Miele! Don't get hung up on spin speed (if anything go for a slower spinning one and save the money).

I bought an AEG around 3 years ago costing nearly £600, and it now needs £400 of repairs to keep it alive. I won't be making that mistake again.

HTH - Rufus

[athlon_xp_2800]

Bosch machines are very good and generally last for years (german engineering at its best). There are a few makes to avoid unless you need it in a hurry. Hotpoint are one to really keep away from, the were bought out a few years back and the are still no better. I think bosch include a 2 or 3 year waranty which is worth getting as these things do go wrong. Its a shame dyson stopped making their washing machine, we have one and its the best one we have ever had. Dyson even came round to upgrade it!

Good luck with the washing.
Nick

I recently bought a Bosch (WFO 2867, £380 at Comet, saving 40 quid after checking out the same machine at Currys) after my 10 year old Hotpoint Aquarius finally gave up the ghost!
Bosch is very reasonably priced but very good, quicker washtimes too!

[iranu]

read this http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/buying-advice.html parts 1-3 from a washing machine repair man.

[athlon_xp_2800]

read this http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/buying-advice.html parts 1-3 from a washing machine repair man.

I have already read it thoroughly before I went and bought my Bosch, I didn't have quite enough money to buy a Miele with the same features as the Bosch that I bought. I am really happy with the new Bosch, let's hope it lasts as long as my Hotpoint did!

[snedger]

Hello
My washer dryer packed up in June and I got a replacement for it 2 weeks ago, care of Zanussi telling a shop the opposite of the truth about when their new 7KG ZWD1681W machine would be available. Ended up with the similar AEG 16830 which is incredibly quiet and easy to operate. Fortunately a shop in Worthing lent me a low specced Bosch whilst I was waiting - if I'd known how good cheap washing machines are these days then I might have gone for one.

However, if I truly wore the trousers in my household then I would have got the LG WD14311RD - 8kg wash; direct drive linear induction motor! Problem sourcing from a shop - LG kept telling me that they were in Currys in June, when clearly they weren't. A Which? report showed a that Zanussi were the best of a bad bunch of machines and unfortunately my other half latched on to Zanussi and would not budge. Don't tell her - but the Zanussi turned up at the shop on the same day as the AEG and a phone call from the shop gave me the option to choose which one! And I went for the scorched earth option and got the Aeg - it was on offer as well though.
Cheers
snedger

[Nox]

again bosch - ours is YEARS old! and they have a website you can order individual parts from, chaeply, which turn up next day. Theres not a lot to go wrong - and its normally pretty obvious which part has blown. Last time ours went, it cost us £7 for a new solenoid and about 15 mins for fitting. How much would a call out of been?

Nox