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My family have told that I have too much time on my hands – who researches a washing machine purchase?” they asked :p
In truth, I am a bit OCD/anal about everything I buy. Stems from a deep mistrust of marketing (aka the scourge of modern society).
The budget is not mine to set, I’m buying a replacement machine for my mum, who has been hand-washing since her old Hotpoint gave up the ghost (control board, apparently, and BER).
She asked for a machine costing £200-£250, but I will make up the difference up to £300 if this makes any tangible difference.
She initially insisted on a cycle time of ~1 hour, but I’ve tried to explain why this isn’t realistic from modern machines, so hopefully we can ignore that criteria, and I’ve sold her on being able to delay the start of the wash so it’s just about finishing when she gets up.
I’ve also told her that quick wash = bad. She wants to wash at 40 degrees (the only temp she uses for everything), so telling her that quick wash is often 30 degrees or lower helped there.
To my mind, the only important criteria is washing performance and reliability.
I understand so far that Hotpoint/Indecit/Whirlpool/Hoover = bad. Low-end Bosch isn’t Bosch and = bad.
I’ve heard good things about LG, who may or may not be in budget. AEG/Electrolux I’m not sure if they are good, bad or indifferent.
I tried a Which? trial membership, and wasn’t overly impressed. Nor did it help me choose 🙁 I think their reviews are inconsistent and incomplete (almost useless, sadly).
Mum currently has a 5.5kg drum and does 1 full load every day. I’ve told her she could move to a 7/8 kilo drum and wash every other day, and she’s fine with that.
So what are we left with.. well Beko. Are they substantially better than Hotpoint in this price bracket?
It’s odd that Indesit seem to have a better rep than hotpoint, considering who bought who. Or maybe I’m wrong there.
Also there are some Zanussi (Electrolux) in my price point. Which made the point of them that they are wildly inconsistent across their range. Some genuinely good machines, they say, and some really poor ones.
So please help me avoid the potential minefield (it really is, isn’t it), as this is not my specialist subject (I’m in IT!)
To sum up this wall of waffle:
£300 max
Good washing perf most important
Reliability also important
HALP!Will not be buying extended warranty.
Cheers for any help you can give.
Re: Cheap (sorry) washing machine needed
More or less the same vein as here…
indisit-washer-its-way-out-t89290.html
The thing is… what can you really expect for less than the cost of a decent vac or, for that matter even a Dyson?
K.
Re: Cheap (sorry) washing machine needed
My experience having sold and serviced a fair number of makes / machines suggests Bosch has the edge..
We just have far less hassle with Bosch.
The Bosch WAE24377GB should be close to your budget.
They have a 2 yeat guarantee as well.
They can do 1 hour washes @ 40 degrees as well if required.
They are easy to operate.
tomRe: Cheap (sorry) washing machine needed
Thanks for that. Are the cheaper/ “made in the EU” Bosch any better than your Bekos? It was my understanding that there was a massive difference between Bosch and… more expensive Bosch :p
To be honest I’ve read so much contradictory stuff before coming here I’m pretty confused by this point :p
Is it true that the cheaper Bosch units aren’t even made by Bosch at all? But by some OEM and just branded as Bosch?
Re: Cheap (sorry) washing machine needed
timdowning wrote:Give it no more thought.
My thoughts exactly 😆
Bosch all the way 😀 WAE24377 as mentioned before or the WAE24167 or even the WAE28167.
Job done and all in before Christmas 😀
DonRe: Cheap (sorry) washing machine needed
Thanks again.
Between the WAE24167 and the WAE28167, the difference is 1200 to 1400 spin.
Any truth to the “faster spinning machines break more often” thing? Is there a worthwhile difference in line drying times between them?
I’m happy to buy the 1200 spin (£250) right now, but my sister (the oldest of us, and mum’s most trusted advisor :p) has decreed that we should not get anything less than 1600 spin :p
Re: Cheap (sorry) washing machine needed
The 1400 spin version is variable so can be reduced if required. 1600 spin machines do not look after fabrics, yes it will be marginally drier but will have more creases so ironing is harder.
Don
Re: Cheap (sorry) washing machine needed
Sorry one last question (I am hoping to buy today :p)
I noticed the two recommendations above are Bosch Classixx machines, and I’ve previously heard good things about them.
They lack (minor point) a countdown timer and a delay start function. Neither of which mum has had before, and the simplicity of the Classixx might be better, tbh.
But I noticed this also BOSCH WAB24161GB, £250, same price as the Classixx machine.
It appears very similar, but is not listed on Bosch’s website. It has the timer and the delay start, but I can’t honestly tell if it’s the same machine as the Classixx in all other respects, or if the inclusion of the digital display means something else has been cut out…
Re: Cheap (sorry) washing machine needed
….the faster it spins the quicker the bearings go. 😯
And with modern machines it’s scrap heap in no time at all as the bearings cannot be replaced.
Re: Cheap (sorry) washing machine needed
OK, thanks for all your help 🙂
http://www.appliancedeals.co.uk/product … 30246.aspx
Any reason not to buy this one? £250, ticks all the boxes, has some Allergy+ setting which claims to use more water and rinse more (great as far as I’m concerned).
Seems to be a bit more feature-rich than the WAE models listed earlier, but the same spin spin, drum size, wash performance. At least I hope so!
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