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FIRST POST
Hello,
Can I beg anyone for a recommendation between two washing machines, please? It would also be great if you have current knowledge, experience or servicing of LG 1400 RPM washing machines (especially the Direct Drive ones) or recent AEG washing machines!
Our ancient (well over 15 years) AEG Oko_Lavamat 6205 washing machine broke down last week with a broken drum or mounting. So, I spent most of yesterday doing heavy research on a suitable replacement.
I checked out UK, US and German consumer agency reports on consistently best brand machines under performance testing and most reliable based on consumer surveys. They short list of brands came out to be: Miele, Siemens, AEG/Electrolux, Bosch, and LG.
However, when I started to check pricing I realised most, if not all, the Miele and Siemens machines would be beyond my budget or the value added for jumps in price, compared to other brands, of GBP 200 or more was not clear!
In addition, even though the Bosch machines were very attractively priced, I saw consistent customer reports across multiple machines and even generations of machines of issues with load balancing, halting machines during spins, broken pumps and motors … This did not fill me with much confidence!
Anyway, after more detailed individual machine reviews, I came to the conclusion these were the two best mid-range buys available:
1. LG F1480TDS
– Best price: GBP 529.
– Manufacturer Guarantee: 10 years (drum)
– Energy rating: A+++
– Energy consumption: 1.04KWh
– Spin efficiency: A
– Capacity: 8kg
– Spin speed: 1400 rpm
– Unique: Direct Drive, quietest on the market, steam cycle, intelligent dry load weighing.
– Cons: door does not open flat (120 degrees from what I can tell) so loading and unloading could be made easier. Power button separate from pause button so if you hit power button accidentally you may lose where you are in the cycle and have to start over. The child lock also seems to not affect the power button to avoid this issue … This is an issue because in our house we often have to pause the washing machine so that someone else can run water for a shower without interference (low mains water pressure sucks and is apparently super expensive to fix)! It would be all too easy to accidentally press the power button …
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdVTxKc4J3I
Which? UK reports:
– Review: http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/9115/w … review.jpg
– Test results: http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/3753 … stresu.jpg
– Specification: http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8833 … ecific.jpg2. AEG Lavamat L645850LE
– Best price: GBP 400.
– Manufacturer Guarantee: [unknown – will check from reps on Monday]
– Energy rating: A+
– Energy consumption: 1.19KWh
– Spin efficiency: B
– Capacity: 7kg
– Spin speed: 1400 rpm
– Unique: Super Eco program – ability to wash straight from cold mains.
– Cons: Noisy spin, Super Eco program require special detergent, short drain hose (may or may not be a problem).
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvrIgVr-PRM
Which? UK reports:
– Review: http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/3199 … review.jpg
– Test results: http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3778/w … testre.jpg
– Specification: http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/9907 … specif.jpgBoth are considered Best Buys by Which? UK and the Germans seem to love this particular AEG model according to Amazon.DE.
So, if money was no consideration, which of the two would you guys buy or do you have a recommendation that is clearly better value, please? 😕
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