Advice cos I need a new washing machine

bargainaddict

Hi, I have been told the bearings are going on my 4year old tricity bendix washing machine. The repairman said we are prob better off buying a new machine because the repair would be around £100 and the average life of a machine these days is about 5 years! My friends 3year old tricity bendix has just broken down. the circuit board has gone and its £140 to replace so I don't think I want another TB!

So I would like your opinions/thoughts on which make of machine to go for. It needs to be able to cope with a lot of use, I usually use it at least twice a day, sometimes 3 or 4. The repairman seemes to think Bosch or Zanussi.

weekendwarrior

Bosch have a good reputation on everything that they make from Boilers to ABS modules used in most cars. They are hard to beat when it comes to electrical items!

bargainaddict

Thanks weekend warrior. i would press the button but it's gone! I have a bosch dishwasher but that needed fixing just after 1 year old. I don't seem to have any luck in my house with electrical items.

What are peoples opinions on whether to go for basic models, or pay for extras like delay options, digital display etc. I only ever really use 3 programmes, coloured wash, white wash and boil wash for maintenance clean. I'm worried that there could be more to go wrong with the machine. I reckon we could aford about £300, and recommendations out there on best place to buy?

bobsa1

I bought a very basic Candy machine 3.5 years ago for £150. I use it 2/3 times a day every day and it has never gone wrong!

My theory is that you can buy a basic machine and get rid of it after a few years and it has been good value. Previously I always paid £300 + and it still needed repair/replace after 3 or 4 years. With the candy when it goes wrong I won't even bother with the repair man.

bargainaddict

bobsa1 wrote:

I bought a very basic Candy machine 3.5 years ago for £150. I use it 2/3 times a day every day and it has never gone wrong!

My theory is that you can buy a basic machine and get rid of it after a few years and it has been good value. Previously I always paid £300 + and it still needed repair/replace after 3 or 4 years. With the candy when it goes wrong I won't even bother with the repair man.

Good point! One that will appeal to my hubby

Anne_Marie_2

When I last had to replace washing machine, similar situation to yours. Repair almost as expensive as replacing machine. My repair guy who knew we were skint at the time, said not to go for one with the bells and whistles, digital - as there was more to go wrong with them, and much more expensive to repair.
He recommended several makes at the time, but am afraid that I can't remember them, apart from Hotpoint and Creda. Only reason I remember them is that they are the same company (so he told me anyway), so we ended up with a Creda Ecowash machine, as it was cheaper than Hotpoint equivalent at the time.
Am frightened to say too much here, as just realized that the machine is getting on in years, but touch wood, has done us really well.
Perhaps you could check some review sites for different makes of washing machine.

Nile

bargainaddict wrote:

So I would like your opinions/thoughts on which make of machine to go for. It needs to be able to cope with a lot of use, I usually use it at least twice a day, sometimes 3 or 4. The repairman seemes to think Bosch or Zanussi.

You're bound to get votes for different machines, from their satisfied owners. I have a Zanussi washing machine. It has worked perfectly since the day we got it, it's just over 10 years old now.

In my previous house I had another Zanussi washing machine, which was around 7 years old when we moved. I wanted a new machine for the new house, so the old Zanussi (still in perfect working order) was passed on to my neighbour.

I used to work in a research & development lab, formulating and evaluating laundrycare products like washing powders and fabric softeners. All the washing machines in the lab were Zanussi.............they never broke down.

As you can probably gather, I am a fan of Zanussi machines.

I have no connection to the company, I'm just a very satisfied customer.;)

Kind Regards

Nile

coolagarry

I have had a Bosch for the past 7 yrs. When I bought it I got the warranty extended to 5yrs and in year 4 one or two things went wrong but were covered by the warranty. It's still going strong.
A washing machine is the only thing I would recommend a warranty for and you can often do a deal with the salesman.
At least register it through the post and see if any extra warranty deal comes in the post from the manufacturers - if it doesn't then you can go back to the shop (I think you have 30 days) and re-consider their warranty.

bargainaddict

Thanks for the tips. The repairman said it always seems to be the circuit boards these days, and these days every machine has a circuit board.

susank

I personally dont use half the programmes on my machine and so I think a basic would suit me better than an all singing all dancing one - if you want a time delay you can put it on a timer on the socket if need be - as mine is quite old too now I dont like it on if I am not here in case of flooding etc!. Go for a basic and then you can afford to replace it again later on.

rrockettman

We've just bought a Bosch WFO 2467 from Comet. Free delivery.
It did very well in the Which? report and for under £300 was the best value for money for a machine that will be reliable and last a long time...Ask me again in 10 years and I will let you know how good it is!
I've had Zanussi in the past and they've been OK, I'm hoping this one will be better though!