Which microwave brand?

full-time-mum

My microwave went kurphut yesterday and I'm fairly sure it's the magnatron.

It's a Panasonic with a grill and I was a little disappointed to find that it has only lasted just over 3 years. Previously, I had a Sharp which lasted 10 years or so, replaced it with another Sharp which lasted around 5 years.

My Mum has a Sony which has had its magnatron replaced but seems to be lasting OK. I will phone our local microwave repair shop and see if it is worth replacing the magnatron, but I suspect not.

I'm after a family size oven with around 27l capacity preferably with a grill as I eat a lot of jacket spuds for lunch!

There seems to be some praise for Panasonic on the web but enough reviews slating them for me to wonder whether they aren't that reliable.
I just wondered what everyone here would recommend, please.

adandem

Our Panny is fine, two dodgy Sharps previous to that.

before_hollywood

i have a schneider but they arent available anymore

full-time-mum

It looks a bit like its pot luck.

Anyone had a John Lewis own brand microwave? I'm tempted as it says the magnatron is guaranteed for 3 years.

charlysez

i bought a micro/combination oven/grill all in one CDA make, very reasonable priced and excellent product

dehaani

I've always preferred Sanyo microwaves. I know the brand isn't exactly prestigious but their microwaves are very well made, great value for money and tend to include nice features such as quartz grills, SS interior and boomerang turntables without the price premium.

When I worked in Currys, I noticed that virtually every make of Microwave had the same small details on the packaging, indicating that they were all from the same manufacturer; regardless of the brand. Seriously, about 8 different brands all with the same tell-tale features on the packaging and identically formatted model numbers!

The exceptions were Panasonic, Sanyo, Samsung and Sharp.

I had a £300 Samsung and hated the damned thing BTW. Can't say I was overly impressed with Sharp either.