Which Appliances to get?

misterbisto

I am having a new kitchen installed, probably with Homebase (but havent made a final decision), perhaps a recommendation between Homebase,Wickes, B&Q and Tesco Kitchens would be helpful if anyone has used them. We wanted a fairly cheap kitchen but with fairly good quality appliances. Just wondered if anyone would recommend or have any negative views on SMEG, BOSCH, AEG or NEFF. Was thinking of having all SMEG but have read some negative reviews!!

Thanks

Meepster

misterbisto wrote: »

I am having a new kitchen installed, probably with Homebase (but havent made a final decision). We wanted a fairly cheap kitchen but with fairly good quality appliances. Just wondered if anyone would recommend or have any negative views on SMEG, BOSCH, AEG or NEFF. Was thinking of having all SMEG but have read some negative reviews!!

Thanks

Personally, I wouldn't touch Homebase kitchens, they truely are awful. You'd be better off getting a Wickes take-away kitchen.

As for the appliances:

Neff - fantastic
AEG - very good
Bosch - very good
Smeg - rubbish

theonlywayisup

Bosch Siemens and Neff are all part of the same group. I have a mix of Siemens and Miele in my kitchen and would recommend them whole heartedly. John Lewis will price match with a bricks and mortar store and usually offer increased warranties on some items. I would also class Smeg as rubbish but I would add AEG to that too.

Klug

I have Bosch appliances in my kitchen (2 of them only installed last week). They are great. Really quiet and enough programmes to keep most
people happy. These new appliances replaced older Bosch appliances and the difference in sound levels is quite astounding.
When the dishwasher is on we have to put our ear to the door to see if it has come on, lol!

Meepster

theonlywayisup wrote: »

I would also class Smeg as rubbish but I would add AEG to that too.

You obviously haven't used anything from the new AEG range...

CKdesigner

Hi

Have you tried any local independents? I would like to think for the kitchen cabinetry you would find better quality than the national retailers you have mentioned and certainly for the appliances I would expect you to find good advice and comparable if not better prices than online.

Buy local - support your town!

CK

KRB2725

I would avoid Smeg. I had integrated Smeg appliances in my last home - washer/dryer, fridge freezer, cooker and dishwasher. Everyone of them needed repairs on more than one occasion. I knew how my repair man liked his coffee by the time I left!

The hob was fine though...

abankerbutnotafatcat

Smeg is famous for form over function and also for unreliability. However, the slimline dishwasher I purchased from them in c2000 is still going strong (I've probably jinxed it now!!!). I have heard that the possible exception to the unreliability rule is their range cookers.

I did note that Bosch are advertising themselves as the Which large appliance brand of the year and come with a 2 year guarantee.

Miele are repeatedly tops in tests for washing machines and although their top of the range is c£1000 they do another model for c£500 which currently has a 5 year guarantee.

sillygoose

Agree with above comments generally - Bosch and Siemens often have same internals, Siemens get the posher fronts and control panels and a higher price, Get Siemens if you can afford it, but Bosch is certainly no disgrace either, functionally will last the same.

There is AEG and there is AEG, they used to be one of the best but they tied in with some other brands and started putting their name on their stuff. Some of which is truly awful (like the horrid 'AEG' Fridge Freezer sitting in my kitchen!) and some of their ovens are made by Electrolux, dire.

cddc

AEG are owned by Electrolux, as are Zanussi. After years of diluting the AEG brand and producing some overpriced rubbish, they have, finally, taken the brand back to its roots and are producing top quality gear again. The base models in some categories (d/w, w/m) may still be rebadged Electrolux, but up the scale they no longer are and represent real competition for the Bosch/Neff/Seimens group.

Same applies to them too, very often with Neff, you are paying for Bosch innards with more exterior style.

Smeg, well you pay for style and name and that is it. Virtually everyone I know with Smeg appliances has had at least one breakdown with them. Hobs being the exception.

theonlywayisup

Meepster wrote: »

You obviously haven't used anything from the new AEG range...

Nor would I want to! Each to their own, but Siemens and Miele suit me perfectly well.