Which washing machine?

ItchieFeet

Please can anyone offer advice on a good washing machine?

Several people have recommended a long term investment in a Miele - but there are quite a lot of those to choose from and I cant see much difference in the models, other than the price!

I'm happy to consider this investment as I only want to do this once. I'm on my own at the moment - but my friend has had her Miele over 10yrs and with a husband and 2x small children, it has had a lot of use - but only one maintenance visit in that whole time!

All advice very welcome

Coopdivi

Your best bet is to get the Which! 1 month trial subscription for a £1. Make sure you cancel before the period is up though or you'll have to pay £9.75 per month membership.

https://www.which.co.uk/signup/#?intcmp=HP.membersloggedout.signup

Another site worth looking at (free) is UK Whitegoods.

http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/forumsphpbb3/viewforum.php?f=45

When you have decided on what machine(s) you are interested in come back here and I or somebody else will try and find the best price from a reputable dealer.

Dimey

I have a Meile washer/dryer and had a Meile washer for 20 odd years before that.

To be honest I wouldn't recommend the washer/dryer as it just doesn't dry decently. Clothes either come out very damp or creased bone dry. The dryer can only take a few items at a time so you end up with piles of wet washing waiting to go in. I'd be better off with a separate tumble dryer,

But I do recommend the washing machine. As to which model, they all have the same solid build and quality engineering so you just have to think about what features you want.

I'm happy with the basic model as I don't do lots of different type washes. One feature I do like is being able to pre-programme the timer to come on during the night using cheap rate electricity and the programme finishing when I get up.

jenniewb

Meile are the best brand to get if all reports and reviews prove true, but Bosch make a pretty decent runner up and are worth a look.

sillygoose

jenniewb wrote: »

Meile are the best brand to get if all reports and reviews prove true, but Bosch make a pretty decent runner up and are worth a look.

Spot on.

Take a look at the Bosch machines on John Lewis who are very competitive on price, free delivery and Bosch machines come with a 2 year warranty so any manufacturing faults should shake loose in that time and be covered. Generally 7 to 10 years+ can be expected with only a cheap motor brush repair possibly being needed to keep it going. With machines from £350 its false economy to buy cheap brands. If a Bosch last 7 years thats just £50 a year for a working washing machine.

Don't worry about the numbers too much, some brands try to impress with huge spin speed numbers, in reality unless your very lucky with how the laundry settles in the drum the imbalance sensor will force the machine to run slower in the majority of times anyway, often no more than 800rpm that all machines can do. Same applies to the maximum load it takes.

A cheap machine starts with cheap quality drum bearings, these are then worn even faster by really high spin speeds, with the bigger load rating putting even more strain on the rubbish bearing and you end up with a cheap machine that last 2 years or less.

That is why you find most Bosch machines only spin up to a more sensible 1200 or 1400 so they last.

adandem

We have a Siemens, some have a 5 year warranty.
An entry level Siemens is the same as top of the range Bosch, apparently the cheaper Bosch get made in a different factory.

ItchieFeet

Coopdivi wrote: »

Your best bet is to get the Which! 1 month trial subscription for a £1. Make sure you cancel before the period is up though or you'll have to pay £9.75 per month membership.

https://www.which.co.uk/signup/#?intcmp=HP.membersloggedout.signup

I'll definitely sign up to the Which subsription - thanks!

sillygoose

adandem wrote: »

We have a Siemens, some have a 5 year warranty.
An entry level Siemens is the same as top of the range Bosch, apparently the cheaper Bosch get made in a different factory.

Actually many Bosch and Siemens products share the same internals, the bits that wear out in effect. Siemens tend to add posher controls and displays, and a bigger warranty, and a bigger price.

I have access to the Siemens Staff shop and the discounts on many items is eye watering - as there is a huge profit margin on Siemens versions as its considered a more premium name - buying Bosch is a reasonable compromise.

That said, sometimes it makes sense. My Siemens oven has the same interior, elements, fans and so on as the Bosch version but it has a sophisticated electronic temperature control instead of the more normal crude electrical one used in the Bosch and others. For my wife who bakes some clever things its worth the price premium as it ensures repeatable results every time. It still won't last any longer than the Bosch would as most parts are still the same.

If you can afford Siemens then its wonderful stuff, if not, Bosch is little lost.

ItchieFeet

Having taken a look at Which's Best Buy scores, I'm torn between the Samsung WF80F5E5U4W at £550 and the Miele W3370 at £950.

Despite Which's report saying the W3370 doesnt have an easy iron setting, that appears to be an error as Miele's own website as well as Currys and John Lewis all say it does.

Therefore, very little to choose between them, other than the manufacturer and the price.

Strangely, the cheaper Samsung has a 5yr guarantee, whereas the Miele is only 2yrs.

Is the Miele really worth another £400???

Coopdivi

Co-op Electrical have the Miele for £870 including delivery with a 5 year warranty. Using voucher code AFMD80 will knock a further £40 off the price but this expires in three days time.

http://www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk/Miele-W3370-Edition-111/id-MIE-WSH-W3370-W

ItchieFeet

Thankyou!
I've ordered the Miele through Co-Op with £40 off an 2% Quidco cashback :j