Can you help me choose a washing machine please?

[CharminglyOdd]

Moving into first bought house so we need to buy a washing machine. At the minute there are two on the shortlist but I am open to suggestions.

Definitely want a washer, not washer-dryer and a short-ish cycle possibility as well as excellent energy rating. I have also read that John Lewis is the best place to buy big electrical purchases due to their customer service and guarantee. I definitely would never buy from Currys due to problems I have had in the past.

Budget-wise we can hold off on decorating for a bit so whilst saving money would be good we could stretch to a more expensive (£450 is about the max I am thinking) machine if it would pay off in terms of energy savings/longer lasting. We don't have DCs now but will probably/hopefully do before the machine dies so it would need to cope with them in the future.

First machine: Bosch. I have always had Bosch in rented accommodation and been really impressed with how long they have lasted and how much they have put up with. It's much more expensive (but has £50 cashback, so a discount): www.johnlewis.com/231614930/Product.aspx

Second: Zanussi. Our closest friends bought this not so long ago. I am pleased that the reviews say it is quiet but concerned that some mention the cycle length. Also I can't see energy consumption per cycle mentioned. The price is much more friendly though! www.johnlewis.com/231204561/Product.aspx#BVRRWidgetID

I have a 7am to 5pm shift today so will probably be back to check after 5:30pm. Any suggestions most welcome :)

[CharminglyOdd]

Now that's interesting... 'John Lewis' as a name converted automatically into a link. I didn't .com it. Does anyone know why that is?

Washing machines converted into links:

http://www.johnlewis.com/231614930/Product.aspx

http://www.johnlewis.com/231204561/Product.aspx#BVRRWidgetID

[CharminglyOdd]

Oh FFS. First one is Bosch, second Zanussi. Why is everything so complicated first thing in the morning?!

[ShobGiteTheKnid]

Highly recommend Gorenje.

[dexter73]

I would recommend this machine. I got one after a friend recommended it to me when I was getting a new machine. It comes with a 3 year guarantee, and has a 20 minute programme which is great for clothes that just need freshening up.

[PigletJohn]

Bosch, or Miele if you can afford it. Occasionally you see a Siemens which is made by BSH - this is the company jointly owned by Bosch and Siemens which designs and builds their domestic appliances, so they are equally good. Siemens tend to be a bit more upmarket but you sometimes see one on offer, especially at JL.

Looking at the "Which" best buys at about £450 (best first):
Bosch WAQ28461GB £488 scored 78%

Bosch WAQ24461 £455 77%

Hotpoint AQ113L297I £440 76%

Hotpoint AQ113L297E £449 76%

There are some other best buys at lower prices, for example
Bosch WAE24368GB £365 72%

JL are not usually the cheapest, they justify this by saying they provide a 2-year guarantee as standard but other suppliers are only 1-year.

You can read the full "Which" free at your local library.

[PigletJohn]

p.s.

having c&p your link, I see the Bosch you were looking at was the Bosch Exxcel WAQ28461GB

It came out well on the Which best-buy table, and has a £50 cashback offer at the mo at JL, so I'd say, go for it.

Which says The Bosch WAQ28461GB cleans, rinses and spins outstandingly which makes it a very high-scoring Best Buy - even though it uses an average amount of water and power to clean synthetics

They say the spin is fairly noisy.

[Cillitbanger]

I've got a Bosch and it's great . There is a 15minute cycle, which to be honest I rarely use as it's meant for lightly soiled items and my children don't do lightly soiled. There is a speed perfect setting which reduces the cotton cycle to one hour or you can opt for Eco perfect which uses least water and energy and lasts about 3 hours (not sure how a 3 hr cycle uses less than a one hour one but I use that for overnight washes). I had a Zanussi previously but have to say I opt for Bosch for most white goods now.

[CharminglyOdd]

Thank you :) I'll go for the Bosch at John Lewis if they have it. If not I'll shop around and try to get it cheaper elsewhere.

[PigletJohn]

They do

£479

[dikkertjedap]

Definitely Bosch (I do love Miele as well but they are a lot more expensive).

Sorry, I can't make your links work, but I would select a Bosch with good capacity and high spin option and preferably a variable spin (less ironing for some items). My Bosch is still going strong, has been involved in numerous house moves and is now about 12 years old!

[Caerlaverock]

I had a thread like this a while back, I ended up with a Bosch which is great. I really wanted and lg direct drive but there were none available within the time frame, I.e. NOW. I bought from appliances online, great service

[ouryve]

I've just got a Siemens, which is a rebadged bosch and it's fab. I find the 15 minute cycle useful for things like swimming kit and prewashing clothes that have been weed on or whatever, before washing them in a proper load.

[crazymum53]

I have a Bosch washing machine and would recommend. It has a very good energy rating compared with other machines and low water usage (we have water meter) so is economical to run too.
I would check the Which reports too. In the past the John Lewis own brand range have good reviews from Which too as they are really made by another leading manufacturer (am not sure which one).

[ILikeToMowIt]

I have a Bosch too. Would very much recommend it: even manages to erase grass and mud stains made by ds1 and ds2! Something that my old Hotpoint never managed (whatever you do; don't get a Hotpoint!).

Got it from John Lewis, and got £100 cash back from Bosch (one of their earlier promotions). Great!

[Fluffycloudland77]

The only problem with short cycles is they often use more electric than the Eco cycles, if you download the manual it will tell you how much they use for each cycle.

[CaptainFlack]

Love my new LG 8kg. They have the Direct drive motors (with 10 yr guarantee) and are sooooooo quiet! Best part. Also has a 30 min cycle which I use the most, a 1400 spin & a timer. Oh and it plays a little tune at the end [shallow, I know]

[Floralnomad]

I also have an LG direct drive and can highly recommend it , as with the previous poster the little tune at the end of the cycle is brill,plus it's quiet and does a great quick wash . You can more or less invent your own wash cycle to suit.

[Littlepumpkinpie]

I have had my LG 9years now never had a problem with it. Will buy LG machine when the time comes.

[inphek]

You can compare various washing machines at www.cheapwashingmachinesreviewed.co.uk/ if you are on a tight budget. Read the review of the Bosch WAQ28461GB here: www.cheapwashingmachinesreviewed.co.uk/bosch-waq28461gb/

[napkin]

What Siemens model did you buy ouryve? Looking at one myself but not many reviews.