Please help me find a new fridge freezer

[belindarose]

Mum has offered to buy us one, which is very good of her. My requirements are that it's as large a capacity as possible, but not a double doored one as it'll be too
wide for the space. I'd like the fridge part to be on top.

Mum's talking about £400 I think, but I'd like it to be less than that. We were hoping to have a new kitchen this year, but with new baby due soon and my lack of earnings, this isn't going to be happening.

It depends what size you need. I was limited by height by width might be an issue too. I can't remember what makes were recommended. Will see if I can find. I vaguely remember being surprised that Indesit did quite well in Which? tests.

we have a beko one and the one before that was beko as well.

The are mostly 600mm wide but you can get wider. You probably won't be able to reach the top shelf if it is more than 1800mm high. Unusual sizes may be more expensive. Built in will be more expensive. Frost Free are a bit more expensive and less reliable as the internal ducts sometimes get blocked.

Bosch are very reliable. I was surprised to see the a couple of Beko in the "Which" best tables because it is an inexpensive brand. They make lots of other models that are not as good. The Which Best Buys at £400 or less (best first)
Hotpoint FF7190EX £405
Hotpoint FF7190EP £374
Bosch KGV36NW20G £339
Bosch KGH34X05GB £350
Lec TF6086W £300
Beko CDA556FW £275
Beko CDA660F £380

There are more but you can read the full reviews at your local library.

Beko have about the same reliability as Bosch when it comes to fridge-freezers, surprisingly - both are mid-table. Hotpoint are worse.

\link{http://www.appliancedeals.co.uk/product/KGV36NW20G-Bosch-Fridge-Freezer-White-23262.aspx?cm_mmc=PriceRunner--FS%20fridge%20freezers--Bosch-_-KGV36NW20G_WH\this Bosch one looks good for you} - only £339. The freezer's a bit small though.

Free delivery & good reviews!

Yeah, it was Beko I was thinking of, not Indeshit. I hate my Beko though (about 8 yrs old & on it's last legs) and would go for hotpoint or Bosch.

\link{http://www.appliancesonline.co.uk/product/kgv36nw20g-bosch-classixx-fridge-freezer-white-23262.aspx& £50 cashback from Bosch too!}

that looks like a very good deal, Ponders.

Thank you, all you knowledgeable people. I'll follow up the links. Good point about not being able to reach the top shelf. I need to watch out for that.

Yes, I agree with that, MrsM. I used to have separate under-counter fridge & freezer from Bosch & all the drawers broke. OTOH they worked satisfactorily for years, while a Hotpoint larder fridge's thermostat conked out after barely a year (but out of warranty)

Before that I had 1980s larder fridge & upright freezer from Bosch, when they still had plastic-coated wire basket drawers, those were much better.

I now have an LG American-style side-by-side which is very sturdy (but even so somebody has managed to damage the fruit & veg drawer runners )

Trouble is there are so many different ones now you can never see them all, but I suppose just looking at one of each make will give you an idea of quality. Which's tests can't really reproduce proper family wear & tear

Watching as DH and I have just thrown out our entire freezer contents after eating some 'off' fish fillets today. Stupid Hotpoint one.
Like the idea if that Bosch one, but might need a slightly bigger freezer.

Perhaps I'll have a fun trip out to a retail park this week then. I agree it's hard to get an idea of capacity by just looking at measurements.