washer dryers - are they ever any good?

[oopsa]

Have heard negative things about washer dryers - (not as good as tumble dryers, more likely to break down etc).
But we're stuck for space and fitting a tumble dryer in would mean reorganising one section of our kitchen (and therefore quite expensive). Our washine machine is fine, but a bit old anyway. Would be so much easier just to replace wm with washer dryer. Can't bear thought of another winter with laundry drying all over the house!

So my question is this - would you go through more upheaval and expense to get tumble dryer? Or are washer dryers fine really? Any particular ones fab?
Also, with washer dryers is it true that you can only dry a load as the end of a wash? Or can you just use the dryer function on its own?
Have never had or used either so at a bit of a loss...

If you've got the space go for seperate

Mine (currently non working as awaiting a part stuck in the postal strike is being repaired for the 2nd time in 2 years) It can only dry a half load and yesterday I nearly broke a toe kicking it in frustration

Repair (to control panel) is costing £200, previous repair (for new pump) was £125 .. machine is only 2 years old (zan .. bloody.. ussi)

(apologies for rant )

They're better than nothing, but not as good as having a separate washer and dryer. When we've used the one at my MILs (she's on her own so for her it's fine) I get hugely frustrated as it just seems to take so long to dry stuff. I find I have the washing machine and the dryer going at the same time in order to get through the amazingly large quantities of washing that seem to accumilate, so for us a washer dryer just wouldn't work.

I had one when I was single (a lovely Siemens one my parents gave me ) and it was fine for one person in a one bedroom flat. Not so good for more than one person.

I couldn't bear to live without a drier of any sort in a flat.