John Lewis say that vented tumble dryers are "the most popular" but

[PattyMcGinty]

they only seem to sell 6 of them. They sell 40 different condenser ones.

Maybe I should get a condenser one - even if I can have vented? What do you wise-ones say?

My mums been through countless cheap Hotpoint washers and still cannot fathom how I spent so much on a Bosch that has out lasted them all several times over, same with her cheap dishwashers (that don't wash dishes ) compared with my miele, which is fab and still going strong. When I told her I was buying all german appliances for our new kitchen she kept muttering about a waste of money.

I think many people do not realise the value of something over the initial cost (although I do appreciate many do not have a choice either) - not only do our neff/AEG/miele/bosch appliances seem to last longer but they also seem to work better, be cleverer & more energy efficient, which to me adds value & justifies a higher pricetag.

Believing as I do in the gospel according to St Which? I think the heat pump condenser ones come up the cheapest over a 5 year period (purchase cost and 5 years average use). There are some available at the z£400-500 price point so although pricey, not up at the top end. Vented start at £150-£200 (though with poor reviews) but running costs are £90 a year against £40, so over five years there is no difference.

I'm going heat pump condenser... We could have squeezed a vented one one but decided not to bother changing the utility design around for such marginal gains.

And I'd much rather have the condensing dryer than my previous vented one.

According to Which? It's only the heat pump condenser driers which are cheaper to run than vented ones - the ordinary condenser models' running costs are similar to or more than vented ones, but they cost more to buy.

(not sure if this page is one of their public ones or just for subscribers, but here's the link anyway)
www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/laundry-and-cleaning/reviews/tumble-dryers/page/faqs/

OK in our last house I had two vented dryers: a Creda then a Zanussi. Could have vented because the utility room had an outside wall and we had a hole made.

In this house the utility room is stolen from the garage and there is no outside wall so we have a condenser - Bosch.

I think it depends on whether you can have a vent or not. I have found both types more than OK. I don't mind emptying the water or cleaning the filter chamber at the bottom.

I can see no difference in drying time. Vented are a lot cheaper so if you are thinking of staying in your house for a long time and might have two/three machines then probably over time they are cheaper. If I recall, there was also a bit of a draft through the vent.

cost isn't the only factor, of course. We all have complex personal preferences.

I like vented because they are simpler and have less to go wrong. I wouldn't pay £1000 for a heat pump drier because I don't want to. But I would pay that for a new tyre for one of my Ferraris.

There are some things I wouldn't have in my house regardless of cost - I wouldn't have a plastic door, or a combi boiler, or halogen downlighters because I don't like them, and can't be bothered with things that go wrong.

If eco-friendliness was top of my list I would build a rain-shelter for the washing line and get a gas tumbler. Energy losses on electrical heating are enormous, but you can't see them because they happen in the generation, distribution and supply.

I do tell a lot of lies.

"they only seem to sell 6 of them. They sell 40 different condenser ones.

Maybe I should get a condenser one"

I'm almost certain you can get tumble dryers from other retailers.

We have a vented one as we had a vent at the old house. Now the pipe goes out of the attic window because the damn thing won't die.

PigletJohn - you can get tyres for a California for about £350 each off me if you're interested (because I've just looked them up out of interest and I've slapped on a £70 profit per tyre for me)

We have the Zanussi heat pump dryer on the back of the Which report. We went from a C rated dryer to an A rated one and worked out that it would pay for itself in not too much time. Curry's had an offer on it so JL had price matched it and it was only 399 iirc.

actually, I only paid £325 each for Michelin Supersports recently.

I've had cars which cost less than that.

They're £281.40 where I found them. You Ferrari owners are so blase about money :)

I don't see a flash car as a status symbol. It's a frightfully vulgar idea.

That's why I bought the helicopter.