How do I choose a washing machine?!

[43cupsoftea]

We are thinking of replacing our very old but very reliable Bosch washing machine. I'm tempted to just go and buy another Bosch of around about £300, but I suspect I need to be a bit more grown up about it and think about what I really need. I'm no great housewife and there's only 3 of us - ds is 9 this year so suspect I need something that will cope with the inevitable teenage boy stuff in a few years time.

What do I need? Any suggestions appreciated!

Another one here with a fairly new and much hated Bosch.

It beeps hideously.
It doesn't have a spin-only function which is sometimes needed for lopsided loads (eg towels) which haven't spun properly. I have to do a 'rinse & spin'.
I've had to stop using liquitab-type detergents as more often than not they come out only part dissolved and I have gunk on my stuff and need to wash again.

I bought a Candy top loader in November with all the features I was looking for and I hate it. The biggest problem is the NOISE. It's not off balance, I could have dealt with that. The inverter sets up a high pitched screeeEEEECH when it spins that you can hear through the whole house and probably the whole neighbourhood. Never thought to check the decibels.

I would advise anybody to get a simple drum-type spin dryer. No washing machine does 2800 rpm and it saves time, money on tumbling and multiple clothes clutter because they go back into use faster. This is noticeable with kids as they grow so fast. I used to buy them 2 packs of underwear at a time, now only one. My spinner cost £75!

pileoflaundry, tbh I don't have many delicates (I don't think ). I have on one or two occasions used the delicates wash, but the only separating of clothes I do is darks and lights.
Maybe a new washing machine is going to be a revelation!
And I will be sure to measure the gap!

Bosch Exxcel (Mid range) here. Does beep but seems to wash OK. I don't use the super eco cycles although it does have delay timer. The standard "Dark wash" is about 1 hr 10. We got it secondhand from some appliance place so I feel we've been eco friendly already by re-using it!

Following this thread i'm going to investigate disabling the beeping!

I've got a new Bosch and I love it. It's this one. Ao are excellent btw, we ordered at 7:50pm on the Thursday and it was here at 10:10am on the Friday.

I mainly use the Easy Care program because none of our clothes are filthy. That takes 1hr 49 mins. I use the Cotton 60 degree wash for bedding and towels and it takes 2hrs 35. There is a sports wash program that I use for DS1's gym stuff, but I don't know how long that takes. I sometimes use the night wash program which is quieter than the others and doesn't beep at the end. The beep does annoy me a little bit if I can't get to it straight away, but on the other hand it's nice to know that it's finished. It is so quiet, even when it spins, the kettle is louder.

Whatever you do don't buy a Hotpoint. They really are a bag of shit. We have had 2 in the last 7 years. Fortunately we had a repair plan because they needed fixing every couple of months. They were both written off, the first one was replaced with another Hotpoint,the second on we had the money and bought the Bosch.

My Hoover washer has just died after a mere 19 months of use. One adult, three children household. I was not happy as it wasn't a cheap machine. The repairman I use said that it was the electrics, and therefore pointless trying to fix as you can get a new washer for that. His recommendation for new ones were Bosch or Beko, or if I could manage a lottery win a Miele as they tend to last longer.

I hate washer shopping :'(