Uncle Badger

Thanks very much for such a helpful reply (and for these forums!). I must admit, having it repaired is appealing, almost more for the sake of convenience than cost, because getting machines in and out of my tiny (upstairs) flat is a nightmare! Sadly, in this case, the 5 year warranty didn't apply as the Hoover was 'graded'. That's something people need to watch when buying graded machines. They have to come with conventional warranties, apparently, but you lose any extra benefits (or so I was told!). As for getting the drier checked, I will (if I repair) but I don't think it's *quite* bad enough to be the sign of a fault: it's just a 'feature' I think. On Bosch (and we've discussed this elsewhere) I've looked quite closely at the latest generation of their entry-level machines and haven't been impressed. Then, only today, I read on here the horror story from the poor chap who has bought a new AEG and seems to have run into terrible problems with their call centre. That has the 'ring of truth' about it, too, as just before Christmas, my nextdoor neighbour was fuming about probems with a brand new Zanussi and the attitude from (one assumes) the selfsame call centre. The choice seems to be Miele or a quick fix and, with the benefit of your inside knowledge, I'm thinking hard about the latter!

Thanks for the advice. I'll see if my supplier has either a Siemens or AEG machine I can look at it. It's curious that the upper-mid market seems almost to have vanished today. Most products are clustered around the lower regions of the market and there is very little between them and Miele. Of course, one option is to buy a 'graded' machine (something I have done before, with happy results), so I suppose I'll have to start shopping some more! Thanks for the site, by the way. It's very useful!

I'm very bothered by this Bosch question. Some years ago, I bought a WFF1201, which has proved utterly reliable. In fact, it was so well built that I think you could stick a set of wheels on it and send it into battle (!). At the same time (I think we must be talking about 6-8 years ago) I also bought its equivalent dishwasher - with exactly the same happy results. Meanwhile, about three years ago, for use in a holiday home, I bought the equivalent Bosch dishwasher which, though it feels flimiser than my old warhorse, seems (touch wood!) to be ok. But now I need a new washing machine for the holiday home and, last weekend, went to size-up the contenders at Currys and Comet. I was disappointed. The current entry-level Bosch washing machine (the WAE2416) has a plastic (maybe nylon) door catch and at the branch of Currys I visited (where they had four or five of the same basic design on display) not one of the machines on offer seemed quite right. The soap compartments were either too tight or too loose and the doors were either hard to close or, in one case, would barely close at all, because the steel plate on which the hinges were mounted was so thin and flexible that the alignment had shifted out of 'true'. My preferred supplier (an independent - I try not to buy from either Currys or Comet) assures me they still recommend Bosch. But I wonder how much of that is down to habit? Truthfully, the Bosch machines I looked at last Saturday seemed as flimsy as the flimsiest Servis and Beko offerings. I realise you can't see what lies inside, but Bosch is doing itself no favours at all when it makes the bits you can see, so apparently weak. I would love to stick with Bosch for my next purchase, but I just don't feel I dare. What I will get, instead I haven't a clue! It seems crazy to buy a Miele just for a holiday home, but what is there between run-of-the-mill - potentially weak - machines and a BMW-class product? Sadly, not very much these days, it seems. Incidentally, if anyone has any suggestions, I'd welcome advice!

Here's a dilemma I bet will sound familiar - do I repair or replace a faulty machine? The faulty item was a mistake from the day I bought it. The requirement was simple: a washing machine for a tiny flat which isn't used very much. Shopping around (and, four years ago, without the benefit of the excellent Washerhelp!) I settled for a Hoover Six washer/drier, on the grounds that it wouldn't get much use and would probably last until I sold the flat. As I say, it was a bad choice. It takes an age to dry anything that isn't poly-cotton (towels are misery), so, though it washes well enough, it has been frustrating to use. Until last week, though, it had at least been reliable. Then the pump failed and, trying to check the filter, I flooded the kitchen floor - not good in an upstairs flat! The options are to have it repaired (it's only a few years old and really hasn't had much use -possibly 1 or 2 loads a week on average) or replace it. And if so, with what? I won't buy another washer/drier. I think they are, at best, an uneasy compromise. Instead I'd buy a separate small drier and a good quality washing machine. Even though it wouldn't get a lot of use I'm tempted by a Miele, not because I want a machine to last 20 years, but because I travel a lot and can't afford the time to handle breakdowns. I considered a Bosch but yesterday looked at their current entry-level machines and was appalled at how far the quality seems to have dropped in a few years. In Currys, several had badly fitting doors, where the steel holding the brackets had flexed and distorted from repeated opening and closing, while the catch itself was made from what looked like nylon. Even the cheapest machines from other makers had metal catches! So, Bosch was off the list (with regret as I've always had good service from their machines) which leaves... what? Risk a Zanussi or an AEG equivalent in the £300 region? Or do I go crazy and spend £500 on an entry-level Miele? Whatever I buy won't get a lot of use, but I need, so far as possible, to be free from breakdowns as I spend most of my time away from home and scheduling service appointments is a nightmare. Or... do I just get a cheap fix for the Hoover and avoid the hassle and expense of disposal and replacement? All suggestion will be very gratefully received as I'm completely undecided about what to do!