kitchen appliances

[iloveglee]

Am having a new kitchen fitted, which is going to cost about £10,000 and am in quite a dilemma about appliances. I am replacing both dishwasher and washing machine with integrated ones, and am replacing fridge and freezer with a side by side american style fridge freezer. replacing gas hob with electric. I cannot decide whether it is worth spending the extra money to get bosch appliances rather than the cheaper ones that we currently have. my experience with washing machines is that they don't last much above 3 years, lucky if you get 5 years from one, but do bosch appliances really last much longer given they cost getting on twice as much. similarly dishwashers. have never had an american style fridge freezer before so can't compare, nor an electric hob. It might be a stretch financially to get the more expensive ones, but could probably do it, just can't decide if it's worth it. what do answerbank subscribers think.

[gingejbee]

German-made things DO last longer - my last washer (AEG) lasted 17-18 years with no problems. My current Miele is expected to last over 20 years and has a 10 year warranty. So it is worth spending more- and they perform better, too - look at Which? reports for confirmation of that.

[VHG]

Which magazine do regular reviews of "white goods" and Bosch and Miele tend to always come out top.

Not only do they last longer but they give a better "wash" as well.

I have a Bosch dishwasher and washing machine and tumble drier and they have been faultless for years.

Cant see the point of spending £10,000 on a kitchen and not put decent appliances in.

p.s. What a pity we cant get a reputation like that for goods made in the uk.

[bednobs]

personally i would say go for the more expensive ones.

I would also make the following observations:
1) why are you having integrated? IMO they dont look any better, you cant take them with you if you move and when they need repairing it's a hassle
2) Why change a gas hob for electric. Again IMO, gas hobs are MUCH easier to use and i really really wish i had one
3) why are you having a side by side fridge freezer, again IMO the freezer part is far less convenient than an ordianry freezer - if you get something biggish like a frozen pizza, they just don't fit in!

[Old_Geezer]

Ah but an American style freezer often comes with plumbed in water giving you chilled on tap. Filtered if you are lucky. Luxury, and an incentive to drink more water, less fizz.

[iloveglee]

wow!! such quick answers thank you. reason for changing gas to electric hob, having to move gas supply and much too messy and complicated (and expensive) to run a gas supply to where the hob going. I have had gas in the past, and electric hobs are so much easier to clean, I believe induction hobs are just as fast, or faster than gas. I would disagree about the look of integrated appliances, i think they do look better, much more streamlined. i agree that they are probably more difficult to get at if they go wrong - possibly another reason to go for a german made one? there is no chance of us leaving this house, retired so no job change and the kitchen is part of a larger extension programme to future proof the house against old age, i.e. when it's done, if it becomes necessary in the future, we would be able to live downstairs. American fridge freezers - well yes, I do see what you mean about the freezer part being a little narrow, but they do look so gorgeous don't they, besides which we will be keeping a couple of regular small freezers as spares in the garden hut. actually we don't eat that much pizza!!! And of course all that iced water and ice just at the touch of a button - it's an indulgence no doubt about it. Seems as though the general opinion though is that it is worth spending the extra money and yes, if spending that much on a kitchen why spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar

[cathfromsaron]

i don't find integrated washer dryers are much good! they defo don't 'dry' as much as seperate in the time! xx

[bednobs]

i dont think he means integrated as in washer and dry, but integrated as in lookes like kitchen cupboard fronts

[scotman]

I can't comment on modern appliances as I haven't bought anything for some time. My AEG washing machine is still going strong after many years. Also Indesit tumble drier. Bosch fridge is also OK.

[nungate]

I've had a Zanussi fridge for almost 25 years with never a problem. I've had a Bosch washer dryer for over 10 years befor I needed to replace it, I am now on my second, I left a Bosch diswasher behind when we moved house last year as the house we moved to already had one which was larger than the one I had - I so wish I hadn't and had kept my Bosch. For me it's Bosch all the way

[iloveglee]

thanks again for further responses - bosch certainly seems as though it has some fans out there. the only thing that concerns me a bit about people who have had these appliances for donkeys years, this is brilliant but do they really make appliances like that these days, a relative of mine has a hoover vacuum cleaner that she bought in 1955, its still going strong and picks up bits better than any modern vacuum, dont imagine for one moment anyone makes appliances that are likely to last that long. still leaning towards bosch though even though paying extra for the appliances will put us over budget - still, its only money cant take it with you

[iloveglee]

looking around, reading other reviews, bosch it is then. then of course the next dilemma where to get the appliances from. there are so many online stores, and shops with online access, all with so much variation in price - how can something so simple as a dishwasher have such a different price in so many different places. i usually like john lewis because their after sales service is so good but even they can't compete with some of the online only stores - but then again - online only stores???