21-08-2020, 10:16 AM
It's a tricky one...
My 1999 Bosch washing machine will need replacing sooner or later, and I'm really not sure what I'll pick. Several people I know have bought Bosch machines over the last 15 or so years, and they've much been less reliable than the older ones, with issues occurring really very early on - many of them have been replaced with other brands by now. But I do know others who have bought Bosch in the last 5 years and so far so good - suggesting to me that perhaps quality took a dive but has recovered? But of course, that's nothing like enough data to draw meaningful conclusions from (probably about 10 machines in total).
I will say that my 1999 Bosch was a significant step down in quality compared to the older machines all my friends and colleagues had at the time. Those machines were extremely well built. Mine was still better than the mass-market brands at the time, and perhaps only 20% more expensive, and I've certainly had a good ROI, but I would have loved one of the older ones because they were so much quieter and didn't vibrate and jump as much.
But our experiences are just that - experiences. Statistically insignificant. Unfortunately, data about reliability tends to be behind paywalls - I haven't subscribed to Which for ages, but that did help to steer me towards Bosch in 1999. Most of what you find for free on the web is commercially driven, or - like threads like this - anecdotal.
Part of me is tempted to move up to Miele, but their build quality is nothing like it was 20 years ago. They might still be better than Bosch, etc, but there's no way of really knowing. Against that, parts for Bosch machines are readily available at relatively sane prices. For example, drain pumps - a part I've replaced on mine - cost about 5 times as much for a Miele. Main motors are double. But perhaps you'd gamble on not having to replace them? Let's be honest - whatever you buy is a gamble...
My 1999 Bosch washing machine will need replacing sooner or later, and I'm really not sure what I'll pick. Several people I know have bought Bosch machines over the last 15 or so years, and they've much been less reliable than the older ones, with issues occurring really very early on - many of them have been replaced with other brands by now. But I do know others who have bought Bosch in the last 5 years and so far so good - suggesting to me that perhaps quality took a dive but has recovered? But of course, that's nothing like enough data to draw meaningful conclusions from (probably about 10 machines in total).
I will say that my 1999 Bosch was a significant step down in quality compared to the older machines all my friends and colleagues had at the time. Those machines were extremely well built. Mine was still better than the mass-market brands at the time, and perhaps only 20% more expensive, and I've certainly had a good ROI, but I would have loved one of the older ones because they were so much quieter and didn't vibrate and jump as much.
But our experiences are just that - experiences. Statistically insignificant. Unfortunately, data about reliability tends to be behind paywalls - I haven't subscribed to Which for ages, but that did help to steer me towards Bosch in 1999. Most of what you find for free on the web is commercially driven, or - like threads like this - anecdotal.
Part of me is tempted to move up to Miele, but their build quality is nothing like it was 20 years ago. They might still be better than Bosch, etc, but there's no way of really knowing. Against that, parts for Bosch machines are readily available at relatively sane prices. For example, drain pumps - a part I've replaced on mine - cost about 5 times as much for a Miele. Main motors are double. But perhaps you'd gamble on not having to replace them? Let's be honest - whatever you buy is a gamble...
