Gorenje washer/dryer thoughts?

[canuck]

Hello, I'm in Canada, looking to buy a thermostatic heated European washer. There is a Gorenje set that appears to check all the boxes for a reasonable price (W8544PA/D8565NA) The dryer is a heat pump. Comes with a 5 year warranty. There are almost no reviews on these machines that I can find online so I'm a bit hesitant to buy, even with the warranty. I know they are more widely used in Europe so I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts for me on these machines as far as performance and reliability/longevity. If no knowledge of these specific machines, any general Gorenje W/D feedback would also be helpful.

Also considering a Miele washer (WWF060) but it would cost more than the W/D set above for just the washer. I have an old electric tumble dryer that works and do tend to line dry things so just buying a washer is not an unreasonable option.

Any thoughts on Gorenje vs. Miele? I currently have a 15 yo Frigidaire basic front loader with no water heater that has no issues but also no fun options or heating. (FTF530ES0)

Link is to Gorenje washer.

Thanks!

https://ca.gorenje.com/products/laundry/models/washing-machines/w8544pa/576644#product

 

[henene4]

The Gorenje is last gens EU model, a version with Inverter, recirculation and the biggest drum in that generation.

Mit necessarily Bad, but certainly no awesome Machine.
Load sensing is 2 Level only, rinse fills are static and fixed aswell, sudslocking kann happen.
But washes and rinses quite well as long as you use water plus or allergy.

The Miele is entry Level, but will last twice as long dir sure.

However, I love heatpump dryers.
They are quite a difference to what North America is used to dryer wise, but I can only recommend them.

 

[rolls_rapide]

I have a Gorenje made Panasonic washer from 2017. I personally find it has far too many foibles in its design for an easy life...

My Panasonic (Gorenje) has a big drum... but it is a sealed unit within the outer tub. You would have to replace the whole unit if the bearings went.

Balancing for spin takes forever. Usually when fully loaded, full spin speed is not achieved. It seems to get to 1200rpm rather than ramping up to 1400 or 1600rpm.

I think the Panasonic is quite harsh on cottons. A fair amount of lint can be shed from the laundry and deposited on the folds of the door seal. Also, this lint balls-up and can make its way through the recirculation pump filter to clog the spray jets (narrow orifices) - although the Gorenje version might only have a single wider jet.

The Panasonic recirculation jet hose is attached to the jet array... by a single cable tie. Never seen that in me life!

The Panasonic sump filter seal leaked sporadically - I had to cut off the little tab which stopped the cap exactly at the 12 O'clock position, in order to allow the seal to go slightly tighter.

Panasonic wash temperatures are a bundle of lies on the quicker cycles. To get the stated temperatures you have to select the programme without any speedy options.

When brand new, the Panasonic drum had a rough seam and a couple of burrs in contact with the laundry. I had to remove them with fine emery paper.

Oh, and on my Panasonic a small sliver of the concrete weight was shed. It fell out of one of the chassis vent holes in the base.

Spares might be a bit of a gamble too.

Based on my experience with a Gorenje made machine, I would say run far away - quickly!

 

[rolls_rapide]

Oh, and isn't it now the case that Gorenje, having parted company with Panasonic, jumped into bed with Hisense of China?

I think Gorenje also took control of Asko, after Merloni Servis went up the creek.

 

[henene4]

That "Gorenje" machine is more assembled by Gorenje.

And frankly has not much to do with these Gorenjes you are looking at.

Don't get me wrong, quality isn't great either on the true Gorenjes.
But these Panasonics were their last cling to life for Panasonic brand washers over here.

Asko is owned by Gorenje, yes, but completly independent machine wise none the less.

And yes they appear to source their washer-dryer and toploader from somewhere chinese...

But non of that has any relation to the machines you are looking at

Gorenje is a budget brand over here and what you are looking at is a plain Gorenje machine.

Cheap, simple, dumb.
But easy to use and does what you say it to.

 

[rolls_rapide]

http://www.sloveniatimes.com/brussels-clears-hisense-s-takeover-of-gorenje

 

[freshnclean]

Asko quality

I understand that asko had manufacturing quality issues for the past decade .
Have they improved with parent gorenje?
I mean asko are built in Slovenia not Sweden . I wonder where do they source their core parts ?

 

[canuck]

Thanks for all the feedback!

It's funny that these Gorenje machines are simple, and dumb compared to other European options because compared to standard north american machines they seem to be more advanced wrt heating and customization of the programs.

Leaning toward the Miele washer after reading your comments.