I got a new Panasonic!

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It's terrible that today's machines only seem to last five minutes, and you would reasonably expect a machine to last longer than two years. I always feel guilty if people ask about "the best machine to buy", and the blessed thing conks out inside a short space of time.

I think it is reasonable to presume long gone are the days of a machine lasting 15+ years. In saying that, I hope mine lasts a bloody sight longer than two years! LOL.
 
Have you seen the machine change the rotation speed depending on the load? The 3D sensor i think its called.

:) x
 
It does funny things on start up

First things first, the door-lock CLUNKS! (Zero delay lock at end of cycle too!).

Then, a T-shirt symbol flashes for 5 seconds, as the drum rapidly rotates, weighing the clothes. After that the water is added via the drawer and "nice spray thingy" (thanks Dyson2drums, LOL). The detergent gets frothed up due to the speedy rotation and comes out of the drum-tub gap, but I haven't been aware of different tumble speeds, like the old Zanussi. Mind you, it is still early days - I'll have to make a cup of tea and sit down and watch it closely.
 
oh cool, it uses the "spray thingy" on start up. My LG does weigh the clothes by 3 tumbles at 100rpm. But i dont have a "spray thingy" but i have the shower spray (reciculation). Not as good as yours. LoL
 
"spray thingy"

I had an AEG about a decade ago - the last of the true AEGs with the drawer on the right-hand side - and it had the spray thingy too. It had four jets all pointing at slightly different angles, so the jets sprayed different parts of the laundry as it swept past on the quick rotations at the start of the rinse cycles. To tell you the truth, I always thought it was a gimmick on the AEG, since the jets only activated on the fill. I wonder how effective it would have been if connected to a Zanussi Jetsystem 'active' pumped system.

Of the 'passive' spray fills, I much preferred Hoover's 'New Wave' method - that seemed to send a torrent into the tub.
 
Same here, i also love the hoover new wave method, known as "front fill". My neighbours soft wave had that. I've only ever seen one new wave live in action which was at old neighbours when i was small, but saw the soft wave daily at my other neighbours.
 
I tried a 90°C programme running empty, with powder.

The temperature range goes from cold, then 30° - 90° in steps of 10°, including 70° and 80°.

There seems to be a cool-down phase of simultaneously filling and draining (never seen that before!), followed by the two proper rinses.
 
Spin Speeds

Hi Guys.

Just been reading this thread and yes its so sad that some cheap modern machines only last about 2 years. I wonder if it was to do with the fast spins they offer.

I remember once reading in a Which mag saying there could be some realiabilty problems with fast spin machines.

I know this is not a problem with Miele. My Mum has had her Miele for ages and is never off. The machine is still going strong.

Regards

Paul
 
Yes, apparently some machines have 'El Cheapo' bearings, yet are expected to attain 1600rpm spins. I've seen photos of bearings somewhere online, for a modern machine (possibly Electrolux Group), compared to bearings used several years ago. The modern equivalent were smaller and less robust looking.

Miele on the other hand, uses decent quality bearings (I think they used to mention something about the same type as found on luxury car axles).

When this machine goes, I might consider a Miele (if and when funds allow!).
 
Rolls_rapide

How are you finding the Panasonic? Hope you are pleased with it.

Yea, I remember reading about Miele bearings being equivalent to car axle bearings.

If you do decide to get a Miele, keep you eye out for end of line machines, currys have a Miele vented dryer at the moment for £242 reduced from £549 and I've seen Miele machines in Comet for £450 ..... unfortunately not when I was buying mine!!! I could've got mine cheaper on line but decided to go to John Lewis as delivery was quicker and I wanted the security of a seller I knew.
 
Good Heavens!!!

Cheap Mieles? I nearly swooned to the floor in a dead faint!

I does indeed pay to keep an eye out, but with my luck (as usual), I get a new machine and a few days later, there is a magnificent bargain on a superior machine. Thanks anyway.

I know what you mean about security of a trusted seller, some of those online entities seem to be 'fly-by-nights'. I prefer a physical shop, face to face with sales staff.
 
Cheap Miele

they were end of line models though.....the price of current models seem to have shot up. My machine is now £90 more in John Lewis.
 
Panasonic

Yes thanks, the machine seems to be fine and I'm getting used to its operation.

I was comparing the Panasonic's drum perforations to my mum's Bosch Exxcel. The Bosch has an awful lot of holes that seem to keep the laundry plastered to the drum wall. The Panasonic has more sheet metal in proportion to the holes - like the way the Hoover 'New Wave' had fewer holes but more drum sheeting than the AEGs of its time.
 
My machine is now £90 more in John Lewis.

So much for the credit crunch! Do you think those retailers are coming it?
 
Rolls

Yea.....totally!!! J/L is not the only one though....Comet had an Indesit Prime for £400, I do like Indesit but would NEVER pay that amount for one!
 
"but would NEVER pay that amount for one!"

Me neither: never in a month of Sundays! Probably has the same quality (or should that be cheapness?) as a £200 model.
 
The Panasonic is a nice looking machine. I saw it in Comet a while back, seems very solid. Its a shame your Zanussi IZ is no longer working. The Zanussi IZ is a good machine, very much the same as my AEG in the programming. The only thing is the the IZ has the reclined drum and the underside isn't covered like the AEG? I maybe wrong. Is the IZ made in Italy or Germany? I should know this lol
 
IZ

Made in Italy. The underside had no coverplate, just a substantial 'Carboran' base peppered with slots/holes and a wide rectangularish hole in the middle. Silly design, as a water leak would cause damage to surroundings. I would imagine its purpose is to reduce noise rather than totally obliterate it. Also, the carbon dust made a horrible mess on the flooring. You could always smell the ozone and carbon dust from that machine.

The Panasonic on the other hand has no such odour (just a new rubbery smell) and the base seems to be sealed.

With regard to special programmes like 'Shirts' as on the Panasonic, are the Public so bloody stupid that they can't work out that certain fabrics should be washed on 'Minimum Iron' or 'Delicates'?

Speaking of 'Minimum Iron', why did the International Textile Labelling codes disappear off of washing machines? The Hoover and Hotpoint machines had it right - dial a letter or number that corresponded with the proper wash programme. Even better if the control panel number corresponded exactly with ITLC code, like '5' = 5/40°, or '2' = 2/60°, or '1' = 1/95°.

Absolutely everything now is dumbed down to the lowest common denominator - i.e. idiots, which pisses me right off.
 
Did the Zanussi IZ use Fuzzy Logic at the beginning of the wash cycle. As the Zanussi is similar to my AEG OKO Lavamat. I know that when you press the start button, the pump comes on for few seconds then the machine fills with a little bit of water, tumbles a few times and then continues to fill with the drum tumbling in one direction until the machine has filled up. Is this a Fuzzy Logic thing or just the way the machine fills up as other Zanussi's don't do this and it would seem a little unnecessary if its just filling up with water. The washing must def use fuzzy logic control for the rinse cycles.

Where is the IZ now? When did you buy it? I got my AEG in 2002.
 
The IZ had a similar start-up routine. I believe it had a form of fuzzy logic, but not advanced fuzzy logic like my previous AEG had. That machine could handle excess foaming by adding an extra rinse. The IZ was not able to insert an extra rinse automatically.

The IZ has been sent for recycling (I deliberately snipped motor cables and flex, just to be on the safe side). Originally bought in June 2001.

I was just thinking, that with the cost of the AEG, Zanussi and Panasonic all added together, I could have purchased the 1800rpm Miele for the same price! EEK!!! And the Miele would probably outlast all three machines. Scary thought!
 

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