Hi Darren
Im doing okay cheers. I would probably pick that colour if i was buying the machine for my kitchen. Though as our Essential is in the utility room it's just a white one. Not sure if our rare Euronics version came in graphite/silver anyway tbh?!
It was abit odd of Zanussi doing the low versions with three useless lights and the higher ones with a full on display, especially as all but their lowest previous generation of machines (AquaCycle badged with 2 dials) had full progress lights.
Whirlpool seemed to get it right in that respect, with LEDs on the low end machines and LEDs and displays on the higher spec machines. I see the cheaper Zanussis are now undercutting many manufacturers (depending on which website you look on) and more seem to have the progress displays, though after looking at eBay this week i fear this will have come at the expense of yet more quality.
Know what you mean about the machine remaining stable on unbalanced spins. Ours is pretty easy going with balancing, doesn't faff much at all and when it does it usually corrects itself first time. If it does spin unbalanced the machine rarely moves, especially now i've fine tuned the feet to get it totally level. Miles better than our previous Electrolux which shifted on nearly every wash. Even when the drum really rocks (which makes me cringe) the cabinet stays in one place, which is good. Particularly as it's not fitted between cabinets so it could go where it wanted to really.
It also has very effective anti-foam control, where it cuts the spin on the second burst if it detects too much water/foam. Depending on the level of foam it'll then static drain for 1 or 2 mins, which usually shifts all the suds somehow! I expect yours is the same.
Ive not paid much attention to the interim spin speeds when using or not using Extra Rinse, but i don't use Extra Rinse much at all now as i realised that it cuts the water level on the remaining 3 rinses to the shallow level. Therefore it's fine on loads that wouldve had shallow rinses as it does 5 instead of 3 of them, but if it's towels or something that wouldve had deep rinses, youre better off leaving it off so you get 3 deep rinses, otherwise it just does 5 puddle-like ones that are hopeless for stuff like towels. Couldn't see the point in the Half Load button, i think it's just to answer some reports that probably slagged off earlier machines for not having it.
Not happy to hear about things like the plastic drum pulley on that Electrolux machine, ive never looked to see what ours is made of. Won't be as solid as the beastly FL1012 i bet
That Chinese made thing is a big disappointment, like you say, Electrolux must have resources in-house to do that themselves. XC's appear to be the last range of Zanussi that was actually better than much of the competition. God knows what i'll get if they really do go pants. Beko or Whirlpool in that price range are my faves i spose. Other than that it'd have to be the non-massive-doored Miele!
Liam.
P.S - found another dead one - see below
Least it's not another 1200. Am thinking PCB failure on this one?
