Great Thread There 
I think every1 loves to share their experiences with washing machines... so do I! I couldn't help noticing that many of you have gone through many washers in relatively short periods of time... and others have managed to keep 1 washer throughout their entire life... what we need now is something slap bang in the middle: my experience
I left my family home some 15 years ago and I have experienced 4 washing machines to date. I was using my landlady/landlord's Bendix front loader 600rpm to do my laundry back in 1996 up to 1998 when it was put aside due to a broken door seal (and later given to me when I got my own place). It was replaced by a crappy Electra, which was nothing but trouble... spin problems and burning smells seemed to be the norm... and only after a few months after I left my landlord/landlady's place, they replaced it with a Bosch Maxx (or maybe Exxcel).
Let's go back to the Bendix... it was already about 10 years of age and in full working order but in need of a new door seal which was duly sorted. This washer was a bit basic, no frills, few programmes and low spin speed but it did the trick while I was settling down into my new home. After a couple of years, I was given a 4 year old Zanussi 800rpm which I regrettably accepted as a replacement for the Bendix. It was pretty basic too, but with a faster spin speed, so I figured I'd benefit from this through quicker drying times... well, that bit was true... but overall that machine was an absolute headache thanks to its lack of stability, and weird programme configuration (only one cycle had a final spin at the end, all the others would just do an automatic rinse hold... and even the cotton rinses did not foresee interim spins!).
As much as I disliked the Zanussi, it served me well (I mean... it kept on working) for 3 years on the trot, then, due to its jumping habits, some physical damage occurred to its programmer which did no longer allow for fabric conditioner intake: This was fixed and the machine was sold on eBay. 2004 that was... when I ordered a Candy Aquaviva 1300rpm through a catalogue. I could finally see what progress and evolution had done to washing machines... I was over the moon with it as it was cleaning soooo beatifully and above all, it was spin drying wonderfully allowing me to give drying times a definite cut! I only used it for less than a week... having realised that the detergent cavity had a crack in it, I rung up the catalogue to have it exchanged but they no longer had that particular model.
I was determined to buy another Candy Acquaviva as it'd made such an impression on me... so I started my Candy hunt online only to find that it had been discontinued... however, there were other Candy washers available. After a little search, I spotted a Hoover Nextra in an online store which was given away for the same price as some of the Candys I was looking at, but it featured some more appealing wash options and a nice Satin finish. That was final... and it marked the end of an era... I mean, the end of my washing machine ownership experience to date (except for the occasional machines used on holiday). It wasn't as easy as it seemed to start with as the Hoover I ordered presented some minor cosmetic problems that lead to the order of two more replacements... the last being in white: so, I ended up with a white washer after all, although it's gradually becoming yellow :-D
Take care every1
