The future worryingly of elux products......

[newwave1]

So...Kevins thread about machines in the Philippines got me to thinking once I saw a electrolux machine with the general sort of look of a normal zanussi washer but with a vestel drum...I know vestel have made some cheap machines for elux sold through independants etc...

So I thought i'd take a look at electrolux china's website with the help of google chrome translating and I found 3 basic models with the normalish style electrolux design so i've posted a pic..followed by a vestel. I assume this is the future so to speak of such a fantastic company slowly diminishing.

Darren

 

[newwave1]

Vestel..

 

[aegokocarat]

i knew elux were going down hill when my old zanussi would spin and and cause the drum to ricashet around and the door never locked. it was pretty mutch a shit machine to start with and the back plate was wafer thin plastic

 

[haxisfan]

That Vestel looks like Swan in the UK

The washer on the second pic looks exactly the same as the 'Swan' washing machines sold on Very.co.uk

Check the link below.

http://www.very.co.uk/swan-essentials-1000-spin-5kg-washing-machine-in-white-sw2010w/749245297.prd?browseToken=%2fb%2f4597%2fs%2fprice%2c1&trail=4739-4589-4597&prdToken=/p/prod6045071-sku9337875

 

[ronhic]

Oh great....electrolux is moving again possibly....

 

Most of the Electrolux machines that we get here are made in Thailand as it is......

 

[glenfieldmathk1]

Electrolux may be going down hill, but with them releasing those brilliant new AEGs I am sure that only the lower end is going down hill!

 

[ultimafan]

...

I found an example of this last year with the Zanussi being of the same company, a total shocker, which was on John Lewis. Maybe they're outsourcing for their cheaper machines. I thought initally the Aeg Protex was of the same quality,like Vestel and Hec (the door reminded and still does of a HEC), but I've proved myself wrong as they are indeed AEG machines with a touch of Electrolux Insight, as the base of the machine is very much AEG. Strangely enough, their new brochure doesn't have any washer dryers, and their website features the previous range models.

Here is the pic again of that dreaded Zanussi

 

[chestermikeuk]

Those

Budget machines have been introduced (prefix ZWG) to compete with the low end price range for internet and "Specials" deals....interesting as they seem to be stalling with people wanting the "Zanussi Quality" that they have come to know!! (or had known)... I'm sticking with the proven....

 

[ultimafan]

budget electrolux machines

I think there's still some hope for the budget line Mike and Darren, because IKEA have introduced freestanding washing machines into their kitchen range, and they are defo zanussis, instead of going for cheap vestel machinery like many other manufacturers seem to be going for. The budget line model is £250, not bad for an electrolux with 1200 spin.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/categories/departments/kitchen/20826/

 

[ultimafan]

...

and a more stylish black IKEA washer, why Zanussi still haven't bothered making a black coloured range I don't know...

 

[chestermikeuk]

Ohh

Now they look smart...

 

[aegokocarat]

smart dangrous crap...

is what these look like to me!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Based on....

What Exactly??

This is a forum for open & fair discussion, we have the ability to offer our opinion and its only fair to listen to all, BUT coming out with crass oneliners gets us nowhere...especially coming from the "Washing Machine Capital of the World"

 

[aegokocarat]

well Mike i had a genine itallian zanussi in november, the drum would always ricishet around the and hit the cabinat, the bak was made of tin flimsy plastic (which i had noticed a large crack on when zanussi came to pick it up) and the doorlock dident work and it nearly took my hand off! i was told by a qualified engineer that it shoulent have even been on the market or left the factory fro that matter. it would never balance a load and the feet were also level, i had it for a week before in realzed that it started making a loud grinding noise and the concrect block was hitting the main pcb. traiding standerds got ivolved and i got my money back and bougt my beko. please note thst the beko is my collection machine not a replacement for my aqualtis

 

[hoover1100]

One single faulty machine

An entire brand's machines cannot be judged because of one single faulty machine, as the vast majority of them will be much more trouble-free.

The real Zanussis may not be a patch on their fantastic models in the past, but isn't that true of most brands?

I'd certainly choose one over the similarly priced Haier/Vestel/Indesit-Hotpoint/Candy-Hoover/Bekos on the market today!

Matt

 

[aegokocarat]

i have been swarn off them zanussis Matt. it really put me off it is my oppinion. i live in wales and iff hoover were still built like tanks you can bet ya boots i wouldve goten one!

 

[fl1012]

ZWG.....confused

Im abit confused about the ZWG models. The models Darren & Ultimafan posted definately don't look like a Zanussi (Electrolux) product, so it's right to be wary of these. However, there are some ZWG models such as the ZWG6165 pictured below that look just like an Electrolux product. In the photographs on websites such as Currys & Comet, there are a range of machines that look like this, badged EasyIron or FlexiDose. Due to its absence they look like they've replaced the bulk of the 'Essential' range.

The control panels follow the same template as the Essential & Jetsystem models (badged ZWF) and some have the identical rectangular filter door. The control panel writing & main programmer knob is very similar to the last of the Tricity Bendix machines i've seen in the UK, which makes me think Zanussi is still making SOME ZWG models in-house, with just a handful of machines including the ZWG1140M made by external companies.

I also think the Ikea machines are Zanussi (Electrolux) made - the white one pictured above looks like a ZWG5125 on Currys website:
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/zanussi-zwg5125-washing-machine-white-07604394-pdt.html

and the black one looks like the ZWG7120P, albeit in a different colour:
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/zanussi-zwg7120p-washing-machine-white-05074037-pdt.html

The only thing that throws me abit is the lack of filter door on one Ikea & one Currys machine respectively, especially as the Ikea one WITH filter appears not to have one on Currys website & vice versa. This could ofcourse just be down to photoshopping the images.

Photo below of ZWG6165, which i reckon is still a proper Zanussi machine, possibly based on a late Tricity Bendix model.

 

[fl1012]

And now....

one to be more wary of, the ZWG1120M.

As you can see the main programmer is on the right of the control panel, not something Zanussi have done for a while. The LED display is also centrally located, instead of on the top right. The filter is also mounted behind a plastic fold-down flap, rather than a rectangular door as on their other models. Reports suggest these models actually 'feel' more robust than their traditional counterparts, though i'd be more wary until a few have proved themselves in peoples homes.

 

[fl1012]

NB

It's the first image posted by Ultimafan that i think doesn't look like a Zanussi (Electrolux) machine - i didn't see that it was Ultimafan that also posted the Ikea models. Im pretty sure these are proper Zanussi (Electrolux).

Like Matt, i also don't think it's fair to write-off a brand based on one or even a handful of failures. I don't work with appliances on a daily bases, but i have friends & family with a range of makes of appliance including Candy, Hotpoint, Bosch & Zanussi & it's fair to say that Zanussi has proven to be the most reliable & longest lasting brand, even though there are more of their machines amongst friends/family than any other brand.

Just between me & my immediate family we have two washing machines, a dishwasher & a fridge freezer of between 3 & 6 years old:

Zanussi 'Aquacycle' W/M 1600 5.5kg - ZWX1605 (2005)
Zanussi 'Essential' W/M 1400 6kg - ZWF14170W (2007)
Zanussi 'Progress AAA' D/W - ZDF511 (2008)
Zanussi Frost Free 50/50 F/F - (2008)

& none have broken down. Between me, my Parents, Sister & Gran we have a further 12 Zanussi, Electrolux or Tricity Bendix appliances older than 6 years but still made within the last 20 years (majority of which are 10 this year):

Zanussi 'Electronic Sensor' Dryer - TDS483EW (1997 Approx)
Zanussi 'Turbodry 1000' W/D - WDA1055W (2001)
Zanussi Built-In Oven - (2001)
Zanussi Built-In Hob/Extractor - (2001)
Zanussi Built-In Dishwasher - ZDI6041 (2001)
Zanussi Built-In Fridge - (2001)
Zanussi Built-In Frost Free Freezer - (2001)
Electrolux 'Premier Eco' Tall Fridge - (2001)
Electrolux 'Premier Eco' Tall Freezer - (2001)
Electrolux 'Premier' Condensor Dryer - TDC1000W (2001)
Tricity Bendix 'Tiara' Oven - (1995 Approx)
Tricity Bendix W/M - AW405 (1994 Approx)

& the only problems we've encountered is a snapped door handle on our Elecrolux freezer at about 7 years old & door release failure on our Condensor Dryer at about 5 years.

By comparison my Aunties 2009 Candy Activa Smart washing machine, whilst still working at 2 years old, has smelt of burning periodically. My grans 2007 Bosch Classixx dishwasher lasted 18months (doing 3 loads a week) before the PCB failed, my mates integrated Hotpoint washer dryer needed 2 call outs in 12 months to rectify faults and our neigbours 2009 Hotpoint WML540G has needed new drum & bearings at 18months. Another neighbours Bosch washer from around 2001 only did 5 years before it broke beyond repair aswell - 5 years service from a washer now is quite acceptable, but in 2001 it was rather poor.

Obviously my example is not an exact science, but the fact that more Hotpoint and Bosch machines have failed early even though their sample size is far smaller than that of the Electrolux group, says something to me about overall quality of Electrolux products. A quick look on eBay at appliances for 'spares or repairs' displays a similar picture, albeit Bosch seem to have done slightly worse amongst my family & friends than they do generally.

I hope Electrolux don't let standards slip any further, as they had got a good reputation. But for now at least, i feel more confident spending my money on them than any other make this side of Miele.

Liam.