GE Negatives:
There is one that is probably going to be a deal-breaker: Plastisol.
Plastisol is the, ahem, cost-conscious material GE used for its dishwasher interiors at that time, instead of porcelain or stainless steel like other makes.
Plastisol is a vinyl-like coating over sheet steel. While it is new, it performs okay enough. The trouble comes later - and remember, that dishwasher's forty if it's a day.
If there is even the tiniest breach in the plastic layer, water gets through it to the steel and causes rust. There can be breaches at the edges of Plastisol parts, and it's possible to breach the coating yourself at any time. How many times have you had the point of a knife drop through the grids of a silverware basket and cause a jam when you tried to pull the lower rack of a dishwasher out? If that happens with Plastisol, it's very possible that the knife can scratch or cut through the plastic.
It's very common with Plastisol-lined dishwashers to see bubbled places in the coating. These are places where rust has formed under the plastic. Dishwasher rust is just like car rust - if you can see some, there's more you don't see. At the very least, rust in a dishwasher can be deposited onto your dishes and stainless items. At worst, it can rust completely through, leaving you with a nice hole in your dishwasher's tub. Anyone who tries to fix that, I wish 'em lots of luck.
If you're trying to decide between a vintage GE and a vintage KitchenAid, my personal opinion is that there is no contest at all. A KitchenAid will have a porcelain interior, which is harder to damage than Plastisol.
I am speaking from experience - I suffered through a Plastisol-lined GE for a long time. I now have a KitchenAid, and it's a whole different ball game.
Uh, did I mention I'm not crazy about Plastisol?
