VZUG Adora SLQ - impressions

[rudin1969]

One quick post from a long-standing lurker...
A bit of feedback about the VZug Adora SLQ, which I've owned since May 2009.
Pros:
- the Steam function (for de-wrinkling shirts, sheets etc) actually works!
- flexibility: you can go for a 95° wash plus easy care function, add the steam anti-creasefunction, a pre-wash, etc.... no problem.
- the Vibration Absorbing system seems to work very well indeed. Always perfectly spun laundry.
- excellent wash and spin results
- the Wetclean programme is perfect for dry-clean only garments
- extremely quiet

Cons (?)

- not as solidly built as a Miele (just my impression)
- not sure about the Fuzzy Logic function. According to the catalogue, when 3.5 kg of laundry is washed, consumption is 0.7 kwh and 33 liters/ water. My impression is that comparably more water is used than in my Miele W6749. Is this good or bad??
- not sure about the new 'Textile' programmes. In my Miele, I can see changes in tumbling speed/rhythms, water levels etc when I select some (ok, not all, but some...) of the new designer programmes (e.g. Sportswear). The Adora only seems to add an extra rinse or reduce the spin speed... Again, just my impression
- the night function --> savings in energy by reducing wash temperature and lenghtening the programme. Does it make sense? Do you really get the same results with lower temperatures and a longer wash???

It'd be great to hear from somebody else who's got the Adora. Any Swiss AW-users??

Change of subject: any update on the 'Reason' washing machine? Did anyone actually get hold of the ones that went up for auction in March?

http://www.vzug.ch/v-zug/internet.nsf/PageID/adora_slq_wa

 

[mrwash]

I would be interested in a video of the spin cycle to see if the balance system really works. I only saw the demo video on the website but it would bei nice to see it in real life.

 

[rudin1969]

Hi MrWash
I'm afraid I can't make videos

 

[rudin1969]

Forgot to mention another thing
the most 'intensive' wash rhythm appears to be 15/4 (Cottons programme). Maybe the 'jet' system compensates for this...

 

[vacfanatic]

V-Zug Video

V-Zug Video

http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAnVXwRRcXU

 

[vacfanatic]

V-Zug Video

V-Zug Video Link, the working version

 

[chestermikeuk]

V-Zug Adora SLQ

Hi rudin1969, welcome to the club and also to the Zug washer family, does Italy have an official distributor now ?? or did you import the Adora SLQ from elswhere??

Andrew,many thanks for pointing the link to Jacks video, had forgotten he had posted it, I had a load of vids done, (days filming) and something happened with the dam camera...so start again we will, r u free Jack??...LOl!!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

SLQ Adora Washer

Heres the SLQ washer doing a 40d cotton wash, its a simple touch control display and for this wash I selected 40c, light soil, +1 rinse and 1600rpm spin....it uses a combination of jet spray and traditional tumbling!!! water levels are very good , plenty of action, the interim spins are around 800rpm for what is usually 3 / 4 mins of continuous spinning (even after the wash) which I have never experienced on any other machine!!!

Rinsing is excellent and you do up to 7 rinses by adding rinse+ and sensitive option, spinning is very quiet and just purrs up to 1600rpm, the pump is the loudest bit and also cycles on & off as the sump fills / drains etc...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chestermikeuk/sets/72157623235136904/detail/

 

[chestermikeuk]

Ador SLQ Dispenser

3 compartment dispenser, from rhs, Pre-Wash, Main Wash & fabric condition / starch, you can also use additives such as vanish tablets and programme the dispenser to use the pre-wash compartment to dispense said additive at the right time!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chestermikeuk/sets/72157623235136904/detail/

 

[askomiele]

Is V-zug a brand...

that designs washers? Or is it a brand that is used on different machines. I've seen on the site the upperclass Adora models (they look very good, very solid), but there are also lower end models 'Adorina' that are build by Bauknecht...

 

[chestermikeuk]

Adora SLQ

The Drum is huge its rated at 8kg,60ltrs, it seems cavernous especially when you consider that the drum baffles (which act as the water baffles for the VAS Vibration Absorbency System) actually protrude a lot into the drum!!! previous washer is rated 6kg and have been amazed how a full load in that looks just 3/4 load in this!! The amazing thing is when the baffles lift the clothes and water, the whole of the tub moves in seconds, you can see the void on the drum base where the water has been lifted out for a few secs!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chestermikeuk/sets/72157623235136904/detail/

 

[chestermikeuk]

Brand V-Zug

Hi AskoMiele, V-Zug as a brand has been operating since the 1930`s, Louis has visited the HO and has stories and pics to show, like many manufacturers now, lower end machines are often made by both affiliate brands, and / or made by other companies for them...modern diversification!!!

http://www.vzug.ch/v-zug/internet.nsf/PageID/vzug_ag_eng

 

[rudin1969]

Hi Mike
thanks for your reply!
Great pictures and excellent description.
I got the VZug from Switzerland (I don't live too far from the Swiss border).
The spin is really fantastic, even the one for easy-care garments...
Have you tried all of the Textile programmes?
I'm crap at ironing, but it takes me only 5 minutes to iron a shirt that's been washed in the 'Shirts+ Steam anticrease' programme

 

[chestermikeuk]

SLQ Adora Washer

As I find, Pros:Very Sturdy, Quiet in Operation, Simple Programme Selection, Easy override of programmes, Selection of options simple, Excellent wash results, all fabric types catered for!!! (I find drum rythmns do change, Advance to Next Sequence - I like very much,

Cons: Auto Start after 20secs, no start / stop control, long 4min interim spin after wash can cause excess creasing on certain fabrics. Steam Feature when selected with programme auto reduces spin to 800,

Really pleased with it though overall, its a bit different, very quirky with the VAS...more vids n pics coming!!!

 

[foraloysius]

Booh!

Linky to the pictures of the V-Zug museum.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/560649698JLmCDp

 

[rudin1969]

Mike,
if I'm not mistaken, you can actually increase the spin up to 1200 rpm with the Steam feature added to the programme

 

[chestermikeuk]

Selection

The default for Shirts by Fabric Selection is 800rpm spin, (you can override the spin down, but not higher) but you cant add in the Steam automatically, which seems odd as it is probably the one main programme I`d use it on!!!

Other than that I would select: 40d + EasyCare + Sport (Quick40d) + Steam, if required.

The difference being for me is for speed, I would use a sensor dryer to get the fabric to damp dry, ready for final hanging or quick iron, so even shirts I spin at 1600 and they usually take about 10-15mins in a vented dryer, if that, to get them to Iron Dry..

 

[chestermikeuk]

Vintage Zug

Morning Louis, what was your favourite vintage zug washer in the museum??

 

[rudin1969]

Mike,
strange - I've just checked on mine
1. if I select the Shirts programme, the Steam function is automatically selected (you can't de-select it; the light DOES NOT COME ON, strangely enough, but the Steam function is performed automatically after the final spin). It's actually the only programme where the Steam function works at lower than 40C temperatures.
2. after selecting Shirts I press the Spin selection button -- it first decreases the spin speed, but at the end it allows you to raise it to 1000 rpm. When I select e.g. the normal Cotton programmes + Steam function, I press the Spin speed button and it does the same trick -- first it decreases the speed (1000 - 0), but eventually you are allowed to increase it up to 1200 rpm.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Programmes

Hhmmm, is yours operating in Italian or English?? and have you changed any of the factory settings??

Quick test can you programme the following and see what times you get, and also confirm the default spin speed please:

1. 40d wash & start =
2. 40d + EasyCare =
3. 40d + EasyCare + Sport =
4. 40d + Easycare + Sport + Steam =

 

[rudin1969]

I've just run the test
No change in factory settings.
Language is Italian, but it shouldn't affect the settings
Here goes:
40d w: 1:15 default spin: 1200 possible increase to 1600
40d easy care: 1:12 default spin 800 possible increase to 1000
40 easy care sport: 0:38 default spin 800 possible increase to 1000
40 easy care sport steam: 1:04 default spin 800 possible increase to 1000 (with NO easy care selected, increase is possible to 1200)

 

[foraloysius]

Mike,

My favourite machine was the Unimatic Favorite, the early fifties full automatic toploader. Never saw a machine that well built. The lid of the detergent dispenser felt like it was made out of solid lead! I loved the colored dial too!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Results

1. 40d wash & start = 1h 45min
2. 40d + EasyCare = 1hr 39mins
3. 40d + EasyCare + Sport = 1hr 3mins
4. 40d + Easycare + Sport + Steam = 1hr 29mins

Have altered the settings to have deafult spin of 1600rpm where applicable, (although yes it does default to 800 with easy care)..and added +1 rinse, for me with cold water rinsing (especially the temp at the moment) even with easy care delicates and 800spin you could get some creasing, so for me whilst using a dryer, I spin out as much water as I can and let the dryer relax the fabrics!!!

Will re-set to factory settings again and see if the deafults are the same!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Zug Unimatic

Until I saw your pics I always thought it was an agitator top loader, looks very sturdy, is that the detergent dispenser on the LHS?? any of the guys on Das Washemaschine forum got any old zugs??

 

[foraloysius]

Mike

Here is the lid of the detergent dispenser, it is on top of the machine just to the left of the drum opening. Part of it falls into the surrounding ring. The lid itself must weigh at least a kilo!

 

[foraloysius]

There are a few members on the German sites that have Unimatics, but most of them are newer models. According to a forum that used to be part of the V-Zug website (but has disappeared I think) there are still lots of older Unimatics in use. Note that most of these machines are in multi housing laundryrooms!

Here's a link to some videos on Youtube. The three at the top are of the Unimatic T 5 SL.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=zug+unimatic&search_type=&aq=f

 

[mrwash]

Thx for all the links and pics ! Have ayone of you ever had an unbalanced spin with that machine? This new balancing system with taking water when out of balance should ot allow an unbalanced spin...any opinions? Can you hear it if the machine takes some water while baancing?

 

[DysonAnimal]

Mike, just say the word and I will happily make a video for you!

 

[favorit]

>>> touch pad

I've read some manuals, the ZUGer are very flexible machine !!
I really like this machine has a ">>>" pad . One can shift each step of the cycle, even do "fine tuning" to the first rinse or the last one. Novotronics and early softtronics do, pity latest Mieles don't allow anymore the "END" trick to shift over cycle steps ...

@ Rudin :
- what's the difference between the wetclean cycle in the Zug and the handwash-wool in the W6000 ?

-I'm not sure about the SQL, but some swiss members of the waschmaschinen-forum.de have Adoras machines.

- Finger cross, touch wood .... what about the warranty ? in case, will the serviceman cross the border from Bellinzona to your town ?

TIA
Carlo

 

[chestermikeuk]

Zugs

Louis, I think that Unimatic SL toploader with the coloured buttons is rather fetching, also the programmer dial sounds like a keymatic clicking through the stages until the selected programme is completed, such sturdy machines!!! Does the inscription on the drum say "favourite" which you immediately think of a certain German make!!!

Jack, yes more vids required, the one you put up is getting quite a few views!!of course we`ll have to get you well versed in the art of washers before your next trip...LOl