- Recently replaced a Maytag DW that was about 15 y/o due to the simple fact that it was "the wrong color" and in doing so, made a huge mistake that led to a series of headaches trying to adequately replace it.
- Keep in mind, things are not built to last like they used to be, rather, built to be replaced. After much discussion with other homeowners and hearing their appliance horror stories, it became clear that spending more than the basic minimum for any appliance is borderline foolish these days. Styles/amenities change too quickly, poor overall quality, poor materials/parts used, poor workmanship, expensive repair costs and decreased warranties all contribute to this ideology. Odds are very good you'll run into a situation where repair cost vs replacement cost will be an issue within 5-10 years of use.
- The above holds true until you reach the very high-end, very expensive brands that go the extra mile to address all issues mentioned. The Bosch cited above is a very good example. However, at this point, initial cost to value/longevity/usage becomes the new line of decision. Will you keep it for 20+years if it lasts that long? Will your wife be looking for the next best thing when SS is no longer the rave in 5-10 years? Will you be okay with paying that premium?
- From my direct experience, avoid Frigidaire and Samsung appliances like the GD plague. It would be a good street fight between the two to tell which manufacturer sucks the hardest. MIL remodeled kitchen a few years back, used all new Samsung appliances. Everything but the microwave has already been replaced under warranty or repaired out of warranty. As for Frigidaire, just do a little searching to verify. It's all out there.
- Again, from direct experience, we've had excellent luck with LG products- and that spans the gamut of their product line; TVs, washer/dryer/fridge/dishwasher... not the most expensive, but not complete crap, either.
Hope this helps.
