lardyl

but aren't F&P now a far east manufacturer - Thailand for all of their machines and the electronics department?
according to my Kiwi mates F&P are an icon and dissing them is a capital offence in certain quarters (or it was until they decided to go offshore...) - /holds out wrists/ "its a fair cop, gov"

Batty

I swear, hand on heart, I have never had a problem with my top loader. I think people pack them up to the top and that's what causes the problems - you need to leave about 20cm space between the clothes and the top to give them room to move around safely.

lardyl

wot and they actually get the clothes *clean*? - or are you just a very very tidy person who never spills stuff on their atire or keeps their kids away from chocolate?
go on tell me the make and model and I'll go and see it.........
In my view, the range of cold water detergents and oxy-magic super bleaching powders available over here speak volumes for the cleaning abilities of top loaders. Maybe the F&P beast we had in the rental was ready for the skip? Hardly ever filled it more than to the medium line on the impeller and didn't get problems with the clothes falling to bits over the 2 months or so but the white kiddies stuff never ever came up clean, even with some of that pre-soaking oxy-wotsit.
Or maybe I was just too mean on the Persil? - nah, we use half the powder now and the clothes come up clean and with 1600 rpm a lot drier (in winter)
......albeit with longer cycles and the "I wish I'd put that in the load" feeling

Nerine

The top loader we rented was terrible, put a 4 or 5 shirts into it and they came out in one lump, knotted together like a wodge of old string.

They also use far too much water.

irnbru14

I had 4 months travelling round Aus & NZ dealing with toploading washing machines in hostels, one mark on your clothes and you were done for, they do nothing bet wet them and spin them round on themselves into a tight ball and get more creases in stuff than before you put them in the silly machine...

Frontloaders all the way baby, yeah!!!

PLUS Toploader gave us that rubbish "Dancing in the Moonlight" song...

Nerine

Did it? no fair....ours just beeped a few times.

Batty

We have no ankle biters It's a F&P something or other - it's only a 5.5kg as there's only the two of us and it has settings for the amount of water you want to use - high/low/medium - also regular/heavy duty/delicate. I just stick to the washing instructions on my clothes and nothing has emerged tangled (except maybe a belt sometimes that wraps around the agitator or a bra strap ) or in tatters.

I heard something once about too much washing powder causing whites to go gray but can't find anything on it at the moment on Google.

I dunno - maybe I'm not so fussy or something

Andrew Cross

Wish I had come on here and asked like you have before I spent $1699 on a big top of the range top loader. I thought they would be the same and be able to clean more stuff in one go cause they were bigger....FOOL !!!!

I miss my front loader, you notice the difference so much. My kids white sox come out no different to when they went in, even putting fabric softner in doesn't make them smell nice or soft.. If there was one thing I wish i had brought from the Uk - it was my washing machine..

irnbru14

I wondered if the F&P stood for Fisher & Price, cos these toploaders look and wash like a toy washing machine would

CCGM.IN.NZ

Thanks for all the advice guys. Looks like we will be buying a front loader then. Anywhere got a good sale on at the mo?

Nu-Shooz

Front loader are the best option by far.

irnbru14

Shop around! Harvey Norman had reductions on stuff when I was in today!

crap coffee

mate....

Definitely go for a FRONT LOADER No need for words


"Miele"

a) the most expensive machine on the market
b) a lot quieter
c) most reliable (Miele themselves expect their washing machines to last 20 years)
d) more sophisticated

there are relatively few other washing machines up there with Miele - probably none.
One of the best of the rest though is "Siemens" ---->"Not Available in NZ":curse: why?

p.s

I Don't Recommend F&P (especially Fridges & Freezers)

Nerine

We've had our Miele at least 7-8 years now and it's still going strong after numerous house moves and two international relocations (saying that is bound to tempt fate!)

It weighs a ton though (think it has a block of concrete in it it's so heavy). The removals men pick it up like a F&P and then their faces take on a fixed smile as they struggle to make it look easy....I do warn them it's heavy but do they listen?

When it does eventually die I'll buy another one like a shot.

lardyl

Siemens and Bosch are pretty much the same company when it comes to white goods (service side in UK anyway) - watch out for Bosch stuff made in southern Europe......
Heaven knows how much a Meile would cost in NZ......