Premium appliances: Are they worth the money?

Many of us will have had that protracted debate when designing a new kitchen: Should we invest heavily in premium products or go for less expensive brands? Well Neilw has started that ball rolling over on Boards.ie: “Just wondering if the likes of Smeg, Neff and so on are worth the extra cost, do they work any better, last longer?”

CDfm certainly agrees, with a simple “yes they are”, but while DublinWriter may agree with that, “They might last longer”, he’s a little more scathing about the people who buy them “as far as I can see they are just middle-class aspirational kitchen decor for people who can’t cook in the first place.”

He goes on: “I normally buy mid-range Miele/Bosch stuff as I could count on the fingers of both hands the amount of Hotpoint/Zanussi appliances I’ve had that have broken down after one or two years.” Niceirishfella though sums it up, stating “it’s like everything, you have to use your eyes and your head and gut when buyin.”

What are your thoughts on the subject? Would you compromise on the appliances or not? Have your say in the forum.