Motoring forum Pistonheads isn’t just a hotbed of automotive experts as we’ve seen before on Forever Better. Their knowledge also runs to domestic appliances too and this is demonstrated in the latest discussion started by Dibble in his quest for a new washing machine.

His Zanussi has “given up the ghost” so would like suggestions for a replacement. While he initially baulks at the expense of Miele after recommendations from Fume Troll, randlemarcus and plotless, it’s Red Firecracker’s description of them as “…Built like a tank and I don’t expect to replace it.” which changes his mind. Defblade too chips in with “Miele. It will never break, and when it does, they keep parts even for discontinued models for years and years. Beats hell out of a cheapie breaking every 2-3 years…”.

Tonker also explains that he “…sold the 7 year old Miele dishwasher from the old kitchen on Fleabay - they gave me just under £200 for it. People want Miele stuff. It’s worth the money in my book…” So this got us thinking, have you sold on your old Miele for good money? Let us know your story.

Looking back at the subjects we cover most often at Forever Better, washing machines are the second most common household appliance after vacuum cleaners on which people seek recommendations before buying.

While not necessarily the most expensive whitegoods item, the time and cost of removing an old machine and plumbing in a new one, especially if it’s to be fitted under a work surface, means that the wrong decision can lead to a lot of inconvenience not to mention a mountain of unwashed laundry.

Which is why Countrymouse69 has once again turned to fellow members of the Weight Watchers community for their suggestions for the best washing machine and the responses are as varied as the owners themselves. AEG, Bosch, Dyson, Miele and Zanussi all have their advocates, covering such areas as durability, reliability and load capacity, the consensus being though to avoid cheaper brands as these are often a false economy.

If you’re particularly fond of your machine or have had a bad experience with a lesser brand why not drop by the Weight Watchers Forum and share your experiences.

Diyiamnot is suffering from the shakes. Not personally mind you, but that of his kitchen floor after the installation of a new washing machine to crown his new kitchen. And it’s not just the vibrations that are driving him crazy, it’s the noise too.

Concerned that all the recent hardwork is going to fall down around his ears, he’s turned to the gurus at the DIYnot Forum for advice. After suggestions of making sure to remove the shipping bolts - which he’s done - attention turns towards the build quality of washing machines. While in diyiamnot’s case he’s happy with his new AEG washer, alanbrown1607 who also bought an AEG found it “…literally shook the house to pieces [which an] engineer tried in vain to cure…”. He ultimately “…paid a little extra for a lower spec Miele, much better machine although still some vibration at full steam”.

If you’ve got a tale to tell about a particularly mobile washing machine or can cure diyimanot’s problem, jump over to the forum and get involved.

Handbag.com member Daisy Chain is so fed up with the problems her Whirlpool Sixth Sense is giving her, she’s asked her fellow forum members for their recommendations not just for the best washing machine, but least favourite too.

Scuttles is also the owner of Whirlpool appliances and hates them, describing them as having “…silly design flaws” and suggests going for a Hotpoint or Zanussi instead as does Stormatia_Tart, Demi_Glace and watergirl13. Bosch and Siemens likewise have their fans, but it’s Dot ~ Spot who puts her hand up for Miele. A former Dyson washing machine owner, who hated it so much she”….just got rid of it in the end…” bought a Miele on her sister’s recommendation who’d had her machine for sixteen years. Although she admits being “…tempted by the LG steam one. After my dyson experience though, I wouldn’t risk another ‘gadget’ machine if you know what I mean…”.

If you’ve got a love/hate relationship with a particular brand of washing machine, drop by the forum and share your thoughts with the girls.

Getting a foot on the property ladder has never been more difficult, so you can imagine Claire484’s delight when she finally bought her first home. Now she’s looking for a washing machine and fridge freezer and is finding it hard to make a decision over the best ones for her.

So she’s turned to her fellow Money Saving Expert’s for advice and Miele once again come out as the preferred choice. Kay41 bought a Miele washing machine to replace her old Zanussi as “…they are built to last (15-20 years)” and is “…chuffed to bits with it”.

Likewise Snapelover has just ordered a new Miele machine and is taking delivery tomorrow. After contacting Miele and “being advised to go for the W3922WPS” she compared it against a Bosch and decided that Miele’s reputation for longevity and ten-year guarantees against Bosch’s two-year warranty was a no-brainer. Such is her excitement she concludes with “…Got lots of washing waiting and longing for Friday to come!!!”

The dilemma of the best fridge freezer for Claire484 remains unresolved however so if you’ve got a recommendation for her, why not drop by the forum and share your thoughts.

Members of the financial and money-matters emporium Fool.co.uk know a great deal when it comes to all things fiscal and value for money, so any recommendations for whitegoods are bound to be worth taking notice of.

None more so than this thread from AwoodbMaven who’s looking for a new washing machine and wants pointers as to which brands to go for and which deals are available. Both Bosch and Miele receive the lion’s share of the recommendations, but it’s Miele that really gets the thumbs-up, with elaine27 describing hers thus: “Washes beautifully, tons of programmes and reasonably quiet.”, RedSturgeon: “…Built like a tank outlasted my first marriage…she took it with her…” and drusse13: “having spoken to their sales and technical service they all seemed to know their stuff”.

The remaining testimonials are as equally lofty in their praise, so hop over to the Fool and see for yourself.

A new Miele review has popped up at Review Centre, this time from member Moira Hollamby who’s decided to rate her Miele W1512 washing machine. It’s a very positive testimonial in which Moira says she would “recommend this machine to anyone!”

Moira thinks that the Miele W1512’s good points include “everything”, especially the fact that it’s “a well made machine”, the only negative thing she can think of is it’s “very heavy if you need to move it”. She goes on to say that though “it may seem expensive”, it’s well worth the money as it’s “a machine that is built to last”. Moira knows what she’s talking about too, as she declares she’s had “nearly every make of washing machine” and none of them made it past eighteen months of usage, plus the W1512 “washes cleaner than any machine I have ever owned”.

As well as being very happy with her Miele W1512, Moira also thought Customer Service “was brilliant too”, receiving an extra 5 years of warranty free after registering her guarantee. You can read the full review here.

Over at wedding planning forum Hitched, Steph73 has experienced the death of her washing machine so is looking for recommendations for a new one that will “withstand daily usage”.

MrsB advocates a Miele, stating “Even the most basic Miele is built to last”, comparing them to how washing machines used to be “before manufacturers made them almost ‘disposable’”. She also mentions that she works for an insurance company that deals with whitegoods claims and “Miele were by far the most reliable”, especially with their long guarantees. Hers has lasted 4 years of almost daily use and “it’s fantastic”. Though Steph73 later reports that her husband has fixed the old machine, more votes for Miele come in from Rach123 and pink alien, who has a 23 year old machine that’s “still going strong”. She also says that when the time comes to replace it “we will only buy a Miele!!”

Head over to read the full thread and if you’ve anything to add let the Hitched members know.

Over at UK Whitegoods an interesting debate on the Miele W3922 washing machine vs. the ISE10 has started and both sides have their own vociferous supporters.

The discussion arose after IncredibleMrT asked which was the better of the two. Penguin45 replied that both Miele and Asko (who manufacture for ISE) are the only two “absolutely top quality manufacturers left supplying the European market”. After IncredibleMrT mentions he’s now purchased the W3922, adamhornsby tells him that “Miele are also twice award winners for best domestic appliance brand” and that it should serve him well. IncredibleMrT goes on to say “it was a good price, 10 year warranty and the missus liked the look of it”.

IncredibleMrT may have made his decision to buy the W3922 already, but there’s still plenty of interesting conversation to read in the thread. If you’ve any opinions or advice of your own, head over to the thread and let the UK Whitegoods readers know.

Over at the Speaker’s Corner section on the PC Adviser Forum, Diodorus Siculus has asked the immortal question: “Who makes good washing machines?” There are many mentions of Miele from various posters, such as Eow is nighe who writes “You won’t get any better than a ‘MIELE’”.

Stuartli mentions that he used to own a Zanussi washer dryer, but replaced it with a Miele on the advice of a friend and because of the company’s “superb quality and reliability”. He reports on how the Miele was £100 cheaper than the Zanussi cost to buy 13 years ago and how it is now 5 years old, used at least twice a day “and has never missed a beat.” FatboySlim71 agrees, telling how he finds his own Miele washing machine “fabulous”. It’s extremely quiet, even at an 1800 rpm spin and he thinks that “Miele are the Rolls Royce in washing machines”. Stuartli also links to a review of the Miele W864 washing machine previously covered on Forever Better.

Head on over to the thread to read the different opinions and if you have any of your own for Diodorus Siculus, let him know.