Title? (Whirlpool ARC2130)

Member Name: mo79

Product:	Whirlpool ARC2130
Date:	18/02/06 (283 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brand name, good price, good quality, suits most space restricted kitchens

Disadvantages: Nothing fancy or out of the ordinary - welcomely boring

You know the story – boy meets fridge, boy falls in love in with fridge, fridge dies, boy looks for a new fridge immediately.

Prior to the purchase of Whirlpool's just-above budget ARC2130 fridge freezer, the last Hotpoint-er we he had lasted 15yrs before emitting the final burning smoke fart.

15yrs ago you'd probably trawl through a catalogue or shop or two, work out dimensions and paper in your wallet and be done with it before your head ached. These days price matching engines linked to tons of sites make the decision more precise.

The ARC2130 made the grade due to brand name, budget constraints and importantly fitting in that gap dictated by surrounding cupboards we have (many fridges are too tall). Unfortunately the stick-out handles of the compartments do require you to open them even when just accessing cupboards either side. Despite the ability to have the handle positions changed it simply shifts the problem, at least for us (it opens by default to right).

The colour is your average plain white, no fancy silver options are available. The only decoration is the Whirlpool badge on the freezer door, which is above the fridge element.

With a total net capacity of 179 litres (the freezer accommodates 37) it's enough to store enough for 3, pushing 4, persons needs of cold food storage. It is slightly slimmer and less taller than our old dead fridge but the depth is a little bit more. (Width 50cm, Height 123cm, Depth 60cm) Both freezer and fridge have two storage shelves each. A clear as day vegetable tray sits at the bottom of the fridge.

Another fortune is the A energy rating. 'A' being the most energy efficient – 'nuff said. For this price though (around under £200) there is no frost free system. The freezer can fast freeze however.

As expected, despite a manual (inc. 12mth warranty), it's not hard to operate this fridge at all. Flick the switch, select the setting from low, medium or high cooling on the dial attached to the fridge light and load food as normal.

We've had the fridge for coming up to a month now and think it's great. It's nothing to fawn over in plain looks but it does the job; a great price and fortunate to have the Whirlpool name. It's also very quiet too, not that our old one was loud.

Overall a thumbs up for someone looking for a decent fridge, who wants quality at a decent price and has space constraints.

You may now awake.

Summary: It's a fridge, so...

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