Why isn't this More Expensive? (Indesit WE 16 S)

Member Name: aefra

Product:	Indesit WE 16 S
Date:	25/05/02 (1354 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plenty of features, Not too expensive

Disadvantages: Can't change a programme once started

Having at last designed and ordered my new kitchen (fodder for new ops), I await delivery in June.

For me, this sort of project has to be very carefully thought out and the fittings and appliances expected to last and satisfy. Each time I plan a largish project I know that it could well have to be for the last time. The main reason for this being that I use a chunk of capital. Since I am now retired this matters greatly. There can be no thought that if something doesn't work as I wish, or I have made a mistake on design, that "I will know better next time". For this reason I initially decided that my new appliances should not be of the lowest range in quality, although not necessarily in the Rolls Royce category either. All singing all dancing is not necessary, but I need them to last and do what they say on the tin. Therefore, having watched exciting advertisements for silent machines so stable you can balance a coin on them, peered at those belonging to friends and looked through online ranges of laundry products, not to mention looking in dooyoo, I opted for a Bosch at £349. A medium price for medium range of a quality product.

I don't know what made me look at a price comparison with Indesit, a machine I had heard good things of but never considered. Sure enough, for the same price the Indesit WE16 had many more features to offer. I wondered why. I also don't know why I didn't search for one in a local shop just to look - as I have done with the other appliances I shall order online. However, since Comet were offering for a short time £20 discount if I would allow them to take my old machine, as well as only charging £6 for connection, I immediately took delivery.

I liked it immediately. My dear old Bauknecht suddenly looked rather tatty and, despite having the same dimensions, incredibly bulky. Later it was found to be so heavy that I felt embarrassed watching the deliverymen trying manf
ully to cart it down my front steps. The Indesit now sits whitely gleaming in my kitchen with a surface so smooth that I have to stroke it every now and again. Now that's sad. :-)

It is discreetly functional in design, offers 11 programmes plus 5 partial programmes, is hot and cold fill and has a whopping 1600 spin speed down to 0. This was to turn the clothes out much drier than I have been used to. When I first turned on my new toy I peered at it for several minutes looking for the water. The manual assured me that the energy saving properties (A) use too little water for it to be seen.

I did have a few problems working out the digital controls. Once I realised that it had the simplicity of the computer on my previous car (an old senator) I was away. After pressing the "On" button and choosing your wash programme on the dial, press "Mode" until the spin speed, temperature etc is displayed. Then press "Select" until the required choices are shown, then the "Start" button. Alternatively, of course, you can just set the programme wanted with the dial and start the machine. I found it reasonably quiet in operation as was the spin at top revs. At one point the machine wobbled (because of it's temporary positioning) and the spin just carried on as quietly as before... no walking forward a couple of inches. Until the kitchen is fitted the machine has just been placed under the work surface and I was impressed that the self-balancing-during-spin promise has been fulfilled.

Since I wanted to write this op, I have put the Indesit WE 16 through some paces. After playing with it for a few days, I looked for something that would really test. My eyes lit on the white duvet sections which I place in the dog beds and picked out the most used one. Grubby from being scrunched into a comfortable ball when in from the rain and generally "doggy", I ungenerously put the machine on t
he 30 minute wash at 30 degrees with one Fairy soap tablet in the dispenser. Now that is an unkind test. The result? No longer will I punish the dog beds with a 50 degree long thumping wash. It does have a stain eraser feature as well as easy ironing, varying rinse levels, delay timer and even a bleach container to go in the dispenser. Quite a few goodies and more than enough for me.

Of the downsides one would be the positioning of the pump filter, which I checked only for this review. As so often, it is at the bottom of the machine. We all know what that means as we crouch down with a tray taking any water out in tiny quantities. In order to get to the filter it is necessary to take a screw driver and gently pry away the oh so neat bottom plinth. Then lift the plinth towards you and up. This took great dedication on my part, approaching the shiny white machine with a metal screw driver. However all was well and no damage. The end of the screw driver is then placed into a slot on the usual filter cover and turned anti-clockwise with the help of the fingers. I also found that it is not possible to change a programme once started, an option I would have wanted.

Indesit is made by Merloni. Boy did I have trouble finding that out on the web! They are the Italian makers of Ariston and a major European company. They promise good after sales service etc. but I hope I don't have to find out.

The answer to the question in my title? I asked the driver and his assistant, who also plumbed in the machine. Their answer was immediate. Bosch are the Mecedes Benz of appliances. Indesit is the Ford Mondeo. That will do for me.

Summary: