No need to splash out: don't spend more than you need on your new dishwasher.(Update: dishwashers)(Buyers Guide)

Publication: Choice (Chippendale, Australia)

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COPYRIGHT 2004 Australian Consumers' Association

Whether you're renovating your whole kitchen or just replacing your clapped-out dishwasher, there's a temptation to go all-out with an expensive European brand. Our latest test confirms that a designer name (and designer price) don't necessarily mean a better dishwasher. We still have plenty of good models that hold their own with the flash guys for less than $1000.

IN A NUTSHELL

* One newly tested model worked well enough to make it into our What to buy list.

* You don't have to pay over $1000 to get a machine that's easy to use and works well.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

For information such as what to look for when buying a dishwasher, see CHOICE, Jan/Feb 2004, or if you're a personal CHOICE subscriber, go to www.choiceextra.com.au and click on Jan/Feb 04 under 'dishwashers' in the index. You also have access there for a limited time to our interactive Compare-a-dishwasher feature: just type in your preferences and it'll find models to match them.

If you don't have the Jan/Feb 2004 issue or access to the internet, call our Consumer Services people toll-free on 1800 069 552 and we'll send you a copy (obviously we can't send you Compare-a-dishwasher).

WHAT TO BUY A Best Buy is a good performer whose purchase price and running costs combined are among the lowest in the test. Similar models are technically the same and get the same scores in our tests, but may have different features or finishes (such as stainless steel vs white). ELECTROLUX Gallery ESI 6110X (stainless steel) $1,499 (see footnote (A), page 33, for similar models) WESTINGHOUSE SB915WJ (white) $999 (see footnote (B), page 33, for similar models) MAYTAG Jetclean MJD2000AAW (white) $1,099 (see footnote (C), page 33, for similar models) AEG Favorit 60820 (white) $1,779 WESTINGHOUSE SB907WJ (white) (BEST BUY) $899 (see footnote (D), page 33, for similar models) WHIRLPOOL 6ADP5656WHM (white) $1,399 (see footnote (E), page 33, for similar models) BLANCO BFDW640W (white) $1,299 (see footnote (G), page 33, for similar models) DISHLEX DX302WB (white) $999 (see footnote (H), page 33, for similar models) LG LD14AW2 (white) (BEST BUY) $999 (see footnote (J), page 33, for similar models) PERFORMANCE 1 Overall 2 Washing Brand / model (in rank order) score (%) score (%) ELECTROLUX Gallery ESI 6110X (A) 82 80 WESTINGHOUSE SB915WJ (B) 82 77 MAYTAG Jetclean MJD2000AAW (C) 81 75 AEG Favorit 60820 80 72 WESTINGHOUSE SB907WJ (D) 80 75 WHIRLPOOL 6ADP5656WHM (E) 80 75 BLANCO BFDW640W (F) (G) 79 80 ([dagger])...

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