Twin of Kitchen Aid- Buy With Confidence!!
Written: Sep 09 '04
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Pros: Very Quiet, Cleans Great, Great Value for the money
Cons: Missing a Quick Wash Cycle, like my old Maytag.
The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a high end dishwasher without the high end price that is dependable, quiet and stylish, look no further.
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| nst1's Full Review: Kenmore 16462 / 16464 / 16469 24 in. Built-in Dish... |
After 9 plus years, my reliable Maytag Jetclean Dishwasher with the Quiet Plus feature started making more noise than normal. I consulted the internet and found out that it was probably the bearings in the motor starting to wear, and that my days were numbered unless I wanted an expensive repair bill. Therefore, I started my quest for a new dishwasher.
After 3 weeks of researching what would be the best value at the best price and satisfy all of my requirements for a dishwasher, I ended up with the Kenmore Elite. I selected the 16469 model largely because it resembled the top of the line Kitchen Aid which retailed for $899, but retailed at Sears for $720. After getting a close out price of $569 plus a $99 rebate on installation from Sears, it cost me a net $600. This was the price range I wanted to stay in, and still get a stainless steel tub and 6 wash options. Sears also paid for the sales tax on this model, which made the savings even better.
Kenmore Elite models are in essence the twin of the Kitchen Aid line, feature for feature. They are both made by Whirlpool, so if you think Kitchen Aid is like your mother’s Kitchen Aid, think again. I am not being critical of Kitchen Aid, for I believe it is a good dishwasher, but why pay $300 more for essentially the same thing?
In my research and shopping, I also looked and studied the European brands. I liked the looks and features of the Bosch, and I found the price is now competitive. However, the latest Consumer Reports (August, 2004) has Bosch and Asko and the worst in brand repair history. Consumer Reports did not have the repair history on Miele, but at $1,400, who wants to take the chance? I could buy almost 3 Kenmores for that price.
I have had my Kenmore Elite for about a week and have tried out all of the various cycles during that time. This machine cleans beautifully. Its capacity is very large, and I like the layout of the racks and the fold down tines. I have a “SmartWash” cycle which judges the soil level of the dishes. I have the usual Pots and Pans, Anti-Bacterial, Normal, China and Quick Rinse cycles. In addition, I have Sani-Rinse, Air Dry and High Temperature Wash options. The only thing it is missing is possibly a Quick Wash Cycle, which is handy for dirty glassware.
The last point I wanted to make was in general, Consumer Reports recommended more Kenmore Dishwashers than any other brand. When my house was new, I had a builder’s model Kenmore which lasted almost 8 years. That’s a miracle for a builder’s grade dishwasher. Now after 9 years of owning a Maytag, I am back to Kenmore.
I think for value, brand reliability, style, and price, I made a wise choice in buying this Kenmore Elite.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 569
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Epinions.com ID:
nst1
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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