As for the Miele, it will be among the very best performers and most reliable in the front loading class. It will also have the among the highest price tags. But, if you want the very best, there it is.

Having said that, you should call Miele (or any other appliance manufacturer whose washer you’re considering buying) and see if they have authorized, trained technicians who service your area. Get the names of the service companies and call them to make sure they actually service your area– manufacturers are famous for giving out the name of an authorized servicer to someone who lives way outside of the servicer’s area.

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer and live in an area where getting competent technical help on anything is a rare event, then get the Staber washer. It’s a top-loading, horizontal axis washer, very rugged, is designed to be serviced by you the homeowner and has no quiescent power draw. For these reasons, the Staber is a big hit with alternative energy folks who either live entirely off the grid or generate a lot of their own power via wind, solar, etc.

Bosch is a middle-level brand which is *perceived* as a higher-end brand. Nothing wrong with that, just don’t go buying a Bosch thinking you’re getting a machine of comparable quality to the Miele at half the price. Ain’t happenin’.

Asko dishwashers have been famous in the past for spontaneous combustion of the electrical wiring in the control panel. Have not seen enough new ones to know whether or not they’ve resolved this problem.

From what I’ve seen, the Miele appears to be a better-built machine than either the Bosch or the Asko. And, for what it’s worth, I just don’t get many service calls on Miele dishwashers and the ones I do get are almost all problems induced by the customer. Miele also beats Bosch and Asko hands-down in standing behind their products.

Now, is a dishwasher worth $2,000? Depends on how much a dollar is worth to you. For working stiffs, like myself, I would buy a Kitchenaid; and that’s the dishwasher we own. If I had a $4 million house on Lake Sunapee and paid more in property taxes in a year than most people earn in four years and I just wanted the best machine money could buy, I’d get a Miele, no question.

I would still not even consider buying a dishwasher, or any other appliance, from GE. Nor would I consider a Frigidaire. Now, I’m not saying the Kitchenaid is perfect– you’ll still have problems with it, one of which is a burned out motor/pump assembly, which is covered by a five year warranty. But, you’re getting a decent dishwasher for less than $1,000. If you feel like spending more for a dishwasher, then get the Miele.

Have you changed your mind on the Mieles? What would you recommend these days? I’d rather not buy a disposable unit.

Thanks