[rsynnott]

> On the surface, I assign this to nostalgia and maybe survival bias

There's some aspect of truth to it in some industries (though not cars, as you say). Kind of. So a washing machine that you buy now probably won't last as long as a washing machine that you bought in 1980 (though it will be cheaper to run). The catch is that the purchase price is, in real terms, _much_ lower. And you can actually buy washing machines that last a long time today, but most people simply aren't willing to spend thousands on one.

The modern machine costs a few hundred euro and if the drum goes, well, that's the end, buy another one. You can get one with a replaceable drum for maybe 1500 euro, but you're probably not going to, realistically.

[chii]

> And you can actually buy washing machines that last a long time today, but most people simply aren't willing to spend thousands on one.

i don't believe that. A company selling washing machines have incentive to make one that breaks _just_ after the warranty expires, so as to enable more sales. It can't be both true that the consumer saves money, and the company maximizing profit. One of the have to suffer - and it's usually the consumer.

[rsynnott]

Higher end Miele machines have a very good reputation on this, as do some BSG machines (again on the high end). Honestly, given the pricing, Miele probably still wins by selling you a 1500 euro machine that might last 30 years, vs a 300 euro Indesit that would be lucky to make it to 10 years.

It's not rocket science; to make a reliable maintainable washing machine, you need to make one where all important parts are feasibly replaceable. In particular, if a machine has replaceable drum bearings, that's a good sign.

[lmm]

There's not much brand loyalty for washing machines, so the manufacturers are probably not going to see a second scale. Of course they will cheap out on parts if they can (as long as the parts will last just longer than the warranty), so that doesn't make much difference in practice. But you can buy from a company that offers a longer warranty if the longevity is worth it to you.

[jfim]

You can buy a Speed Queen washing machine today, they're supposed to be comparable in quality to their commercial products. A front load washer will set you back about two grand though.