I feel you on the older appliances holding up better. When I bought my first place last year, I debated forever about going new or used. Ended up grabbing a second-hand washer from a neighbor who was moving out—thing looked ancient, honestly, but he swore by it. Figured I'd give it a shot since the price was right. A year later, it's still running like a champ, no issues at all. On the flip side, I splurged on a brand-new fridge thinking it'd save me headaches down the road, and I've already had to call for repairs twice. Go figure.
Seems like older stuff was just built differently—maybe fewer electronics to break down? Anyway, your dryer story gives me hope that my washer will keep chugging along for a while yet. Guess it's partly luck, partly knowing what brands and models have good track records.
Totally get what you're saying about older appliances. My parents had this ancient microwave from like the 80s—ugly as sin, but it just wouldn't die. Meanwhile, my shiny new toaster oven lasted barely two years before it started acting up. Makes me wonder if companies are intentionally making stuff less durable these days... planned obsolescence maybe? Either way, I'm leaning more toward used stuff lately—less money, less stress, and hey, if it breaks, at least it didn't cost a fortune.
Yeah, appliances these days definitely seem designed with a shorter lifespan. Funny you mention your parents' microwave—I had tenants in one of my rental properties who left behind this ancient fridge from the 70s. Ugly avocado green, rust spots everywhere... but still running perfectly. Meanwhile, a brand-new stainless steel fridge I bought for another unit started leaking within six months. Honestly, buying gently used appliances has become my go-to strategy now—saves cash and headaches down the road.
"Ugly avocado green, rust spots everywhere... but still running perfectly."
Haha, sounds exactly like my grandma's old stove—hideous mustard yellow, knobs falling off, but still cooks better than my fancy new oven. Honestly, gently used appliances can be gems if you know what to look for. Just check seals, wiring, and listen for weird noises before buying.
"Honestly, gently used appliances can be gems if you know what to look for. Just check seals, wiring, and listen for weird noises before buying."
True enough, but do you ever worry about energy efficiency with older appliances? I mean, I get the appeal—my parents had this ancient fridge that was probably older than me. It hummed loudly, rattled a bit when the compressor kicked in, but it kept things colder than any new fridge I've owned. Still, when I finally convinced them to upgrade, their electricity bill dropped noticeably.
I guess my question is: how do you balance the upfront savings of buying used against potentially higher running costs? For something like a stove or oven, maybe it's less of an issue since they don't run constantly. But fridges, washers, dryers... those can really add up over time. And let's not even talk about dishwashers—I bought a used one once that sounded like a jet engine taking off every night at 9 pm sharp. Worked great, but man did it make movie nights interesting.
Also curious how you factor in repairs or parts availability? Older appliances might be built tougher (no plastic hinges snapping off every six months), but finding replacement parts can be a real scavenger hunt. Had a tenant once whose vintage oven needed a thermostat replacement—ended up spending more time tracking down that one part than it would've taken to just buy and install a newer model.
Still, there's definitely something satisfying about keeping an old appliance going strong. Maybe it's nostalgia talking, but they just don't make 'em like they used to... rust spots and all.
