You wont find a slimline digital read out or with those features for less than £300 never mind £250 thats a reliable make! I've recently learnt the hardway.
The Hotpoint pile of festering poo (£269) I bought last month did 4 washes, packed up, was fixed with new pump, did 3 more washes, packed up (smokily this time) and was then dead dead. Also note Hotpoint have a thing or two to learn about running a breakdown center
It has now been replaced by a Bosch (£260-the cheapest they do) with even less frills (if you can call a spinny round programme selector knob) and push button programme selector but the build quality is far infront of the Hotpoint. It does have height adjustable baskets and salt warning light though...
Admittedly its only so far done about 10 washes but I have a feeling (and a prayer!) that it will keep going for several years.
Your posting doesn't seem to support "You get what you pay for", the Bosch cost you £9 less than the Hotpoint but, according to you at least, is a lot better.
i've got a hoptpoint aquarius dfc1, it's absoluley brilliant. i think i've had it about five years, apart from the occaisional self-induced blockage (it doesn't like candle wax for instance) it's had no problems and it runs most days twice a day.
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