I had purchased IFB ELENA EX model in the onth of septeber 2006. It’s doing the job and all the promises in the manual are kept.
The main reason to write this review is still many of us go for a semi automatic machine which is around Rs7000. Even I too did the same thing because of the budget problem. My suggestion is If you wanted to buy a washing machine go for a fully automatic..
Reasons:
1) load a nd forget the clothes until they are done.
2) ~60 Litres of water
3) you save your time( no need to bother like we do with the semi automatic)...
4) approx 1 unit of electricity for a full cycle...soak+wash+rinse+dry(~80%dry)
5) washing in semiautomatic = your time + your energy+machine time+machine energy...which is not possible in today’s lifestyle.
6) as many fo us live in apartments where is the place to dry the clothes...generally I use the balcony and the hall..for just 30 minutes as I wash my clothes in fully automatic
Which model to choose in fully automatic ( I will tell only the points to consider)
1) IFB lowest model has no hot wash
2) IFB elena had hot wash & cold wash.
when we compare the price it is almost ~Rs4000 more
I bought IFB elena ex at Rs15700+installation chargeRs300+IFB stand Rs800+IFB washing machine cover Rs400. This may be the lowest in the present market.
3) If you use hot option there is a change in the color shade for light color garments. better to use hot option only for bedsheets, pillow covers etc...
I conclude that instead of investing ~Rs8000 for a semi automatic wait save some money and can go for IFB fully automatic (startingmdel..i don’t remember the name) for around Rs12000..