what pressure washer?

[e8_pack]

I've been told karchers are rubbish but no alternative offered. Apparently the motors are plastic rubbish, not sure if it's true. What do you use to clean your car with?

[Deisel Weisel]

What budget? Yes, cheap Karchers are best avoided. Nilfisk much better.

[Escort3500]

I had a Karcher that wasn't very reliable and replaced it with a Nilfisk C120 from Screwfix last year; about £100 IIRC. Great bit of kit and much better than the Karcher so far.

[richwig83]

Nilfisk are great but the hoses suck as they are really stiff... I need to buy a rubber one off ebay!

[V8forweekends]

I have a Karcher one that I've had since 1995. It cost the thick end of 200 quid at the time, but it's been pretty good. I had to change the capacitor and a valve last year - sub 20 quid for the two. It has a metal pump. Dunno what current ones are like cos I never had to buy another.

[rambo19]

Ive got a hozelok which I got as a present 3 yrs ago.
Still going strong, I use it regular to clean my land rover.

Whatever you buy, make sure you use it regular, most people put them away at the end of summer and come spring find them siezed up!

[Magic919]

Kranzle.

[V8RX7]

I bought a Nilfisk - had a problem with a washer on the lance and sent them an email about it.

Received a new lance for free.

[tehguy]

Mate of mine has a Nilfisk and it's a top bit of kit. That said, we have 2 Karcher pressure washers at work and they've broken 3 times.

[bullitinhead]

Ive a clarke 7000 jet, that replaced my 7 year old £30 cheapy that worked fine. So hopefully will last 15years if price vs time worksout.
But did replace the standard 6 m hose with a 20m one off the bay, now I can move around the whole drive with out having to drag the machine around with me, a godsend.

Bullit

[JG93]

I've got a karcher k2 which is alright not amazing

[JimmyConwayNW]

Kranzle also. Brilliant machines.

[Timbo_S2]

Another vote for a Nilfisk - great bit of kit. Got mine from amazon on offer a few years ago.

I bveleive the cheaper jetwashes have a plastic impeller, whilst those in the Nilfisk are metal...

Just make sure that you get all the water out of them before putting them away this time of year.

[morebeanz]

I've had a Bosch for years that has lasted very well, although I do think that the hoze is a bit inflexible.

It's had no special maintenance or treatment in 8 years or so...

[swisstoni]

Unless you want to spend mega money on a true pro machine (not one just with "Pro" written on it) IMHO you are better off buying the cheapest you can find. It will fail eventually but so will the more expensive models aimed at the domestic market.

[Ferosferio]

Yet another vote for Nilfisk. I have a Nilfisk 'Centennial' which is leaps and bounds ahead of the equivalently priced Karcher I had before. The biggest thing for me, attachments aside, was the quality of the internal components: Karcher's pumps are plastic (unless you spend big money on a 'high end' washer) whereas Nilfisk use metal pumps. The pumps on the Karchers are well-known weak points.

If you need any more information, the detailing boys are the best to consult over on detailingworld.co.uk There are numerous threads going.

[jon-]

Anything that runs on petrol. They're just... better.

[V8A*ndy]

V8forweekends said:

I have a Karcher one that I've had since 1995. It cost the thick end of 200 quid at the time, but it's been pretty good. I had to change the capacitor and a valve last year - sub 20 quid for the two. It has a metal pump. Dunno what current ones are like cos I never had to buy another.

Same here.

Just recently had the cap replaced.

They just don't make them like this anymore. You need to spend the cash on a metal pump version.

[dreaddan]

Maplin currently have the Nilfisk C120 on offer, if you combine it with some discount codes you can get it for £60 delivered.

[V8RX7]

morebeanz said:

I've had a Bosch for years that has lasted very well, although I do think that the hoze is a bit inflexible.

I've had 2 Bosch Aquataks - both broke shortly after a year - utter tat.