The longevity of European-style washers varies a lot. I had a cheap top loading model break after three years -- the mounts of the plastic enclosure around the

The longevity of European-style washers varies a lot. I had a cheap top loading model break after three years -- the mounts of the plastic enclosure around the drum broke, and there was no way to fix it. Those parts are made of steel in better washing machines, so those last a lot longer.