[Rob Channell]

I just went through this. I had a GE to fail that I bought only 3 years ago. It was a frustrating experience.

I did several searches to try to find something that was more reliable. One site that had done some testing came up with the best units in certain price ranges. They then listed the particulars of the units along with the pros and cons. Quality and reliability problems were listed as cons in the selected "best" units regardless of the $300 or $800 price. I ran across all sorts of people that have had microwaves to fail in one to three years and it ran across all brands.

My microwave is the over the stove type so the prices started in the mid-$300 range and went up. Since I could not find anything that seemed like it might be more reliable I opted for the cheapest microwave that was not a GE that fit the space I had at $359. Then while searching online I noticed Lowes was having a sale that weekend so I bought a Frigidare that was a $500 unit marked down to $404. It had the additional convection oven capability and I do not have a toaster oven so I thought it might be convenient and something new to try for the extra $50 in cost. I figure when it lasts me 3 years it will have cost me $10/month. It appears they truly do not make them like they used to.

As an aside I noticed when at my Mom's over Christmas that she still had the same microwave that we bought in about the 1977-78 time frame and it still works. So if reliability is your goal maybe you can find one of those old over engineered beasts from the 70's or 80's on Craigslist. It will probably STILL outlast a new one.

Where oh where is the Porsche of microwaves? Or at least the Toyota or Mazda?