Advice on buying a washing machine

So the apartment block washing machine has finally gotten the better of me. Sick of having to go down stairs to the basement just to see that it's in use and having to repeat this every hour especially when I'm down to my last set of jocks! Also the fact that the bloody thing only takes 50c, so I need to have a stash of these ready... but probably the most annoying is that 50c gives you 35 mins of electricity but a bloody wash takes 75 mins so you always have to put in 50c to get the last 5 mins

So I'm going to invest... although I'd much rather put it towards a nice flatscreen TV!!
Theres a small storage room in our kitchen that I can use and there is already a hole drilled to connect under the sink. Going to make the purchase this weekend through an online company from Berlin who can deliver it and install it for €50 cheaper (or so their website says) than picking it up from Saturn here in Hamburg!! My contract states I have to get a professional to install it, so the online deal seems best.

Now I'm not very uptodate with washing machine technolgy and their accompanying parts as I've never had to buy one but I see on some washing machine sites that people who previously bought a washing machine also bought other bits and bobs like pipes and connections. I would have thought that everything you need would come included?? Anyone know?? Don't want these guys to turn up and not be able to connect it.

Everyone that I've bought has come with the necessary atachments

That's good to know. Those additonal parts must be for people who are not within range of the water suppy!

I bought one not long ago and it came with 2 burly guys!! :$

( who installed it for me and took away the old one!) It all took 5 minutes.

Took away the old washing machine or the old man?

spend a bit more and get a brand name, I've had both and prefer the brand name, better designed.

Going for a Siemens toploader... unfortunately a normal washing machine won't fit!
Still would be better than the current situation!

The old Zanussi!! Don't think anyone else would have him am Buro!!

okay, this looked like the most general topic I could find.

What should one consider when buying a washing machine? Right now I have to refurnish my apartment so price is obviously an issue for me. I'm guessing i want a good rpm on mine too. Is this "aquastop" function absolutely necessary? I'm guessing it means it's there to prevent flooding.

The Saturn has a lot of products by this company "Beko". Seems to be a UK company. Any of y'alll know them? Seem customer reviews, not good.

the pride of Turkey - part of the Koç group

http://www.beko.com/TR/TR/default.htm

About Aquastop: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquastop

I'd also try to get a water and energy efficient one, to save on utility bills.

can you add "aquastop" to a washing machine if it does not come with it?

a friend is lgiving me her Miele washing machine, but my colleague keeps bugging me about getting a special hose with aquastop on it.