The old Askos were bulletproof, stainless everything, 15-20 year lifespans, the kind of appliance you'd mention in a will. Current models still have that hardcore construction and a 10-year warranty that suggests the company believes in them. The problem is Hisense bought the brand in 2020, and while it's early, the cracks are showing: one owner's new unit died on the first wash and took a month to replace through warranty. At Miele-level pricing with a thinner service network and a corporate parent known for budget appliances, you're gambling that the Swedish engineering survives the transition. If you find a steep discount and have a reliable local tech, the build quality is legitimate, but at full price Bosch or Miele give you similar performance with better service infrastructure and no ownership question mark.
The Bosch 800 Series still does what made the brand famous: cleans thoroughly without pre-rinsing, runs quieter than your refrigerator, and CrystalDry actually delivers bone-dry plastics. The gamble is that recent USA-made models are failing early, pumps giving out before year two and door latches popping open mid-cycle, problems the old German-built units rarely saw. If you find a German-made 800 (increasingly rare) or score a killer deal on a USA model with a solid warranty, the performance justifies the premium. At full retail on a current unit, you're paying Miele money for reliability that now lands closer to mainstream brands.