I remember when it was economical to fix your washing machine if/when it broke, nowadays if you get someone in (assuming you can't fix it yourself like I can) they just suck air in through their teeth (a bit like dodgy mechanics) and say "it'll cost" or you find that the price of spare parts is astronomical.
When our last one packed in I knew it was the motor burnt out (cos it was all blackened) reconditioned motors used to be about £50 but nowadays "You can't get them anymore mate" and a new one was in excess of 200 notes..................................... plus VAT.
EDIT - At lest I managed to turn the old drum into one of these