Anybody bought a washing machine recently?

[FAS284]

Need advice on where to buy a new one around $400 or less, top-loading with good capacity and quality (our last one was Kenmore which lasted 19 years and died last night )

Thanks!

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: FAS284
Need advice on where to buy a new one around $400 or less, top-loading with good capacity and quality (our last one was Kenmore which lasted 19 years and died last night

Top loading, good capacity, $400 or less, decent quality describes 70% of the washing machines on the market. Go anywhere that happens to sell appliances and you will find something just fine that meets your needs.

 

[Squisher]

TOP-LOADING MODELS
1 Maytag Neptune TL FAV9800A[WW] $1205 80 ? ? ? ?
2 Kenmore (Sears) Elite 2506[2] $850 70 ? ? ?
3 Whirlpool Calypso GVW9959K{Q] $695 60 ? ? ? ?
4 Fisher & Paykel Intuitive Eco IWL12 $850 55 ? ?
5 GE Profile Harmony WPGT9360E[WW] $890 55 ? ? ?
6 GE Profile Harmony WPGT9350C[WW] $900 55 ? ? ?
7 Fisher & Paykel Ecosmart GWL11 $630 50 ?
8 Maytag SAV4655E[WW] $460 50 ?
9 Whirlpool Gold GSQ9669L[W] Gold GST9679P[ ] $465 $500 50 ?
10 Amana NAV3330A[WW] $400 40 ?
11 GE WWRE5240D[WW] $440 50 ? ?
12 Amana NAV8800A[WW] $500 45 ? ?
13 GE WBSR3140D[WW] $335 45
14 Kenmore (Sears) 1584[2] 1685[ ] $550 $500 40 ?
15 Whirlpool LSW9700P{Q] $390 45 ?
16 GE WHSE5240D[WW] $400 50 ?
17 GE WHRE5260E[WW] $415 45 ? ?
18 Kenmore (Sears) Elite 2494[2] Elite 2692[ ] $570, Elite 2694 $58045 ? ? ?
19 Maytag Atlantis MAV9501E[W] Atlantis MAV9504E[ ] $555 $600 60 ? ? ?
20 Frigidaire FWS1339A[C] Gallery GLWS1339C[ ] $320 $330 45
21 Kenmore (Sears) 2685[2] $520 45 ?
22 Whirlpool Gold GSW9650L[W] GSW9800P[ ] $450 $500 50 ? ?
23 Hotpoint VWSR4150D[WW] $330 45
24 Kenmore (Sears) 2462[2] 2663[ ] $400, 2664[ ] $350, 2665[ ] $400 $350 35
25 Roper RAS8333R{Q]


Quick Picks

For best performance at a high price:
34 Kenmore (Sears), $1100
35, 36 LG, $675-$900
37 Whirlpool, $955

Capacious and quiet, these front-loaders were frugal with energy and water. The LG WM1814C[W] (35) isn't as large as the others but still holds a decent-sized load, and it costs hundreds less. (Note that we have no reliability data on LG washers.)


Good performance at modest prices:
8 Maytag, $460
9, 15 Whirlpool, $390-$500
14 Kenmore (Sears), $500

These four conventional top-loaders got laundry clean and did well in all other tests. Both the Whirlpool Gold GSQ9669L[W] (9) and Kenmore (Sears) 1584[2] (14) have been discontinued, but the similar models listed should offer comparable performance.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A value if noise isn't an issue:
13 GE, $335

This low-priced top-loader did a good job but is rather noisy. If your laundry room is in the basement or garage, it's worth considering.

 

[Squisher]

 

[Ornery]

I bought a slightly more expensive unit, because I LOVED the engineering technology behind it. Somebody pointed out that there are cheaper brands using the same "transmissionless" technolgy, so you might want to look for that.

Here's copy and pastes from several old posts:

I stumbled on to the Fisher & Paykel by accident. The specs impressed me. Further study put it at the top of my list and the low price didn't hurt! From the moment it was installed and started, my expectations have been surpassed, and that's VERY rare! Wish someone had told me about them when I was shopping for a washer. I shudder to think that I may have spent $500.00 more for comparable performance.

The Fisher & Paykel washer (updated link 7-18-05) has a 25.5" square footprint. If that's small enough for ya, BUY IT!

• Brush-less DC motor
  
  Fisher & Paykel did away with the belt & pulley drive by directly attaching the motor to the shaft of the agitator. Windings are located in the motor stator rather than on the rotor. The rotor turns around the outside of a centrally mounted stator rather than inside it. This configuration allows for the rotor to be attached to the shaft driving the washer's spin and agitator movements or wash profile.
  
  What is the SmartDrive System?
  
  By combining electronic intelligence with a simple mechanical design we provide better wash performance and greater reliability through the SmartDrive System.
  
  We've connected the DC magnetic motor directly to the agitator by a single stainless steel shaft. The SmartDrive System incorporates no belts, pulley's, or transmission, and as these are the first things to wear down and break in a conventional washer, the Ecosmart delivers greater reliability.
  
  However, the benefits of the SmartDrive System go even further. Again, by connecting the agitator directly to the motor and the motor directly to the "brain" or electronics of the machine we are able to deliver the proper wash profile for each load by giving an almost infinite number of agitator actions and water levels.

It's an engineering marvel for only $699.00.


Fisher & Paykel Ecosmart GWL11 Consumer Guide Best Buy

Fisher & Paykel GWL 10 (Ecosmart) Consumer Guide Best Buy

Fisher & Paykel DE06/DG06 Consumer Guide Best Buy

Fisher and Paykel GWL11 Washing Machine 4-1/2 Star Deal Time Review Rating

I worked in a machine tool building shop for 25 years. I've seen some quality, innovative engineering over the years (frequently by our competitors), and this thing is a masterpiece!



I'd rather buy the best top loader than a cheap front loader. Hell, I'd rather buy this engineering masterpiece than any front loader:

The smart way to wash clothes...

• The Smart Drive system connects a programmable motor directly to the agitator by a single stainless steel shaft. There are no belt, gears, or pulleys to break down. The autowasher senses each load, sets the water level and adjusts the wash action to produce a superior wash.

What is Smart Drive?

• Unlike conventional machines, our autowashers use intelligence to continually adapt the wash action and water level to suit the load.
  
  How? Sensors in the electronics monitor clothes movement and adjust the agitator for either a gentle or lively action. It's rather like hand washing, where your hands communicate the feel of the fabric to the brain, which in turn tells the hands how hard or soft to rub the clothes.

Fisher & Paykel Ecosmart Washer - GWL11 $599.00

1. 1. FERGUSON ENT 1 miles. OKLAHOMA CITY - 73107 - Oklahoma
   2. METRO BUILDERS SUPPLY 4 miles. Oklahoma City - 73127 - Oklahoma
   3. HARRY´S TV, VIDEO & APPLIANCES LLC 6 miles. OKLAHOMA CITY - 73120 - Oklahoma
   4. OK DISTRIBUTING 6 miles. OKLAHOMA CITY - 73114 - Oklahoma
   5. LOWE´S OF S. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK #268 7 miles. OKLAHOMA CITY - 73139 - Oklahoma
   6. LOWE´S OF N. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK #535 8 miles. OKLAHOMA CITY - 73134 - Oklahoma
   7. FERGUSON ENT 10 miles. EDMOND - 73013 - Oklahoma
   8. LOWE´S OF YUKON, OKLA #1134 10 miles. YUKON - 73099 - Oklahoma

 

[TwinkleToes77]

I have a Whirlpool Quiet wash II or something like that... super huge capacity and it runs very quiet. I like it a lot.

 

[Splork]

Originally posted by: FAS284
Need advice on where to buy a new one around $400 or less, top-loading with good capacity and quality (our last one was Kenmore which lasted 19 years and died last night )

Thanks!

19 Years! R.I.P.

-sp

 

[Ornery]

My old Whirlpool lasted from April 1982 till July 2001, and was still working when I gave it away! It had the timer "rebuilt" (cleaned worn contacts) once and that's it. Dryer lasted just as long, and was also still working, but had the motor replaced once, and moisture sensor was not working for the last 5 years.

That's all well & good, but the amount of energy and water wasted by the poor technology far exceeded the price a more efficient machine would have cost. The initial purchase price is only part of the equation.