Hi, about 2 months ago I bought a Samsung washer and dryer set to replace a 2 year old Duet set.

I was so sick and tired of the Duet washer taking what seemed forever to go into the spin cycle. For a normal 50 minute cycle would end up taking a hour and a half! I caught a good sale at Best Buy on the Samsung. I have the model without the silvercare. I have the built in heater with the sanitary cycle though. I didn't care about steam either. I love my Samsungs so far. The washer is so much more quiet than the duet and spins out the clothes much better! That VRT technology really works as there is no vibration.

I ended up selling my Whirlpool Duet set on Craigslist.

Good luck!

Well I've only had my 218 for about four months. The machine seems to wash really well. Even when the Maytag was new, it just doesn't compare to the how quiet and how much better the Samsung washes the whites. Even hubby commented on how quiet this new machine is even when spinning. The Maytag, even when new, kind of sounded like a jet getting ready for take off. The pump on the Samsung seems louder. But I think that's because I have the pedestals and the noise kinds of echos off the box. My old front loader set on the floor. My old dryer you could basically set it and use the same setting for all clothes. This new dryer will toast/wrinkle your permanent press if you don't put it on the correct setting.

I bought the Maytag thinking it would last for 20 years. It barely made it to past nine. And apparently I got one of the few that wasn't problematic. So I was very hesitant to put big money in another FL. I also wanted pedestals and went back and forth between buying or just building a platform. Since I planned on raising the units, I would need a matching dryer so I could reach the controls. If you do mix units, be aware that they're not all the same height. I spent more on my old Maytag FL than I did for both my new Samsung washer and dryer.

Only time will tell how reliable the machines are. But I will tell you I'm impressed with how well they work. I also love the pedestals. If you don't want to spend the money put them on a platform. I guess the only thing I miss is the light in the washer. However, with them up you can really see in the drum, and there is not an issue with leaving the door open when there is no light.

well I can't comment on durability either, as I just got mine 3 days ago. So far I love it! I replaced Maytags as well (2001 Neptunes) that are still working well, I just gave them to my son. I sent the first one back (this past Sunday) because it was filling with cold water even on the hot setting. Well this one does also, so I guess the first one was OK. When you pull out the dispenser drawer and stick your hand back in there - its running cold water. Then after the cycle starts, you can pause it and feel the clothes and they're hot! I don't understand that at all. I think it would be better to fill with hot water for the hot wash setting, and then heat it if it cools off during the cycle. It wobbles slightly when spinning slow (trying to balance itself maybe??) but when it takes off its VERY quiet/stable. I am very pleased with them so far.

I forgot to mention that mine are the 328 models. It has the silver care, but not the steam.

Mountaineergirl what you are probably experiencing has to do with the child safety feature. This is where it locks and then runs some water with a couple of turns. Then it unlocks and sets for a few seconds before continuing on. The idea is to get the kiddy wet and give them a small tumble, then the door unlocks and he can scramble out. It will always run that first test with cold water (don't want to burn the little darling). If you pause it will also go thru the same routine.

My old FL Maytag did not do this. Don't know if it's just a feature on the Samsung (I have the 218) are a requirement on all new FL's.

For those of you with either the 218 or 328 models, why did you choose the one you did? My research has made me conclude that I am going to get a Samsung, just not sure which. There is about a $100 difference in price between the 218 & 328.

I had decided on the 218s and when I went to Lowe's to get them - none in stock and none were coming in. The sales person said he thought they were discontinuing them??? maybe a sales pitch to get me to buy the 328's but it worked! I really didn't care about the Silver care option, but got it anyhow and I think it might be nice for washing my scrubs that need sanitized but cannot be bleached. I think it was like $200-250 more for the pair, I'm not sure.

I got the 328s -- I didn't think I needed the steam option but did like the silvercare. They've been installed for weeks but I've only used them once -- we haven't moved in yet (catching up on inspection issues). We're working at the new house most days, so I tried them out. Really clean clothes --including a badly stained bath towel that the workmen used to mop up several unidentified things. I'd actually planned to toss it, but it's spotless.

My only complaint was that I couldn't hear the finish sound from the kitchen -- laundry room is off the master bath and bedroom. I'll have to solve that!

I have the 218s because Sears had a sale last Nov. featuring the Samsung washer and dryer on a 2 for 1 sale. I had a sears FL that I bought in 2001 but it was awful! I had to use hot water to wash my whites and towels, it was loud.....anyway these Samsungs are wonderful; I don't have to use hot water for the towels and whites, the drum is huge compared to my old sears FL! The dryer works well and the pedestals are nice. Enjoy!

Jaty I was prepared to buy either model. The 218 set went on sale for $1000 so I couldn't pass up the deal. If it's only a $100 difference I would buy the 328 set. You get a few extra cycle options, silvercare, and diamond tub. They are coming out with a 219, which is the 218 but with a diamond tub. I did notice that Fry's had the 218 washer/dryer set for $1200 in the paper Friday. The cheapest I've seen the 328 set was about $1500.