The Frigidaire Gallery is what you should get (GLTF2940FS) Rated very very well and rated a best buy by consumers reports. I bought one for $528, and it is very good. A simple machine. Does not have the fancy dancy sex appeal of the high end designer machines. I would rather get two of these than another pricer machine for a grand and more.

The thing is that the cheapest I can find the 2940 for is $579 but the 8000 will cost $595 -- wouldn't it make sense to buy the 8000? Unless of course, it has a lot of problems which I'm trying to find out :)

Have they resolved the bearing issue on the Gallery series yet? If they're still only about a 5 year machine, I wouldn't call that the greatest value. The Affinity series seems to be a good value, especially the ones with the heaters except the reliability is unknown as yet.

The Gallery series is very efficient. I have not seem many machines with a lower yearly operating cost. It is rated high for efficency and the cycle time is low. Some of the fancy machines run for 100 (and plus) minutes...forget that!!!! I think the one comment is appropriate, simpler is better. I have learned over the years, all the options you may think you need, you really never use anyways. Not sure about heaters, but I do all my wash in cold water anyways, never used hot water.

I recently purchased the Affinity 7000 pair - these fit the best in the space I have. Many models were too deep. I didn't want the shiny chrome trim - main reason I chose 7000 vs a different model. It has the onboard heater and if that helps hot water be hot when it actually gets to the machine that is great. I doubt I will ever use the superhot sanitary cycle as I just don't have much of anything I can wash at temps that high - maybe an occasional load of rags.

I like it so far but I was skeptical of what the reliability will be like. I do have a problem with the washer when I go to start it where it buzzes and shows an error. At first I thought this was because it was pressed too close to the wall and impinging on the hose. But now it seems like it's related to not slamming the door hard enough when closing. I'm still kind of monitoring that to see if it's a real problem or just not closing the door hard enough. We do leave the door open when not in use to prevent mold/mildew.

This pair is at my weekend lake place so doesn't get used as much as the Kenmore/Duet model I have at home. I do find I have to choose hotter settings on the Affinity dryer to get things dry - not a big deal - just learning the machine. That could have something to do with the longer duct with the Affinity. With our old dryer we had problems because lint built up in the duct work.

Anyway, overall I'm finding these are doing a great job getting things clean and dry - no complaints on that so far.

I have the Affinity 7000 also, and love it. Really cleans my clothes. I have had no problems, error codes, etc. with the pair.

I would stay away from the Gallery model, and its GE twin. The bearings are part of the tub. My neighbor's machine gave up after 3 - 4 years of service. The cost for the tub assembly was $450 dollars, so it went to the dump. The Affinity series has replaceable bearings. I bought my pair from a local appliance dealer for around $1200.

Go with the Gallery, better than affinity. Consumers again ranked them high. Say no to those fancy high priced LGs and the like. All show, no go. Gallery's have been running NON stop all day at a car wash doing loads of towels. They are running continous for 8 hours. Run like a charm. And they are the most reasonable priced machines around. Although, for the folks that need a lime green or slate blue colored one, sorry, this is a washing machine. Try elsewhere.

I agree with saxmann - the gallery is really nice. It also offers more cycles than the Affinity. On the Affinity you don't even have a soak or a prewash option and I can't figure that for a TOL machine. And whatever you do stay away from LG if you are smart. I learned the hard way and never saw such poor service. I only wish frigidaire made a combo.
Peter

I have had the best buy version of the 2950es for about 4 years now. it has been a good machine. I have been living single for nearly 2 and 1/2 of those years but for the first year and a half there were 3 in the house. I wash heavy queen comforters in it all the time. mine has always been in a basement on a cement floor. I have no issues with vibrations. its a quiet machine mostly, the spin makes the most noise but all FL seem to do so to some degree. my machine has never been serviced so far,(knocking on wood).

I have a friend that has a Bosch set that is even more quiet. with the laundry room door closed its not much more than a purr. but the Bosch washer costs at least $899 now and was $999 or so for for the Bosch they got at the time I bought mine for $699 back then.