Value FL choices--Help!

18 years ago

Hi, I've been reading and reading, now need a little more targeted and current feedback if anybody would be so kind as to provide it.

(Actually, I accidentally posted sonme of this on the appliances forum earlier today, but things have already changed.)

After 22 years, we need to replace our Hotpoints. We would really like to go green, especially since the new W&D may well move with us in the next year or so to an energy-efficient home. We have three kids--16, 10, and 9, all girls.

I narrowed choices down to the following for a raid on Sears this weekend--hoping to hit the perfect storm of sale price, +10% off/no int&pay 12 month/free delivery & haul, $50 Frigidaire rebates (not on the Bosch choice of course), and $50 Energy Star/public service rebates:

Have narrowed it down to the following:

+Frig Gallery GLTF2040 washr & match GLEQ2152ES dryr = $994 pair

~Frig Affinity ATF6700 washr & match AEQ6700 dryr = $1064 pair

+Frig Affinity ATF8000 washr & AEQ6700 dryr* = $1105 pair

+Bosch 300 Series WFMC220 washr & match WTMC3321 dryr = $1246 pair

$252 between least and most expensive option.

I like that the Gallery has silk, wool, and large & bulky loads settings and has a standard wash time 55 minutes as well as express wash setting. But it lacks the internal heater which might be handy for kids' stains.

I'm leaning against the 6700 washr in favor of the 8000 since the price difference is not that great and the 8000 has the heater. Wash drum light should amuse perpetually bored 9 y.o. Poor customer reviews (on sears.com) on the 8000 dryr say "get the well-reviewed 6700 dryr!" to me.

And while I'm wanting the extra capacity of the Bosches--4.2 vs. 3.5 washr and 6.7 vs. 5.8 dryr--I'm mourning the lack of large & bulky washing (why not, when they are bigger?). GH seal and Bosch name leads me to wonder if they will live far longer than the Friggies?

Finally, do all FLs have to go in the cellar? In this house, the laundry room floor is tile on wood over an airspace above dirt with fieldstone and hemlock sills. Will a FL shake this old house down? In the new house, the laundry room is on first floor over basement. Will any of these washers be OK in both of these places?

Given the impending (about 8 miles away) move (12 to 18 mos from now), though, would it make better sense to get a cheap TL set to leave here? Do these machines even survive moves?

Now add to that mix the LG Tromm WM2016/DLE2516W at $1164 the pair I saw when I went to kick the gaskets today....

What to do?

TIA!

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Comments (5)

regus_patoff
18 years ago
and your new "green" energy-efficient home has / will have hook-ups for the electric dryer ?

Save the "shipping bolts" to re-install, when you move the appliances later.
hadley
Original Author
18 years ago
We may go with the gas--but have you seen the price of propane lately? I am hoping we don't have to keep sucking dead dinosaurs out of the ground to stay warm, etc. So far ideas include a low-temp-operating heat pump w/woodstove backups for heat, maybe some solar water, maybe some kind of electric generation as well.

Our current house has both electric and gas hookups as we had been planning to switch to gas but now are not convinced it's the way to go. The choice will be left to the next homeowner, though.

Sometimes there is a trade-off between green and energy efficient...the two aren't always the same and we are still exploring the most sensible approaches for our situation.

Thank you for your interest in all that. Have you any thoughts on the posted topic?
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amts
18 years ago
I was just about to post a question like his. My search for a new W/D is giving me migraines!!!
From My end is So Calif: I am being told some of our Electricitly is made from Gas, so if one chooses an electric Dryer,it's like paying twice. Electric dryers take a bit longer.
I was told the Affinity Stainless steel Dryer drum was better long term than the Gallery Powder coated one.
I too am heading for the 8000, internal heater.
I am jelous of your prices. I'm being quoted $1,187 for Gallery and $1,300 for 8000 affilinty. (before 7.75% tax)
About the shaking. Balancing at the beginning is essencial.
We now have an Asko (I like it) which gets to 1200 RPM. Hubby made 2x4 and 3/4" plywood platform and it's never shaken off, gone into the wall, anything. (One is NOT able to carry on a conversation in the room while it is in final spin, but oh well....)
mike_73
18 years ago
I have the Fridg gallery FL washer, owned it over 3 years with no trouble. it is a little work horse. I like you wanted a Bosch but didn't get on due to price. I sometimes wish I would have now that a friend that got a new house has them and I see how good the really seem to be. but look when I bought mine there was no Nexxt 300 series from bosch, there was the 500 series and up. the 500 series Bosch was $999 at lowes then now its come down a little. the 300 series is a smashing deal I thought when I saw them at Lowe's a few months ago. If it were me and I could put out the extra few hundred I'd have Bosch. I like mine don't get me wrong but the bosch has a heater and is built very good with stronger hinges and bigger drum than my Frigidaire.
hadley
Original Author
18 years ago
Well, bleh. Not such great prices after all. Although this week's sears ads clearly say "$xx.00" after 10%, last week's and the website did not. The sales person said yesterday that all the sale prices I saw online already reflected the extra 10% savings even though it didn't say so. Today online they have the regular prices and say 10% off that. S0--it is the same "sale" today as yesterday although it is presented quite differently--more clearly if yesterday actually did reflect the 10% already taken as the salesguy said. Either way, it is the same price as everywhere else and the continuous "sales," so no great deal, no pressure to get it yesterday (except for the potential fire hazard in my laundry room :(

--so, anyway, I'm not convinced the salesperson was right...but what are ya gonna do? I walked out.