From what Speed Queen is saying, the new machine will be "19% gentler and wash 4% better". However, it appears to be somewhat weak in agitation. If you can find one now it might be good to snatch one up.

If you want the model they have now with full water try to find somewhere. They are not clear as to what the new models will be like but they are talking about lower water use.

http://www.ddius.com/Main/News.aspx?nepid=35&page=1

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?73177

They are very retro in appearance. Not in a good way IMO.

SQ is producing the existing models through the end of the year. Could be that all production is already tagged for specific dealers so maybe just your local store can't get any more.

Yes - retro in a BAD way! I don't like hearing 'lower water use' either - I've already had awful experiences with HE washers - little water and long wash times. Think I'll look for a 2017 model. Thanks for the advice - very helpful!

No truth to the new models using less water. Still full fill wash and rinse. The Eco cycle does use less water but all others are full fill or you can let machine auto fill. You are in charge. Go to you tube and you can see it work hear how quiet it is like 40 something decibels Plus the techs talk all workings and changes. Well worth watching if you are interested in SQ.

From the first link I posted above.

"The current residential top loading clothes washer standards were last amended on March 7, 2015 and the next set of regulations will impact machine designs beginning January 1, 2018. In order to comply, both the integrated modified energy factor and integrated water factor become more stringent."

Seems to imply less water.

There were some vids on YouTube but they've been taken down. I saw them before they were removed. The water level control has an Auto Sense position and also High, Med, and Low. I expect the Normal Eco cycle, or whatever it's called on the new models, only does Auto Sense but all the other cycles allow manual selection. SQ rep in one of the vids said if a user wants to wash a single item in a full tub of water, he/she can do that.

sparky823 - Are there You Tube videos for the new 2018 model? I couldn't find one. Would you mind giving me a link? Thanks!

I LOVE the new design of the Queens..bet that doesn't come as a surprise to some of you. LOL

Rebecca there were videos of the 2018 but as Dadoes said they have been removed. Jeff has one above that shows agitation. The ones I saw was about Tech stuff and disassemble and reassemble of machine outlining certain parts, changes etc. With the above video you can see it wash. Decibel level is 43 I think. Very quiet.

One of the things I noticed in the 2017 video is that on ex large the water fills to the top row of holes-mine is not doing that. I am having to hold the water level knob to reset to achieve that.

The 2018 looks anemic as someone commented. There is a thread on Automaticwasher that includes comments from a man who attended the industry introduction. I would say the 2018 is a mixed bag. I am glad I got mine when I did.

So, looks like all the appliance stores near me cannot order the current models. Anyone have experience ordering online from AJ Madison?

In my experience, “new and improved” models never are.

AJM has been a mixed bag. Check the archives for both praises and horror stories.

Go to automaticwasher.org there is a link to a new video full cycle of the new SQ washer with towel load. It's in the Deluxe section of AW.org.

Youtube link- full wash 2018 SQ TL

https://youtu.be/VNk7UOmHDbg

Just curious, does anyone know what the competing washer on the left is? I don't understand how it works. It looks like there's a plate on top and some of the clothes are above it.

Em Eff, you're referring to the "2018" video linked in Jeffrey Caban's post above? That's a Whirlpool Cabrio. Pretty much all HE (low water) toploader models on the market from all brands are of that impeller-type design.

Looks like I just found the very last current model SQ washer & dryer in all of S/W Florida. Getting delivered on Saturday. Can't wait! Thank you everyone for your help.

I have the top of the line top-load washer and dryer of the current models. The washing machine is about 3 months old and the dryer about 16 months. I ordered them online from ABT in Chicago, when our current dryer, than washer reached the end of their respectably long lives. I was very happy with service more ABT. The washing machine arrived in flawless condition. The dryer arrived dented but ABT exchanged it free of charge, picking up and packing up the damaged one and delivering the replacement. I have ordered a refrigerator and washing machine from AJ Madison and been happy with the service, but i did not need to exchange anything. I don’t think AJ Madison would have done a free-of-charge free-of-hassle exchange the way ABT did, but I am not positive, so please confirm this.

As far as the speed queen appliances themselves, the dryer was an expensive disappointment. We bought it because it had a side vent option if you purchase the roughly $40 side vent kit. I expected it to be a simple change. Instructions were not available online (at least not that I could find). It turned out to be anything but. To change from back vent to side vent, the instructions specified totally disassembling the machine, disconnecting the motor and wires etc. I didn’t even want to ask a serviceman (who would take three weeks to come out) what this would have cost - and messing with the guts is a machine we couldn’t even test ahead of time because of space constraints seemed very risky. If it didn’t work after that, it could have been quite a fight with SQ. The side vent option should have been done by the manufacturer before the item was shipped. This was clearly not something that should have been left to the customer. At great expense, we ended up make a hole in the wall behind the machine through the wall to the closet behind it so that we could fit in the dryer. Otherwise, performance is fine but nothing special (no better than the decade old whirlpool that it replaced. However, the price was double (quadruple if you count the cost of rerouting the dryer duct) the cost our second choice of dryer which would have fit better and probably performed just as well.

In contrast, the washing machine definitely a big step up from my previous top load whirlpool machine that I was very happy with. The SQ machine is very generous with water. I can pick my water level. It spins clothes dry so much better than the old washing machine. The clothes are not only dryer but much lighter coming out because of the reduced water weight. I have been having allergy problems this fall,so I wash clothes using the second and sometimes third rinse cycle when I need to make sure I get out all (more?) of the allergens. I thought these options were silly but they have come in very handy. I also really like the quick wash cycle. When I don’t do extra rinses, it takes about half an hour to wash a load of clothes. Unlike many of today’s machines, I can open the top and add items after the machine starts. I don’t know anything about the 2018 models, but I highly recommend the 2017 modelwashing machine.

Hope this helps with your decision.

Does anybody know where I can find a 2017 or earlier speed queen?

Within the last six weeks or so, someone posted here on the laundry forum that they had found several of the 2017 Queens in an appliance store. Hopefully they will chime in because I don't remember the details.

Otherwise, look at Craigslist for a used one. I have the basic AWN412 bought new around seven years ago. Zero problems with it other than the knob that I broke within the first couple of weeks of owning it. (Machine was new to me and I twisted way too hard on it.) That is to say, I wouldn't have reservations about shopping for a used machine.

ETA: Being something of a dinosaur, I would narrow the search to an analog machine because I just don't trust the wizardry electronics for the long haul. So I avoid them as much as possible.

Thank you! do You remember the store or where I can find the discussion?

tweety.

Larisa found these in South Carolina.

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5531711/last-years-speed-queen-models-found#23210336

Jeff

Thank you so much Jeffrey for the info, I have to continue my search for the speed queen with manual knobs. if there is anybody that can help me I’m looking for a speedqueen 2017 or earlier models

Yes I found some in South Carolina at a great appliance shop. They still have them. They are the only ones here in the southeast with them. They do know of other places around the US with them. If your not close call them. They have the front load washers as well.

I will say they also have the electronic panel ones with a 10 year warranty. They have the analog machines as well. Just not sure if they have the matching dryer for the analong machines, I just can’t remember.

Larisa, can you plz share name of place

It’s on the other thread but it’s upstate appliance in Anderson South Carolina.

Thank you

fingers crossed I emailed them tonight hopefully they will contact me and let me know if they have any 2017 top load models or where i can get one in upstate ny, ha ha

i refuse to get the 2018 model after i saw the reviews. Both my sisters have the 2017 models and love them said they will never get rid of them simple power horses

On my 3rd ge which has water level also and it does a great job but it constantly breaks the electrical it does a fine job when it works ha ha ha

please let me find the speed queen I will keep it forever

They still have them listed on Facebook so chances are they will have them :)

The new model has automatic sensing for the water level. The entire load needs to be put in before starting the machine so the sensing will work properly.