Hi - Whirlpool and LG are good ones . I have LG front load set and I love them .

SpeedQueen had a major design change in 2018. This is a recent threaD with a couple of alternatives.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/speed-queen-2018-owners-or-washing-machine-recommendations-dsvw-vd~5390188?n=42

Consumer Reports found the Speed Queen TR7 (2018) offered the worst washing performance of all washers tested. Here's an article on the subject which also mentions a few recommended top-loaders with agitators.

Thanks to everyone so far helping me. The SQ I was interested in was a top-loader (we're older and tall), "TR3"(simple). Living in a somewhat isolated area--could not find a 2017 model SQ with manual switches. Looking now at LG's. No one has the Maytag 575....

Artistsharonva I think you misunderstood. The Speed Queen does not have a 25 year warranty. The claim is that they are built to last 25 years. I've read reviews and watched videos..I sure wouldn't want to have to use this machine for that long. . Its a real shame what's been done to the SQ. I've heard only of a few that like it so I wonder if their clothes don't get more than light soils.

I think one person that liked it said their clothes did not get that dirty.

Speed Queen 10 year. Still pretty solid machine. The commercial washers. It seriously is the best wash machine I have ever had. Big comforters, no problem. My delicate clothes are safe. My contractor man's work clothes get extremely dirty. They come out suprisingly clean.

1 of my favorite things, is being able to open after cycle started or stop it to soak as long as I want without it resetting & wasting water or detergent.

I lve my Bosch front loader it is 11 yrs old goes at least once a day and often more then 3 times a day on weekends Never had a mold issue I just leave a washcloth in the door to keep it open a bit. I have the matching dryer they have both been great with no problems.

This is my Speed Queen.

https://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/AWN432SP113TW04.html

I love my Speed Queen top loader. Had it for several years. Zero problems. Have never had to stop the washer to rebalance a load (common occurrence with every Kenmore/ Whirlpool top loader previously owned.)

28 minutes for total cycle. Extra dirty stuff, I fill the washer, let it agitate a bit to distribute the detergent, stop and leave to soak. I've read that the enzymes in detergent are viable for about 6 hours so I give 'em time to do their job for the real dirty stuff.

Mine is the bottom of the line AWN412, mechanical controls. I avoid the electronic controls where ever possible.

Look for a used one to avoid the electronics and the 2018 redesign.

But Lantro. Your Queen isn't the 2018 model.

Artist...what year is your Queen?

SpeedQueen was a great product but people want bells and whistles. Who needs a 2" thick book to read about washing clothes? SQ offered simple mechanical knobs and buttons that are dead reliable. Ask any repairman and the component that fails in appliances is the electronics.

$5k candy apple red was/dry who would think they would sell? They do and thats why we have candy apple blue ones. People buy on look not build quality. I would assume SQ simply had to give in to what the public wanted.

Artist, you have a "awn" model and these oh so sadly are no longer made. SQ seems to have taken a case of the vapours and tinkered with what made them so desirable for many. Check out the videos in the post above.

This is what they have now.

Youtube video of the Maytag with a queen comforter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4OEZ8GKjUw

Front loaders don’t have issues with mold if you wipe the seal after use and keep the door partially open.

True, and the manual tells you this! You're also supposed to run the "cleaning cycle" once a month. Think about it: A front-loader machine is 100% water tight.

I've never had any trouble with mold, but I don't think I'll get another front-loader. They are more expensive, and they are space-hogs. When I bought this set, our kids were still small, and I was doing big loads constantly ... now that it's just the two of us, laundry has slowed down significantly. I think I'm going to buy a smaller, very basic set next time ... and just take my king-sized comforter to the dry cleaner occasionally.

Here is a video that Maytag Corp made comparing the two. Wow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqC1ZKCmro

I think you should shop for features you like vs a certain brand. There are negative comments about everything out there. We had to purchase a new washer when our Whirlpool died after just 4 years. My research for a new machine (top loader) brought me to either LG or Speed Queen. LG won out based on features I liked. So far, so good but we've only had the new washer/dryer a couple years.

"Mrs. Pete: Think about it: A front-loader machine is 100% water tight."

They are not. That is a common misconception. All frontloaders have a vent duct on back of the tub out the rear panel, and there's also the dispenser drawer.

But Lantro. Your Queen isn't the 2018 model.

No, my SQ just a few days shy of 8 years old. Born on date is 09.17.2010. (I just checked!)

Lantro and that means you got one og the good (great) Queens.

2017

wekick, thanks for sharing.

I don't understand why companies stop making or change an already great product! Keep what's working. Not everything needs an update. Good grief.

Now, I'm really glad I got my wash machine before they switched to computer switches. Computers usually don't have as long of a life span. If the motherboard goes in an appliance, it's expensive to fix.

I wonder if they make appliances to break sooner, so we have to rebuy more. Appliances in the past lasted a lot longer than todays appliances.

Not only is it expensive to the clients, but wasteful in resources. Some can be recycled, but unfortunately a lot end up in landfills. America needs to start manufacturing again. Forget this cheap imported junk.

Wekick. thanks for info.

Oh no!.... Speed Queen doesn't make my model anymore?!!

Now, I am really glad I got it beforehand.

I'm so irritated with the appliance industry. Hardly any appliance lasts as long as the older manufactured ones did. Ever since USA went global manufacturing & or outsourcing, made quality disappear.

I wonder if the appliance manufacturers purposely make cheaper products that don't last as long, so we have to keep re- buying!

Not only does that cost consumers more, it's a waste of resourses, the waste that is not recycled goes into landfills!

Greed is fueling this lack of quality products service & support of products.

Things should be improving & lasting longer than declining! It's backwards.

I have an old Maytag that loves to walk and find it's special place in the laundry room. Our repair guy (used for eons) says to keep it until he cannot repair it if I'm willing to deal with the walking. He also recommended Speed Queen, top load, for longevity, easy servicing, economy, when I am ready to replace. He has no use for front loads. I trust him and I love my old Maytag. She and I have been through a lot together.

"I wonder if they make appliances to break sooner, so we have to rebuy more. Appliances in the past lasted a lot longer than todays appliances."

Most likely so. I was told by three different places the life span of a washer today is 5-10 years with 5 years being a better bet. Both of my siblings have Maytags that are about 35 years old and still going strong. That kind of quality simply isn't made today.

Planned obsolescence, just like autos, electronics, etal.

ma in Michigan. Thanks for the word. Planned Obsolence! I didn't know they named the scam of cheaper made stuff to sell more stuff. WOw!

Here's an article about it!

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160612-heres-the-truth-about-the-planned-obsolescence-of-tech

This is horrible! Greed is destroying society and our environment. Ugh!

I hope somehow, someway this way of doing business changes for the greater good by delivering better services, better environment, better way to treat consumers, workers, and our environment.

ArtistSharonVA,

SQ had trouble with their mechanical timers failing for a period of time, so those are not immune to issues. SQ electronics are considered very robust based on the reputation of their coin-op, on-premise, and industrial-oriented machines.

I have a Fisher & Paykel toploader that's 19 years old (my nephew & his GF are using it), fully electronic controls, flat-button panel, no rotary knobs, no trouble for the duration of the 19 years other than pump replacement several years ago.

I hate to tell you this but american makers plan obsolescence much more often than European makers, do not fall into that belief. Furniture is a huge one where American makers do upholstered furniture with springs that are meant to wear out so you buy another one.Where do you think Fisher & Paykel is made BTW.In my old house i had friges, wine coolers and wall ovens made in Sweden they are still going strong 20 yrs later with not one repair.

Patricia Colwell Consulting,

F&P is a New Zealand company. My older washer & dryer and DishDrawer were manufactured there. They had a laundry manufacturing facility in Ohio, United States for a few years. I have another washer/dryer set with serial numbers coded for Ohio, June 2009 and March 2010. F&P owns DCS cooking products. Haier bought F&P in 2012. They have facilities now in Thailand, Mexico, China, and Italy.