Whirlpool Calypso for performance and versatility (or the Kenmore version).

LG front loader.

My Mom and Dad's Maytag from 2003 that lasted for 15 years was without a doubt one of the best washers ever. Any number of Kenmore's I owned, they owned, my grandparents owned....all usually 70 Series which were durable and fine machines. Can't forget my current 2017 Speed Queen. I also had a GE Profile I purchased in 1996 that was a darn good washer.

My Maytag Neptune, lasted 22 years

Early 80's Maytags, push button and dial. Best EVER pre front loader days in United States. The tubs alone were so roomy and they cleaned excellently. Worst was the Whirlpools with Super Surgilator around '86 and '87. Put holes in my jeans right in the crotch. I would only wash a few pair at a time, no help. LOL.

Maytag 2-belt design was the same two sizes (standard and large) from 1970 (maybe 1966) until the end of production. The large tub was approx 19 gallons at max fill (40 gals for a full cycle including spray rinse). A primary reason they bought the Norge design and production facility was to get a larger capacity into the line without having to redesign and retool their existing production.

Whirlpool/Kenmore 18 lb models were 27 gallons for max fill, reduced a bit toward the end of production. Regards to damage to your jeans, are you referring to the direct-drive design with the shorter-arc 180 strokes-per-minute high speed agitation? Those debuted circa 1981 for test marketing under the Kenmore brand. A few models on Whirlpool label in 1984. The design went mainstream into both brands by 1986. Low speed was 120 SPM and ex-low on later 3-speed models was 80 to 90 SPM. The earlier design with wider arc was 68 and 46 SPM. There was a 3rd slower speed on some models but I don't know the SPM.

For me without question, my mom's '96 Kenmore 70 series Direct Drive washer! I so wish I could get my hands on one today. Maybe one day.

@dadoes

It was the Whirlpools with the corkscrew twisty thing at top. It had a brown and burnt orange pin stripe I think on top panel. It really was a useless agitator. No matter how little you put in it, some things just got agitated in the same spot through whole cycle. I even remember pouring water into it on a max fill...always too low for my liking.

I want one of those Maytag's now. I will trade the Miele. LOL.

@Mark, the dual-action agitator was a Whirlpool innovation, exclusive to the Kenmore brand from 1976 through the late 1980s until the agreement with Sears expired and Whirlpool could use it on their own branded machines. The auger is reasonably passive in action and is unlikely to be the cause of your jeans damage. The fins on the base of the agitator does the "dirty" work. Other brands introduced variations of it either when Whirlpool's patent expired or via agreement with them. The auger design and variations of it are still used today on many toploader brands.

My LG washer and dryer! They function perfectly, no issues and I think they look great too ❣️

My old washer/dryer matching set Whirlpool direct drive

Although it used a ton of water, it washed a load usually in 30 to 45 minutes, spun with hardly ever an issue, VERY easy to service.

Now replaced with my Electrolux WaveTouch (70) series.

Set turns 6 years old this summer.

Cycles are longer (but can be shortened by lowering soil level), Sanitary + Allergy cycles. Can handle bigger loads (4.3 cu. ft washer / 8 cu. ft dryer). Watching it try to balance can sometimes drive you nuts. Today for the first time it could not balance for the final spin and it gave up. I had to take some bedding out and let it spin, it was successful.

Our 1992 Whirlpool Gold W/D set was amazing and lasted 25 years, my family is nine people. We had the same one pictured in Georgect's post. We could do most repairs ourselves. When the washer died in 2016, we replaced both with a Speed Queen pair. Love my Speed Queens, which sadly must conform to overreaching government regulations concerning water and energy use, but still perform beautifully.