Help Me Pick a Washer!

Best used top load washer to replace an old Maytag, a 606 with sub saver

This is what I do for a living. I help people make decisions on the best appliances and then implement them if they ask for that help as well.

You’ve left out way too much information to make an intelligent choice here.

How many loads a week does your grandmother wash? Is the sun saver important to her that the Maytag has, if it is, she may be horrified at how much water the top load washer uses without the sun saver feature.

In general the best choice for a new machine today as a front load washer, but that said millions of people every year buy new top load washers that are very pleased with them whirlpools putting out nearly 20,000 top loaders a day and people are generally very pleased.

Back to the choice at hand, I would not buy any used washer unless the price is you’re quoting include delivery installation and a minimum of a one year home parts and labor warranty backed by a very reputable company that has a good reputation for standing behind products.

None of these three machines, including the Speed Queen are a good bet if you don’t have good warranty with it. The motor for that Speed Queen is a $500 part for example. It’s not a good deal unless someone’s willing to stand behind it and assure you that it’s in perfect working condition

Just on the face of it, the KitchenAid in the whirlpool or the better washers for performance the Speed Queen is likely the most durable one, but we do not know the condition of these machines.

John L

Best used top load washer to replace an old Maytag, a 606 with sudssaver

This is what I do for a living. I help people make decisions on the best appliances and then implement them if they ask for that help as well.

You’ve left out way too much information to make an intelligent choice here.

How many loads a week does your grandmother wash? Is the sudsaver important to her that the Maytag has, if it is, she may be horrified at how much water the top load washer uses without the sudsaver feature.

In general the best choice for a new machine today as a front load washer, but that said millions of people every year buy new top load washers that are very pleased with them whirlpools putting out nearly 20,000 top loaders a day and people are generally very pleased.

Back to the choice at hand, I would not buy any used washer unless the price you’re quoting include delivery installation and a minimum of a one year home parts and labor warranty backed by a very reputable company that has a good reputation for standing behind products.

None of these three machines, including the Speed Queen are a good bet if you don’t have good warranty with it. The motor for that Speed Queen is a $500 part for example. It’s not a good deal unless someone’s willing to stand behind it and assure you that it’s in perfect working condition

Just on the face of it, the KitchenAid and the whirlpool or the better washers for performance the Speed Queen is likely the most durable one, but we do not know the condition of these machines.

John

stan said:

If I’m reading the control panel correctly from the pic of the Kitchen Aid.. it looks like it has a selector switch to chose agitation speed
My Kenmore had this feature and I liked it.

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That's what I thought you meant, I just wanted to double-check.

DADoES said:

The KitchenAid compared to the Whirlpool .... KA has larger lower fins on the agitator and a 3-speed motor. KA runs the medium motor speed for high agitation. Ex-Low motor speed for low agitation. The larger fins on the KA agitator provide water action at medium and ex-low motor speeds equivalent to high speed and low on a WP with a smaller agitator ... but the KA is considered to produce less stress on fabrics.

Note that there are some WP models with 3-speed motors but the machine you're considering appears to be 2-speed (the model number would help clarify).

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Thank you! The speed vs. fabric stress is good to know.

william8 said:

I wouldn't pay $275-$300 for any 24 year old machine. Too old.
You can get new machines for just a little more., and it will be delivered.

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A new machine for "just a little more" from any brand will be a 3-5 year life span piece of garbage. Of course, you can't be certain a 20 year old machine will last, but it's something that can be repaired and used for longer than any new machine would survive.

pstehle said:

A new machine for "just a little more" from any brand will be a 3-5 year life span piece of garbage. Of course, you can't be certain a 20 year old machine will last, but it's something that can be repaired and used for longer than any new machine would survive.

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I'd buy a conditioned direct drive or a New Speed Queen Classic, or even the Maytag Commercial.

crenchy said:

Unfortunately, the A606S is depositing oily black spots on clean clothes that are impossible to remove.

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Those spots can only be coming from a few places.
Have you thought of trying to fix the old machine....Looks like most of those parts are still available

mat_l said:

Those spots can only be coming from a few places.
Have you thought of trying to fix the old machine....Looks like most of those parts are still available

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I'd check the transmission first.