4 speed Dependable Care?

[swestoyz]

Hey Gang -

Saw this while cruising C-List tonight - did Maytag ever make a 4 speed dependable care washer? This is a beauty down in Pella - and seems to be loaded with features that I don't recognize on such a late machine. Would be interested in picking it up if the price weren't a little steep - and being about 150 miles away - take a look:

http://desmoines.craigslist.org/hsh/727866442.html

 

[swestoyz]

The only other machine I've seen boasting 4 speeds was on this very dreamy digital push button machine. Picture taken at the Jasper County museum in Newton. Oh to find one of these behind Menards!!

Let me know what you guys think,

Ben

 

[appnut]

Ben, you are right, 4-speed combo and with energy saver switch on, had 6 wash temps. Was TOL.

 

[maytagbear]

Ben,

I have that very same model of washer, and what it has are four OPTIONS for speed. Regular/Fast, Regular/Slow, Delicate/Fast, and Delicate/Slow.

I usually use Regular/Fast and Delicate/Slow.

I've been pleased with it, and am going on 12 years, come September.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

LAT9806AAE

 

[foraloysius]

Ben,

That machine was still available in 1998, I remember seeing it on the Maytag website. I was fascinated by that machine, I love TOL machines. I think it's a machine worth saving.

Lawrence,

I guess that most people would use those speeds. I however would use the Regular/Slow option for permanent press items and Delicate/Fast for wool.

Louis

 

[thor]

Ben,

I have that exact model washer, export version, with the matching electric dryer. I love these machines, you can taylor the wash in every way you can imagine! It also has five wash water temperatures: Hot, hot + energy saver, warm, warm + energy saver, cold.
Emilio

 

[thor]

Picture of both units

Washer and electric dryer, 220V 50Hz export models.

 

[thor]

Washer panel

A better view of the washer panel...

 

[thor]

And last...

the dryer panel.

 

[repair-man]

Model # LAT9806AAE

Top of the line when the electronic models where no more. Late 1996 I believe. Never sold a lot of them because they were expensive for a top load at the time. About $650- $700 I think. Had the Double Wash option that used a different cup in place of the fabric softener that allowed the use of liquid detergent that would be dispensed after the prewash. But then you could not use fabric softener. Also the first series with the Sensi-Care cycle (the LAT 9706 also had it) which was just the marriage of a fabric matic with a 2 speed machine. Nice Machine. Ed

 

[swestoyz]

Oh wow - thanks for the responses guys! I love that the model number has the famous '806' stuck in the middle of the number. Mom really needs a replacement from the A806 that she is currently using, and the LAT9806 would make a good match to her Neptune dryer. Thanks for the photos guys - and if the washer happens to make the trek from Pella to La Porte, I'll let you all know.

Ben

 

[laundromat]

Maytag only made 2 speed washers. FRIGIDAIRE,Whirlpool and GE made 3 speed washers.The selections were regular,delicate and "hand wash".The spin speeds were fast,slow,extra slow.The FRIGIDAIRE and Whirlpool/Kenmore/KitchenAid msachines were very good and had beter results in getting delecate clothes safely washed and rinsed.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

The devil's in the detail...

I had customers ask about the 4 speeds. At that point I had to show them where it said "4 Speed SELECT" and it was 4 combinations of wash/spin speed options... Laundromat is correct. I remember the Whirlpool multi speed motor, but for some reason I thought I remembered a 4 speed Whirlpool motor...

RCD

 

[thor]

Repair-man

You are right, when selecting the double wash you have no option for fabric softener. But there's a way to go around this. I ALWAYS double rinse every single wash cycle I do. Whenever I choose the double wash option I also de-select the double rinse option. Once the full cycle finishes I select the double rinse option, machine immediately starts filling with water and I pour the measured amount of softner diluted with white vinegar through the liquid bleach dispenser (to avoid spilling over the clothes). In about 10 minutes the cycle is finished, with a double rinse with softener. I know, it would be much better if there were a timed fabric softener dispenser, but I get around this shortcoming this way. It doesn't bother me at all.

Emilio

 

[thor]

Extra rinse

Sorry, the option is labeled "Extra Rinse" and not "Double Rinse". It is the upper Options push-button.

Emilio

 

[thomasortega]

Thor, I saw your profile...
let me know something, weren't we colleagues at Electrolux Brazil (Curitiba PR) 8 years ago?
I'm asking because i had a colleague called Thor, but he was transfered to other country and i lost his contact.

 

[thor]

Hi Thomas,

no, my name is Emilio, I chose the name Thor for my profile because it was the brand of the washer I grew up with. My parents had brought if from the States in 1950.

Coincidentally, I did work with appliances for some time in my life, in a refrigerator manufacturing company, also having to do with washers, air conditioners and other large appliances.

But I travel very frequently to Brazil, I love to spend my vacations there. Maybe we can meet there in the future for a really southern wash-in, LOL!

Emilio

 

[toggleswitch2]

*We Care*is a huge buzz-word for women!

The machine in question has two true speeds, but also incorpoates the "Fabric-matic" feature (normally seen on a low-end or BOL machines) in the "Sensi-care" cycle.

Fabric-matic / sensi-care alternates agitation with soak.

 

[jeffg]

Emilio, do you use the white vinegar to remove detergent residue, or does it make the fabric softener work better?

Or both?