All New Whirlpool Cabrio

[murando531]

Our Lowe's finally has this set on the floor. In person it's alot less impressive. It seems to have a huge capacity, but just as my Bravos is large, I know that the water level will be only about 20% of that tub at most. I was disappointed at the build quality of the lid on the washer and also the dryer door. Both have that squeaky plastic sound when opened and closed. I wonder if the see through material is acrylic instead of glass, because it doesn't feel heavy or solid at all. The dryer door actually bends and wobbles when you try to close it. I hate the dispenser drawer as well. Seems like more trouble than the built in dispensers around the opening, not to mention how flimsy the drawer is.

Apparently the washer was in its "agitate" mode when shut down and boxed up, and I could tell it's a similar drive system to what LG, and by extension, Samsung, have been using in their impeller style washers for a while. I turned the basket and the impeller would rotate at a slower but set rate, just as the LG will. I reached down and manually turned the impeller and you could hear and feel the gears that are now in place. I wonder why they decided that the Cabrio now needs a gearbox? And why does this machine sound so loud in comparison to the F&P drive version if it's supposed to be the TOL right now?

 

[mrb627]

Echoing My Findings...

Once I saw this pair on the floor at my local Lowes, I was much less enthusiastic about them. Poor build quality is "in your face" obvious. Almost makes me angry that this is what Whirlpool has been reduced to...

Malcolm

 

[logixx]

Seems as if Whirlpool might use this as the new washer platform - now there are models with a dial as well.

 

[murando531]

Like the Cabrio, this looks really nice in the pictures but I'm sure it looks and feels like junk in real life. I can already hear the plasticky squeaking from that lid just from seeing the photos!!

Kinda makes me glad I got a high-end Bravos before the redesign. Despite some of the things I find annoying about the machine, it does have a very solid construction, at least in all the parts that are interactive with the user, and it has a nice clean but robust look to it. Overall I do like my washer a lot.

 

[pierreandreply4]

when i see a washer dryer like the new whirlpool and maytag

when i see the new whirlpool and maytag line i think so far the new speed queen huebsch 2015 are the much better choice

 

[logixx]

Kenmore Version

http://www.sears.com/kenmore-5.3-cu-ft-top-load-washer-w/p-02629133000P

 

[logixx]

 

[murando531]

I'm not very impressed. This is exactly why I want to get the Bravos XL fixed properly or more preferably replaced. I love its procedure for washing. I love the built in dispensers, because that drawer looks flimsy, in addition to it just dumping down straight onto the clothes. And I'm confused as to why there isn't much time spent on rotating the basket while recirculating the water. I like the way the Oasis machines handle that much better, with slow rotation and spray, then a quick spin to pull the water and detergent through, repeated several times over the course of 20+ minutes. I think that's why my machine cleans so well.

 

And the agitation sounds just like the agitator washer that I have. I guess because the gear box is nearly the same.

 

[logixx]

"Doing a load on Bulky-Sheets/Normal"

 

[extmaxspin]

videos in reply #86

OK, I've never owned this style machine, and I've got to say I've never been impressed by the appearance of that style of operation. But after watching these videos, and understanding what I was supposed to be seeing (the "bloom" from the center), I'm mildly impressed...

My question is, why are all the videos I've seen of these machines in operation made with what I'd consider a small load at best? If I'm going to run a whites load that takes over two hours to finish, that machine is going to be full! I understand that when things are wet, they've settled and are packed on the bottom. I see that same thing in my FL machine too. But show me a load that starts with 15-20 bath towels, when they're dry, they fill the capacity of the machine. What's the turnover with that kind of load? Show me a load of towels like that "blooming" and I'll maybe consider one of these some day...

 

[murando531]

I agree completely. The same thing applies to the Oasis machines. Mine performs so much better when it's filled 3/4 of the way up to a full load to the top row of holes. The blooming rollover is much more fluid, and the water level is usually about halfway up the basket. I'm eager to see how these new machines will handle that kind of load.

 

[wp-dude22]

I agree with both of you who posted above me the wash action is better than i expected ... im shocked it bloomed so well but i would like to see it with a full load as well. i wait till i have a really large load to do laundry so that is what i would like to see a huge load.

i still find that washplate design anemic at best seems like it hardly has fins on it ...

i also prefer the Maytag / Kenmore variant with the dial.

 

[logixx]

Small load on Mixed - not much turnover happening :-/

 

[logixx]

Jeans on Bulky

And another small load that needs a lot of water to move around.

 

[murando531]

Just like the Oasis, and practically every HE top loader available, the biggest weakness in this machine seems to be movement when you have different fabric types and weights mixed together. 

 

There was a WP Rep at Lowe's the other day when I went to check out the other Bravos and compare it to the new Cabrios. I recognized her because she came in several times while I worked at HD, but when I got the chance to talk to her I quickly realized that her knowledge was based on scripts and product brochures, and she didn't actually know anything about how the machines worked.

 

When I got there she was showing one of the employees how she could stack cups on top, with a tennis ball balanced on the top cup, and put the machine into a spin and that there would be no vibration. While I was looking at the Cabrio Platinum (the Oasis version) she came over asking what draws me to that machine, so I explained what was going on with the Bravos and how I had the option of choosing a different washer. She proceeds to try and talk me into the new Cabrio 8500, and again starts a "spin" to show that there is no vibration. After about a minute of the tub turning at probably around 50 rpm, I look down and ask when it's actually going to spin, and she replies "but it's spinning now?" I wanted to walk away at that very moment. She then tries to argue with me that the new VMAX platform doesn't use a gearbox. *sigh* What amused me the most was how she told me that "it would have been doing me such a disservice if she had allowed me to purchase that older Cabrio".

 

Anyway, one of the things I asked her was if the new impeller design and agitation profiles were able to better handle mixed fabric weights than the Oasis platform, and she pointed smugly at the Mixed cycle. After seeing that video, it seems to have about the same movement that the Bravos does with mixed items.

 

To me, the new terminology for cycles and options translates to this: Mixed = Colors/Normal, Whites = Towels, and whites of course, Casuals = Perm. Press, and then Delicates and Bulky/Sheets as is, unless the new Bulky setting is designed for towels.

 

I love the look of these machines though. That capacitive touch panel is absolutely stunning. Not too crazy about the planetary gearbox or the new dispenser drawer though.

 

[brucelucenta]

I really can't imagine buying a machine like this one. It might end up cleaning ok, but it tangles and wears out the clothes doing it. A front loader uses the same amount of water, or less and does a much better job without causing wear or linting on the clothes. I have ALWAYS had top load washers up till now. But the new ones are just not the same. A top load washer will not wash as well as a front load one using the same amount of water without undue wear on the clothes.

 

[henene4]

DeepWater wash

Now, whats really interesting to me is the design of the DeepWater option. He always talks about using the Oxi option to get more water, but as the DeepWater is an option to any Hows by now, my question is if it adapts the amount of water to the amount of clothing the way a washer with agitator would (so a half load only gets a half tub, a full load a full tub, just like with the Cabrios with agitator and Auto waterlevel), it adds just more water (like twice as much as the sensed size would give, no mater how big the load is) or if it just uses a full (or 3/4 full) tub by default with no adaptation. This of course may varry by cycle. It would be nice to know as well if the DeepWater adapts wash actions (longer or shorter arcs).
Maybe someone should point him towards this site

 

[jerrod6]

"Whites = towels and whites." I am not sure what the options are in the whites cycle but if you have dark green towels like I do this would not be the cycle I could use.

For those of you that have these type of washers I am curious. Why did you choose this type over a front loader? Why would you choose this type of washer over the TL speed queen?

 

[mrb627]

Building Limitations

There are some condominiums in South Florida that forbid front loaders as there is a perceived NOISE/VIBRATION factor during spinning. Utter nonsense unless you are in an older building that is more wood and concrete.

So, in that sense, a top loading HE machine is the only option, if you must have HE.

Malcolm

 

[gusherb]

Our Samsungtag (even when it was brand new), a relatives 2009 LG and someone else's 2010 LG FL set I've used all shook the houses they were in on spin cycle.

Is that not a problem with front loaders anymore these days?