Amana "Enlighten" Front-loaders

[portendere]

If this has already been addressed in another thread, I apologize, but I couldn't find anything.

What's the story behind the Amana "Enlighten" FL currently in the limelight on Amana's home page? The rear controls and fold-over door make them look suspiciously like Maytag Neptunes, but I thought Whirlpool was slashing and burning anything related to Maytag's laundry line?

Would someone please, um, Enlighten me?

http://www.amana.com/

 

[gansky1]

The do look like Neptunes for sure, it is curious. Maybe Whirlpool is trying to slash and burn the Amana name?

 

[alr2903]

Portendere

You are right, sure looks like a rebadged Tag to me, as well. We will have to see how this one plays out. thanks for posting the link.

 

[appnut]

Hmm, interesting. I had heard a rumor, before merger stuff begabn and happened, Maytag was gonna put the original Neptune design in the amana line for a front loader and keep the Samsun-produced for the Maytag brand.

 

[appnut]

Oh YEAH, this is the equivalent of Sudsmaster's MAH7500 Neptune, or as close to it as it can get. Probably more like the MAH6500 though.

 

[zipdang]

Interesting that you guys think it looks like a Neptune. The first thing I thought of when I saw it is the Cabrio dryer.

 

[super32]

hybrid

It looks like a neptune T/L with the gutts of a newton built neptune.

 

[vintagesearch]

i agree i see a resembelance too.

 

[johnb300m]

I don't know about you guys, but except for the control board issue, I thought the oringinal Neptunes were a fantastic machine.

 

[exploder3211]

Looks like a nice unit

 

[sudsmaster]

I agree, that's pretty much a re-skinned and rebadged Neptune 6500. Even the model number is almost identical: NAH6800 instead of MAH6500... LOL...

The detergent dispenser appears to be identical. As does the inner door panel. They don't show the drum in the owner's manual, but the terminology for the "waterfall baffles" is the same as for the Neptune.

But, it's no 7500. I wonder why Magtag/Whirlpool has abandoned the touchscreen approach. Although I was initially skeptical about it, I find it's very practical and efficient.

The good news is that this means that various mechanical parts for the original Neptune series machines will be available for some time longer.

 

[tumbler]

Must be a Neptune..

It's a Neptune-right down to the "Turbo-Clean wash system."

 

[foraloysius]

A Neptune indeed. Personally I like this styling better than the Maytag Neptunes. $799.- for a frontloader with 1000rpm and a water heater that can maintain all temperatures is a good buy I think.

 

[laundromat]

Whirlpool is going to continue production of the Neptunes.They have plans for them including a see thru window.Keep your eyes pealed!!!

 

[peterh770]

While WP has their traditional toploader in the coin-op market, this might be their way to have a WP branded HE frontloader in the same arena, while keeping Maytag in the same. Smart move!

 

[gadgetgary]

Whirlpool is going to continue production of the Neptunes.

They have plans for them including a see thru window.

Now that is something to see!(Woo Hoo~!)

 

[golittlesport]

Smart marketing! I think they switched the name plate from Maytag to Amana to get around the bad reputation that Neptunes made for themselves with the class action lawsuit and mold problems. This new Amana has "anti-microbial" components to avoid smelly situations. The average joe-public won't realize it is a Neptune underneath and I think Maytag got all the bugs out of their Neptune design anyway....a new name won't hurt it.

 

[frigilux]

No window=no interest. It's what stopped me from buying a Neptune. Would love to see the Neptune go see-through!

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Mix-Matched:

If you look closely and realize, these new Amana Front-Load Washers are more like the Top-Load Maytag Neptune Cabinets and Controls, but no doubt the "refined" Front-Load Neptunes, that first came available, such as my Set. I've got the "3000" 2nd Generation Series of the Maytag Neptune Washer and Gas Dryer.

I've had part of the Retro-Fit Mold/Mildew Kit Installed, but I had words with the Repair Tech that came out to do the work, so needless to say, approx 2-years later, the rest of the Parts are still sitting in the Box they arrived in, oh well...

I'm thinking about Trading-In my Neptunes for the new Maytag Epic Models, with an Electric Dryer and in the Black Color, especially since at least for newer Appliances. I'm thinking of getting the Pedestal Drawers, even though they will be Stacked upon arrival, but just in case I ever decide to set them Side-By-Side, they would be better for me and my Back, on the Pedestals...

I can't stand White or Stainless Steel. I think that White is too "Virgin" Looking and Stainless Steel is too "Cold" Looking to me...

Peace and Good Laundry Times, from Amana, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[tomturbomatic]

Except for the curved lines, that control panel design looks as over the top as the one on the Ward's Windsor Dryer in the POD.

 

[sudsmaster]

When I think about it, I'm pretty happy with my Neptune 7500. It washes well, has enough capacity for my needs, and has been very reliable since a spate of major repairs at the two-year mark. What gripes I have about it would include: lack of a window in the door, lack of a drain/spin at the end of the pre-soak, lack of a seperate pre-soak dispenser. That's about it, and I get around the pre-soak issue by running a warm rinse/spin with some STPP before a regular wash for very dirty loads.

When I saw some beige Neptune TL dryers at Sears Outlet the other week, I thought the styling looked very odd. Not sure I'd like how the new Amena set would look. But I'm intrigued by the rumors that the Enlighten will include a door window, and will be looking into whether it could be retrofitted to the 7500.