Since moving to a house that has a gas connection I have been in the market for a new set, needless to say I have found two sets that I am considering and would love your thoughts. It's either this Whirlpool Cabrio set
Cabrio or Kitchen Aid
- Thread starter jimmyb
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or this Kitchen Aid set.
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for your help!
We bought a Cabrio last year, and returned it for a refund after one week. Whirlpool would have to pay us to buy another one.
Performance was non-existent, and we had manual control over water temperature, wash times, rinse times or anything else. E.g. if you want to extend or shorten your wash times by a few minutes, your only option with the Cabrio is to completely drain the tub and start the cycle over. Simply ridiculous.
Performance was non-existent, and we had manual control over water temperature, wash times, rinse times or anything else. E.g. if you want to extend or shorten your wash times by a few minutes, your only option with the Cabrio is to completely drain the tub and start the cycle over. Simply ridiculous.
laundromat
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KITCHENAID!!
toggleswitch2
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The KitchenAid is an ordinary WP set; the CABRIO is unique and destined to be a collectors' item, awful or not.
I say get the CARBIO set to have the washer for the fun factor, and the dryuer to use gas(cheaper than electric to run) and make sure you have a good set of vintage Maytags as your daily driver..
Just my opinion!
Good to see you posting!
I say get the CARBIO set to have the washer for the fun factor, and the dryuer to use gas(cheaper than electric to run) and make sure you have a good set of vintage Maytags as your daily driver..
Just my opinion!
Good to see you posting!
The Cabrio washer has an agitator
and I love the windows on both the washer and dryer, it's going to be a tough choice.
and I love the windows on both the washer and dryer, it's going to be a tough choice.
aldspinboy
Well-known member
The Cabrio ! Load sensing, and high spin speeds, & window.
Is the winner hands down.
Darren k.
Is the winner hands down.
Darren k.
redcarpetdrew
Well-known member
Choose between the old and the new...
The K/A's are a proven design and are relatively easy to work on. The Cabrio's are bigger capacity and are designed to reduce your utility bills. One reason you have little or no control over the times and temps on the Cabrios are that they are designed to use little water and soap so they have to run longer cycles to achieve decent cleanability.
For what it's worth, Whirlpool has been really sinking time and money into the Cabrio design as the rumor mill has it that in 2012, the basic top load designs such as the K/A's will disappear due to energy guidelines. This means washers like the Cabrio will be W/P's 'bread and butter' in top loaders. The early models have kept me busy but I will be forced to admit that the latest generation (we see them as the Maytag 'Bravos') have been way less troublesome...
RCD
The K/A's are a proven design and are relatively easy to work on. The Cabrio's are bigger capacity and are designed to reduce your utility bills. One reason you have little or no control over the times and temps on the Cabrios are that they are designed to use little water and soap so they have to run longer cycles to achieve decent cleanability.
For what it's worth, Whirlpool has been really sinking time and money into the Cabrio design as the rumor mill has it that in 2012, the basic top load designs such as the K/A's will disappear due to energy guidelines. This means washers like the Cabrio will be W/P's 'bread and butter' in top loaders. The early models have kept me busy but I will be forced to admit that the latest generation (we see them as the Maytag 'Bravos') have been way less troublesome...
RCD
KA toploaders are Whirlpool direct-drive machines of course, but are sort-of collector items now as they're no longer on the market. I've kept my pair bought in 1991.
Cabrios are largely F&P, with some Whirlpool twists.
Cabrios are largely F&P, with some Whirlpool twists.
maytagmightyjj
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- Jul 27, 2008
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Top load design disappearing
Just let me know soon enough so that I can go and buy me a new traditional top loader to have when the one I have now quits---
Just let me know soon enough so that I can go and buy me a new traditional top loader to have when the one I have now quits---
norfolksouthern
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I would opt for the KitchenAid. They have stellar cleaning abilities, and are fairly uncommon. When I think about it, I do have some regrets about selling the one I had. Like DADoES, I believe the KitchenAids will gain in collector value. Some parts can be interchanged with other Whirlpool and Kenmore top loaders, but the transmission and agitator will have to be purchased NOS to keep the machine to specs if you were to replace those.
I would stay clear of the Cabrio because: Apparently, Whirlpool is transitioning to these machines, and they will decrease in value as they become more common. Also, there have been some reliability issues and speculation that they are harder on cloths than a standard DD shredmores. The delicate electronics mandate more attention than one may give to a standard timer. Finally: Twisting and knotting are said to be common in these machines, and some loads may not wash thoroughly due to the slow turnover. If you insist on the Cabrio, then I highly recommend adding an older Maytag set for regular use, as per Toggleswitch2.
One other thing: CHECK UNDER THE HOOD on that KitchenAid. If it has a WHITE agitator, then have the seller demonstrate a heavy cycle. If it agitates as fast as a Kenmore, then you may want to pass on it and look for an older model with a BLUE agitator.
NorfolkSouthern
I would stay clear of the Cabrio because: Apparently, Whirlpool is transitioning to these machines, and they will decrease in value as they become more common. Also, there have been some reliability issues and speculation that they are harder on cloths than a standard DD shredmores. The delicate electronics mandate more attention than one may give to a standard timer. Finally: Twisting and knotting are said to be common in these machines, and some loads may not wash thoroughly due to the slow turnover. If you insist on the Cabrio, then I highly recommend adding an older Maytag set for regular use, as per Toggleswitch2.
One other thing: CHECK UNDER THE HOOD on that KitchenAid. If it has a WHITE agitator, then have the seller demonstrate a heavy cycle. If it agitates as fast as a Kenmore, then you may want to pass on it and look for an older model with a BLUE agitator.
NorfolkSouthern
> Apparently, Whirlpool is transitioning to these machines <
And that's the best news Speed Queen has had in 40 years.
If true, I'd love to know how Whirlpool came to this decision. Reviews on them are almost universally negative.
www.epinions.com
And that's the best news Speed Queen has had in 40 years.
If true, I'd love to know how Whirlpool came to this decision. Reviews on them are almost universally negative.
Shopping Online at Shopping.com | Price Comparison Site
Shopping.com is a leading price comparison site that allows you shop online for the best deals and lowest prices. You can read unbiased product reviews and compare prices online. Online shopping has never been as easy!
www.epinions.com
You are talking about a new "set." Contemplating new appliance purchases can be fun. Can you save your present set? The reason I ask is that I find it nice to use my electric dryers unvented, with a supplemental lint catcher over the end of the vent hose, during the winter to add heat and some humidity to the house. I turn the HVAC system blower on for continuous operation to distribute the heat and humidity when drying clothes. If you could keep using your washer, you would have two washers, which is always better than one. Not only does it distribute the amount of use between two machines, but you also have a spare if, heaven forbid, something goes wrong with one of them. Do you have a garage that you could put the gas dryer in? That way, you could use it, vented, of course, in an unheated/uncooled space so that it would not draw the air that you have paid to heat or cool out of the house. The average vented dryer pulls about 150 cu. ft. of air per minute out of the house while in operation, something to think about if you are trying to save money on utilities.
The Cabrio with the agitator would be more satisfactory, in my opinion, especially with larger loads, than the models without one. The KA set is tried and proven technology, but WP eliminated the spray rinses in the washers a long time ago so I can't tell you that the washer will perform like the original models. If you like the windows, get the Cabrios.
The Cabrio with the agitator would be more satisfactory, in my opinion, especially with larger loads, than the models without one. The KA set is tried and proven technology, but WP eliminated the spray rinses in the washers a long time ago so I can't tell you that the washer will perform like the original models. If you like the windows, get the Cabrios.
