CU's new Washer tests

[tolivac]

WOW!!!I went thru a time warp-is it Feb 2009 already? thats the date marked on the newest issue of consumer reports containing their newest washer reviews.Any other applianceville members seen these?Lets see-on FL washers they liked the Samsung and GE's the best.The last on their list is the Asko.CU showed some concern about the longer wash cycles of FL machines and clothes wear.They also mentioned mold problems in FL washers.CU noticed that Asko and an LG FL washer shook more than most in their spin cycles.
On TL washers they rated the WP Cabrio as the best.Next was a FP "Aquasmart" model.Funny they rate FP washers as lowest in reliability and frequency of repair.They "check Rate" A GE model and a Maytag.Lowest on their list was a Frigidaire.

 

[frigilux]

I'm glad they've added the spin/vibration component to their test. The floor in my laundry room is a concrete slab, so it isn't an issue; however, many people have laundry on the first or second floor, where it's going to make a big difference.

Yes, the lowly Frigidaire came in last once again. I have no problem getting extremely stained loads of kitchen whites sparkling clean in mine. I don't understand why the cycle time is so short on the tested model---only 30 minutes. I'm sure the cycle time, using a 15-minute wash on the Whites cycle, is longer than that. I'll have to time it when I wash a load later, today.

 

[ronhic]

Interesting

Here is the excerpt from Choice's December survey....and their recommended models...

What to buy

Brand Price

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small (up to 5.5 kg)
Fisher & Paykel MW512 (tp) $749
Fisher & Paykel GW512 (tp) $859
--------------------
Medium (6 to 7 kg)
Asko Quattro W6362 (fr) $2199
Miele W3725 Honeycomb Care (fr) $1999
Fisher & Paykel GW612(tp) $969
--------------------
Large (7.5 kg or more)
(A) Fisher & Paykel Aquasmart WL80T65CW1 (tp) $1399
(A) Fisher & Paykel Aquasmart WL80T65DW1 (tp) $1329
NEW Bosch Logixx 8 WAS28440AU (fr) $1949

And their reliablity table

Percentage not needing repair
All machines (7000) 90
Bosch (328) 97
Miele (432) 95
Simpson (754) 92
Samsung (237) 92
Fisher & Paykel (1805) 90
Westinghouse (260) 89
Whirlpool (697) 88
Asko (296) 88
LG (698) 87
Maytag (207) 85
Kleenmaid (130) 83
Ariston (127) 77

The figure in brackets is the number of subscribers reporting on this brand purchased in or after 2000.
These figures have been statistically adjusted for the age of the appliances.
Differences of 9% or more are statistically significant.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Percentage who would buy the same brand again
All machines (7001) 86
Miele (433) 97
Bosch (331) 94
Fisher & Paykel (1816) a 90
Asko (299) 89
Westinghouse (264) 87
Kleenmaid (129) 87
Simpson (756) 85
Samsung (238) 84
Whirlpool (688) 81
LG (701) 81
Maytag (206) 70
Ariston (126) b 62

21% of F&P owners would not buy again as it is too expensive to repair...and Ariston owners commented that it breaks down too often!

If Choice had issues with the functioning of a machine it would not have been made a 'best buy'. My mothers earlier version of the ASKO, her ASEA Cylinda 12000 never moved as much as 1/4 inch whilst being used in 19 years.

 

[laundramatt]

Did Speed Queen go out of business?

 

[rapunzel]

Did Speed Queen go out of business?

No, they are re-named and sold under the Kleenmaid brand name here in Oz. One can get domestic washers from Speed Queen (Alliance Laundry)directly. Though, Kleenmaid is widely recognized as a premium domestic brand.

 

[jeffg]

> Did Speed Queen go out of business?

No, they're just being ignored as usual. A company has to have a certain amount of market share to be included in CR's reviews. Silly, eh? Meanwhile, CR claims the Cabrio -- an absolute disaster of a washer -- ranked highest among top loaders in their tests.

I almost prefer it this way. Speed Queen remains a little known and not-so-widely available secret weapon for consumers who do have a clue.

 

[frigilux]

I don't understand why they test the Speed Queen front-loader, but not the top-loader.

They certainly seem to test every possible permutation of the Whirlpool-built top-loaders: Roper, Estate, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag...

 

[georgect]

I wish they would have included the new Eletrolux's.

 

[frigilux]

I timed a load in my two year-old Frigidaire top-loader, using hot water and the Whites (Normal) cycle for the maximum wash time (15 minutes).

The buzzer, which unlocks the lid, sounded at 52 minutes on the clock. You will recall there is no tub brake on these machines, so an extra 3 minutes of coasting time is tacked on at the end of the cycle before the lid unlocks.

I checked the owner's manual for the model CR tested (FWS1233F), and it looks like the cycle should time-out the same as mine. CR says it rounds the cycle time listed in their test to the nearest 5 minutes, which would make it 50 minutes.

How on earth do they get a cycle time of 30 minutes?!