Compared to my new 432,
I think this would satisfy me equally well. I haven't rigged the lid as I get no sexual thrill from watching the agitator.
I really liked the design shown in the videos by Rivas, saved those to a hard drive. I like the simplicity, even though I'm not a washer repairman. I like simple durability.
How many on here piss and moan because their vehicles have electronics driving them now? How many on here have replaced their fuel injection systems with carburetors? How many on here remember exactly how much fun those carburetors were to deal with, in the 1970's with tightening emission standards?
I just got rid of my Frigidaire Affinity FL two months ago while it was still running because no repairman could figure out how to make it consistently run through its whole cycles without stopping 50% of the time before the final rinse and spin. And yes, it had every damn circuit board replaced more than once.
Like dishwashers, electronics seem almost a contradiction in terms when one views the heat and wet environment in which they must live. However, weird nostalgia doesn't butter the toast. The issue these days seems to be, again, how much electronic construction is necessary, as opposed to toys for the younger generation.
I still question whether my beloved 1977 Filter-Flo set in avocado didn't wash as well as this new SQ 432 that I bought in October; I don't think so, it certainly got my whites white and cleaned beautifully all the clothing from a very outdoor/camping/athletic lifestyle. I don't think this new SQ dryer does a whit better than that GE BOL dryer, either. I'd love to have them back, single speed and all. But then, I'd love to have my 1951 Lincoln back that I drove in high school; I'd love to have my 1959 Isetta that I also owned then. I'd love to have the 1965 Olds 98 convertible that I owned in college, or the 1972 Buick GS convertible, or certainly the 1965 VW Beetle in white with red interior that I bought in the mid 70's with only 30K miles on it (sister totaled it in Austin on an icy street when I loaned it to her).
What still disappoints me about this site is that so many people on here are so damned pessimistic. Frankly, I avoid people who are downers in my daily life 'cause they have no real basis for it. Study after study has shown that in situations where there are good and bad outcomes, that the good outcome generally occurs around 55% of the time. So why the whining?
These people at Alliance, according to the Rivas videos, spent 3 years designing this machine. I believe they didn't design it to not wash as well. I believe they wouldn't be introducing it if it didn't, and certainly not with a 7-year warranty. They could've just kept the old machine, ditched the mech timer setup, and modified what was left to accommodate the new standards. I see no evidence that anything was done to make it cheaper to produce or less durable--which appears the case with most of its competitors.
So again--why the long face? Just 'cause it isn't the one that June Cleaver used?