Rapunzel ....Good day to you.
I speak for what I see, as I surf many AU shops I see an higher number of front loader models vs. the Top loaders, the top loaders are also often asian pulsator now as autoctone manufacturers got bad, so non-agitator machine, in the recent past you had an higher choice of agitator machines and less asian-like washers, this is a change I've seen happening really recently.
Also, I see an always greater commonnes of newish front loader machines as I surf classifieds, ebay and so forth, they're typically EU kind.
About the plastic tubs of US machines, it actually is only GE/Hotpoint that uses plastic tubs in some models not even all of their line had plastic, all the rest were either stainless or enamel, in the past there was also Westinghouse that used plastic but now is a vanished brand on US market and had not a good rep., whirlpool never used a plastic tub, of course talking about whirlpool we talk of the greater slice of US traditional top load market, so kenmore, roper, estate, Maytag etc; then there are the new HE which are not traditional.
I like enamel, is great, and find it best than many stainless tubs, australian tubs looks so filmsey and are also often welded/assembled with plastic parts, can confirm the same also of many asian-like pulsator machines that are common here too, those machines are toys and not made to last and not even find them good at washing, so quite honestly if I had to chose from a thick US enameled or plastic tub and an Au stainless but filmsey one I'd personally go US tub any day...
Also US machines cost more for 2 reasons, one is that they're built more durable and use better materials, and also are stronger, a model like a Speed Queen will last very very long, second is importing costs, they cost alot here also.
Australia agitator machines had pretty much all from awhile weak motors and lack of gearboxes much earlier than this trend started in the US, back and forth was reached from the motor and you had long slow strokes in many machines, tubs would also index or move along in many models, and again the matrerials were not that good, they're filmsey machines and even though they spin higher I'd not want to deal with one of these newer ones as I don't even like the agitation, different matter was for some of the older 90s ones that seemed still be sort of acceptable but filmsey and plasticky the same VS Us models, even though in the past they seemed anyway a little thicker, as you go back in time you also had stronger machines....
US machines simply are more value, but yes they're expensive and not all can..My opinion...
US He top-loader as I said are not popular there and you only have some models, and that also includes Samsung and LG.
F&P offers an HE model that though goes strong abroad not much there, F&P is probably the TOL autoctone (actually IIRC is NZ) maker, not a case Fisher Pyakel models are sold abroad when ones like say Simpson or Hoover doesn't and never did.
[this post was last edited: 4/1/2015-12:57]