I'm still confused

[supersurgilator]

After looking over the post of the new Whirlpool I can't help but wonder, how exactly is the debut of this machine going to mean the end of the DD machines? All it is is an updated cabrio, and from a link I saw on Whirlpool's website, the starting price is still around $1,000. Am I missing something?

 

[qsd-dan]

how exactly is the debut of this machine going to mean the e

They use a fractional amount of water compared to their DD counterparts. Thanks to the eco natzies, top loaders will no longer submerge clothes in the water.

IMO, a front loader is a much better choice compared to one of these units. That's saying a lot, since I despise front loaders!

 

[dnastrau]

Perhaps the lower cost models...

...may end up being front loaders. However, I can't see Whirlpool being able to sell Duets in the $350 price range where the lower end DD machines (Admiral, Roper, Whirlpool Estate etc.) currently reside. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[mrb627]

Agitator Models

I really expected to see an agitator model similar to the world washer hit the market. Since there is no gearcase, it would be less expensive to build, right?

The American public, in general, would probably be more accepting of a machine with an agitator.

Malcolm

 

[surgilator_68]

The washer has not been released yet and it is not on the web site. So there is no price...

I do believe there will be an agitator model, but I don't know when.

 

[estesguy]

$350 Front loaders ?

I want someone to explain to me why the pedestals these things sit on have to cost $200 each! Talk about overpriced pieces of sheetmetal for an empty box. There won't be any cheaper front loaders, until they get over the greed of charging that much for the pedestals first.

 

[toggleswitch]

Just like VCRs and DVD-players, as the market becomes saturated with this "new product" over time, and the overhead, retooling, engineering, R&D and other manufacturing costs are paid-for, and become less on a per-unit basis (i.e. allocated over a larger number of units) we will see prices drop.

It is inevitable.

I'l be getting my fisrt flat-screen TV next year (or later), just for this reason!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

The reason this new platform is going to mean the end of the DD machines is because that's what Whirlpool is planning.

From what I'm told, DD washers with the name 'Whirlpool' on them are short-lived already, and that DDs will continue for a little while as Estate, Roper, etc. By the time the 2012 energy rules come into effect, the DD will be done.

The only thing I don't know for sure about is the Energy-Star rated DDs. Seemingly they could live on longer, but WP apparently wants to get rid of the manufacturing cost of the DD washers. This is ironic because that was the reason for bringing IN the DDs to take over from the belt-drives.

How things change, and come full-circle.

Gordon

 

[repair-man]

Can anyone shed any light as far as how these new machines operate in comparison to the O/C/B machines. The tub and wash plate look almost the same. The mechanism is certaintly different. It looks like some sort of gearbox ? And there is no recirculating pump.

Thanks, Ed

 

[supersurgilator]

Here is the link to the page I visited that listed the price and talks about the new machine.

http://www.whirlpool.com/assets/pdfs/other/WHP_Cabrio_Announce_PR_2010.pdf

 

[surgilator_68]

That article is for a new cabrio. The machine replacing the DD will not be called the cabrio most likely. And it has a totally different drive system so they would not even share the same name.