whirlpool862
Well-known member
The later model years (2008-2010) had a 3.5 cu ft drum. They had the same dual action agitator. Some had fabric softener dispensers some did not.
Is it just me or was the Speed Queen design a fairly generic design back in the day?
- Thread starter whirlpool862
- Start date
I see. How I wish the direct drives remained in production. Silence is violence. Silence is consent. Had people spoken up the direct drive would still be in production today, or better yet Whirlpool would be building an even beefier model to compete with Speed Queen.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
Don’t remember the model numbers but they ended with “VW” and they were the newer WTW models. I do know the Maytag models tho, like the MVWC400VW for example.
The last DDs were awful. Auto sense water level, complex plastic timers, horrible tolerances in the drive components built with worn down tooling. No thanks.
Direct drives peaked in the 90s and early 2000s. After that good lucky.
I see SQ as a rather generic design myself…
Stainless steel tubs and drums only mean your washer or dryer are good for being a planter when the machine is worn out and has to be discarded in ten to fifteen years with only that pristine material to be washed or dried in…
Without the eye-opening catchiness of a GE, the glitz and glamour of anything made by Whirlpool going right into its one new model year after year after another building Kenmores and I completely agree abut lacking the dependability of a Maytag if you’re not getting along with all the frivolous pushbuttons for those temperatures and speeds, even water levels such a pretty machine and reliable enough to run for years, going at least into about five without a single repair!
Stainless steel tubs and drums only mean your washer or dryer are good for being a planter when the machine is worn out and has to be discarded in ten to fifteen years with only that pristine material to be washed or dried in…
Without the eye-opening catchiness of a GE, the glitz and glamour of anything made by Whirlpool going right into its one new model year after year after another building Kenmores and I completely agree abut lacking the dependability of a Maytag if you’re not getting along with all the frivolous pushbuttons for those temperatures and speeds, even water levels such a pretty machine and reliable enough to run for years, going at least into about five without a single repair!
whirlpool862
Well-known member
I like all the direct drives actually. Also, you could still get the non-HE version. Not all of them were auto sensing. Only the fancy energy star versions were. The auto sensing versions weren’t as good but were certainly better than VMW’s. Any direct drive is better than a VMW, even the HE model. I’ll probably get rid of my VMW soon, tho I don’t hate it.
The late 2000s Maytag and Whirlpool direct drives were good in my opinion, tho they weren’t as good as the 1980s to early 2000s ones. I think the best year for direct drives was the 1980s, the late 1990s to 2000s ones were not quite as good.
I don’t find any pre-2010 Whirlpool junk really except for the Calypso and maybe the Duet.
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The 90s early 2000s had the best features, options and realistic cycles. Longevity the were not far from the 80s and early 90s.
DDs that when done to spec were a success that needs to happen again.
DDs that when done to spec were a success that needs to happen again.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
They had the best features. All direct drives were good machines. Direct drives definitely declined as time went on but none of them were bad, although I personally wouldn’t buy a high efficiency model used.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
I don’t think any top load Whirlpool was that bad until 2018. The super big VMAX’s (2015-2020) were bad tho, the 4.7 to 5.3 ones were okay, but the 6.0’s to 6.2’s were bad. The lids on the huge kenmores were known to explode. I’m referring to the 6.0 to 6.2 cu ft models. They were horrible and everything was so undersized on those machines. Whirlpool discontinued the design for good reason.
If I bought a Whirlpool used I’d definitely buy one made before 2010 (and without auto sensing). The early 2010s direct drives weren’t as good as the 90s and 2000s models.
Also, in the mid to late 2000s, direct drives still peaked in popularity and they were probably the most commonly purchased machine. GE model-T’s never sold as well (for good reason), tho apartments installed model-T’s frequently as well as college dorms. They were like the go-to choice for builders.
There was a timeframe when Whirlpool made direct drives and VMWs at the same time, direct drives made in that specific time frame weren’t as good, lower water rinses, fabric softener option. The way to differentiate between theme is the cabinet. The late late direct drives had the same cabinet as the VMW.
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When you say the cabinets were the same, you mean the thickness or coating?
whirlpool862
Well-known member
Yes, the coating and thickness were the same. They even had the same sidings as the earlier pre-2015 VMWs. They had the same indentations.
My VMW has the same sides as the newest drive drive and the same type of cabinet.
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cfz2882
Well-known member
The "Marathon" SQs, introduced around 1981,were a milkstool/ rotating transmission/ clutch belt design actually quite similar to a Franklin design except all metal and no indexing basket/6 way wash action 
I have an '82 and '84 in collection: quite loud, especially the '82 with metal idler vs plastic on the '84. These can fail to spin if belt slips just a little too much as brake won't release. Also i do not know who made the timers on early 1980s marathons, but timers have acted up on both machines: find washer stopped full of water, touch knob and starts back up to complete cycle ...
I have an '82 and '84 in collection: quite loud, especially the '82 with metal idler vs plastic on the '84. These can fail to spin if belt slips just a little too much as brake won't release. Also i do not know who made the timers on early 1980s marathons, but timers have acted up on both machines: find washer stopped full of water, touch knob and starts back up to complete cycle ...
That is not correct. The Neptune FRONTLOADER was touted as an HE machine immediately upon introduction, with HE detergent advised. I have a promotional VHS tape that includes a coupon for Wisk HE liquid detergent and a brochure that describes it (the original model MAH3000) as such.
The "Marathon" SQs, introduced around 1981,were a milkstool/ rotating transmission/ clutch belt design actually quite similar to a Franklin design except all metal and no indexing basket/6 way wash action
Do the 82s and 84s have two belts on them?
panasonicvac
Well-known member
My old Maytag Neptune front loader had to only use HE detergent so Glenn is correct. For an HE machine, I thought it was excellent. Still miss it to this day.
cfz2882
Well-known member
#44,two belts. Two section pump-drain section almost identical to MT DC. Porcelain basket o the '82, stainless steel on '84. I have 2 '84s actually,one is a parts machine with badly corroded hub that cause runout of SS basket to point that agitator wore a groove through it- the other 2 Marathons basket runs true. GE motor on the '82 and 7-'84 parts machine, 2-'84 build has Emerson motor.
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