bingwsguy
Well-known member
Does anyone have an opinion of or experience with this machine? This would be my choice of top loader.
Maytag Commercial MAT15MNAWW
- Thread starter bingwsguy
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300c
Well-known member
I've Read Up on the Machine
I've never used one, but it caught my attention, and I read some reviews and looked at the parts diagram. The reviews are universally good (much better than the Whirlpool GCAM* machines).
Things I liked:
1) Single-piece agitator
2) Simple controls (no confusion on what they do)
3) Has enough features (load-size selection and multiple wash/spin speed options)
4) All mechanical controls
To elaborate on what I liked about the controls: there is a selector for fabric type that determines what the water temp and wash spin/speed combination will be; and since this selector makes the determination, there is no duplication of the choices elsewhere. The cycle dial simply has a range of wash times along with the usual spin-rinse-spin sequence.
The water selector has the two setting I'd be likely to use: half and full. Given the capacity (3.2 cu. ft., or about 12 lb) two or three choices would seem to be enough. Four choices (like in my GE) is potentially confusing.
Finally, there are a number of You-tube videos on the machine. It appears to do a spin drain rather than the typical Whirlpool neutral drain. (It might be that the spin drain is only applicable to older models, but I don't know.)
I'd love to have one of these machines and the matching dryer. They'd go in the 'new' selection of my yet-to-be washer collection.
I've never used one, but it caught my attention, and I read some reviews and looked at the parts diagram. The reviews are universally good (much better than the Whirlpool GCAM* machines).
Things I liked:
1) Single-piece agitator
2) Simple controls (no confusion on what they do)
3) Has enough features (load-size selection and multiple wash/spin speed options)
4) All mechanical controls
To elaborate on what I liked about the controls: there is a selector for fabric type that determines what the water temp and wash spin/speed combination will be; and since this selector makes the determination, there is no duplication of the choices elsewhere. The cycle dial simply has a range of wash times along with the usual spin-rinse-spin sequence.
The water selector has the two setting I'd be likely to use: half and full. Given the capacity (3.2 cu. ft., or about 12 lb) two or three choices would seem to be enough. Four choices (like in my GE) is potentially confusing.
Finally, there are a number of You-tube videos on the machine. It appears to do a spin drain rather than the typical Whirlpool neutral drain. (It might be that the spin drain is only applicable to older models, but I don't know.)
I'd love to have one of these machines and the matching dryer. They'd go in the 'new' selection of my yet-to-be washer collection.
bingwsguy
Well-known member
qualin - If I would buy a new top loader for myself today- this would be it. 300c- yes I agree- the controls look simple and since this is the laundromat version, I suppose it would be durable. Closest thing to my vintage A407- minus the long stroke agitation. Nothing else on the market today gets my attention. I have had front loaders since about 1996- ASKO, BOSCH, SIEMENS- do love them, but the quick cycle time of the top loader is very appealing especially when line drying...when water extraction doesnt really matter to me.
Maytag name outside, WP under the hood. No different than any other WP. Look for a used MAT12 for a real Maytag...
dnastrau
Well-known member
Maypool
Is this a Whirlpool DD or the new Whirlpool electronic belt drive design underneath? Since it is 3.2 cubic feet, I'll bet it is a DD...
Is this a Whirlpool DD or the new Whirlpool electronic belt drive design underneath? Since it is 3.2 cubic feet, I'll bet it is a DD...
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
WTH?
Wow! I've never even seen or heard of this before. It does look like an old fashioned TL washer. It does say beltless so it must be direct drive. It seems to cost as much as a SQ TL washer. If it does a spin drain, that's even better. I wish I could see what the inside looks like.
Wow! I've never even seen or heard of this before. It does look like an old fashioned TL washer. It does say beltless so it must be direct drive. It seems to cost as much as a SQ TL washer. If it does a spin drain, that's even better. I wish I could see what the inside looks like.
~$600.00
How would this washer compare to the Maytag MVWC200XW? They're about the same price.
Other than the control panel, I suspect there isn't much of a difference.
Anyone care to comment?
Other than the control panel, I suspect there isn't much of a difference.
Anyone care to comment?
mrb627
Well-known member
mrb627
Well-known member
Spec Sheet
Here is the specification sheet.
Malcolm
Here is the specification sheet.
Malcolm
mrb627
Well-known member
Interior Pic
According to the Whirlpool archive, this is the interior of that model.
Malcolm
View attachment mrb627++2-27-2012-09-32-2.jpg
According to the Whirlpool archive, this is the interior of that model.
Malcolm
View attachment mrb627++2-27-2012-09-32-2.jpg
mrb627
Well-known member
Control Panel
For posterity.
Malcolm
For posterity.
Malcolm
Maytag Commerical washer [ WP DD washer ]
This is a WP DD washer, it is designed to look like an older MT built Commercial machine. Truth is it would be better than the old MTs it replaced, better performance, better durability and much easier to repair.
But I do not see any advantage in buying this washer for regular home use, it is far less flexible in regard to cycle settings and lacks a dual-action agitator so it will not wash as large a load and will be harder of clothing. This machine also has greatly lowered water levels and either has the VERY low rinse water level or does a spin rinse only.
At this point in time if one wants a traditional TL washer the best bet is to buy a roughly 10 year old KM or WP washer and put it back in tip top shape while all the parts are still available, or buy a new Speed Queen TL washer.
This is a WP DD washer, it is designed to look like an older MT built Commercial machine. Truth is it would be better than the old MTs it replaced, better performance, better durability and much easier to repair.
But I do not see any advantage in buying this washer for regular home use, it is far less flexible in regard to cycle settings and lacks a dual-action agitator so it will not wash as large a load and will be harder of clothing. This machine also has greatly lowered water levels and either has the VERY low rinse water level or does a spin rinse only.
At this point in time if one wants a traditional TL washer the best bet is to buy a roughly 10 year old KM or WP washer and put it back in tip top shape while all the parts are still available, or buy a new Speed Queen TL washer.
ummmm...
No.
While this model is easy to repair, it is loud and rickety just like all WP DD machines. If this model has been taken over by Energy Star requirements, then it has the low water level rinse. A Newton MT is just as easy to repair and you will get a better wash -- but that is the age old WP vs. MT argument. I myself would not have it and I replaced 2 WP DD coin ops in one of my stores with Newton MTs and the customers who use these washers like them much more. The proof is in the coin box.
YMMV
No.
While this model is easy to repair, it is loud and rickety just like all WP DD machines. If this model has been taken over by Energy Star requirements, then it has the low water level rinse. A Newton MT is just as easy to repair and you will get a better wash -- but that is the age old WP vs. MT argument. I myself would not have it and I replaced 2 WP DD coin ops in one of my stores with Newton MTs and the customers who use these washers like them much more. The proof is in the coin box.
YMMV
I can't get over how cheap these machines are. I would have thought that these commercial grade machines would be considerably more expensive than the consumer versions.
When I was growing up, a friend of my mothers had a coin-op solid tub Speed Queen commercial machine in his basement. I asked him about it and he said that he got it really cheap from an old laundromat, he just modified the slider so he wouldn't have to put coins in.
I thought it was really quaint to have a coin-op machine in a normal home, but it did the job quite nicely and worked just fine.
I was kind of under the impression that commercial machines were built to a different standard, rather than just being coin-op versions of consumer machines. Maybe that impression is wrong?
I can't get over even how cheap the front loading commercial machines are, they're even cheaper than Speed Queens. I don't know how an owner would trust their business with them, unless they just couldn't afford to replace a broken machine.
(Maybe Whirlpool prices them cheap because of the volume of machines they produce?) I need some clarification on this! I apologize if I sound ignorant!
Peter, I agree about the higher water levels... I'll gladly take my business to a laundromat which has superior machines.
So, what is the motivation for buying top loaders in a modern laundromat these days? It is just cost and machine density?
When I was growing up, a friend of my mothers had a coin-op solid tub Speed Queen commercial machine in his basement. I asked him about it and he said that he got it really cheap from an old laundromat, he just modified the slider so he wouldn't have to put coins in.
I thought it was really quaint to have a coin-op machine in a normal home, but it did the job quite nicely and worked just fine.
I was kind of under the impression that commercial machines were built to a different standard, rather than just being coin-op versions of consumer machines. Maybe that impression is wrong?
I can't get over even how cheap the front loading commercial machines are, they're even cheaper than Speed Queens. I don't know how an owner would trust their business with them, unless they just couldn't afford to replace a broken machine.
(Maybe Whirlpool prices them cheap because of the volume of machines they produce?) I need some clarification on this! I apologize if I sound ignorant!
Peter, I agree about the higher water levels... I'll gladly take my business to a laundromat which has superior machines.
So, what is the motivation for buying top loaders in a modern laundromat these days? It is just cost and machine density?
mrb627
Well-known member
Cheaper...
While cheaper than you expected, it is quite expensive for a single speed machine. The WP counterpart is a 2 speed machine, has a DAA, and is about 200 cheaper.
Best bet = Speed Queen!
Malcolm
While cheaper than you expected, it is quite expensive for a single speed machine. The WP counterpart is a 2 speed machine, has a DAA, and is about 200 cheaper.
Best bet = Speed Queen!
Malcolm
First, there is no such thing as a commercial grade toploader. They are all domestic toploaders with a coin drop. Considering that the MAT15 is around the $600 mark, it is more expensive than a domestic model, but it is all the same under the hood.
And if a frontload looks like a domestic machine, then it is. Wascomat/Laundrylux has what looks like a domestic machine, but it has absolutely nothing in common with their Frigidaire line. I'm dubious, but they have assured me they are commercial grade and the machine is very beefy under the hood.
There is absolutely no reason to have a toploader in a laundromat any more. The cost of water/sewer is enough to yank them out and put in fronts. Most new stores built today do not have them at all. Customer demand is the only reason to keep them. Very, very few (read: none) store owners will price them according the the utilities they use. I have mine priced the same as my doubleloads at $2.00, and most other owners think I am crazy for doing so (and they also think my .50 upcharge for "super cycle" is crazy).
And if a frontload looks like a domestic machine, then it is. Wascomat/Laundrylux has what looks like a domestic machine, but it has absolutely nothing in common with their Frigidaire line. I'm dubious, but they have assured me they are commercial grade and the machine is very beefy under the hood.
There is absolutely no reason to have a toploader in a laundromat any more. The cost of water/sewer is enough to yank them out and put in fronts. Most new stores built today do not have them at all. Customer demand is the only reason to keep them. Very, very few (read: none) store owners will price them according the the utilities they use. I have mine priced the same as my doubleloads at $2.00, and most other owners think I am crazy for doing so (and they also think my .50 upcharge for "super cycle" is crazy).
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