Top loading agitator washers may be less to buy but eat up more of your hard earned money because they use 3 times more water,3 times more detergent,bleach and fabric softener and almost 3 times more electricity to run than a front loader that not only uses a lot less water,additives and electricity but will wash items you'd never think of washing in a machine like tennis shoes,pillows,sleeping bags,tents,area rugs,stuffed toy animals and queen to king size bedspreads.Cleaner clothes,less ware and tare,less water,less energy and better results.top loaders are easy to overload where as a front loader has a special angled/recessed window.If you have overloaded them,the door won't close and it will not come on. No transmission means less possible breakage.Either direct drive or belt drive and a hell of a lot quieter than any top loading washer.I am seeing some of the Whirlpool Duets for $499/washer and $499 electric dryer.