New Maytags at Home Depot

[repair-man]

Stopped to check out some of the new "Maytag" washers and dryers while in Home Depot the other day <br
So strange to see a SS basket in a direct drive. Even more strange to see a plastic basket in a DD Amana <br
But I had to laugh- they still had the old parts comparison board under the lid. The one that compares the heavy Maytag balancing springs to a much smaller Whirlpool spring. It showed how a full base frame machine is better. And even talked about how belt driven machines are better than direct drive machines. I'm sure it was just an unintended oversight or more likely just someone not knowing any better but it sure hit home as to how ironic the whole Whirlpool/ Maytag takeover is. When I had my Maytag stores one of the first things the sales rep did was make us bring in a brand new Kenmore and cut the front out and put it next to a Maytag with the front off. Then the bashing would begin <br
Overall I think the new machines are fairly nice. A little plain but still nice. I never had a problem with the DD machines. As a servicer it was always a dream machine to repair. So more being sold is good to me. Plus I certainly won't miss the Norgetags and especially the Amanatags <br
Ed

 

[gadgetgary]

Ed

Can you please explain the difference between the Norgetags and the Amanatags <br
Do you think the new Maytags have the same fast wash as that of the Whirlpools <br <br
-GadgetSwitc

 

[mrb627]

100 degree arc

According to Maytags specs, they have a 100 degree agitation arc

 

[rp2813]

Agitation Arc

I don't get the feeling that the average consumer, especially the less mechanicaly inclined housewifey types, even pay attention to agitation stroke. I have my '98 Amana pair I'm trying to unload and would love to hype up the long stroke on the washer but feel I'd be wasting my time if I did. These are Raytheon made machines but I don't know who the real parent company was at that time. I've seen statements here that say these Amanas may look like Speed Queens but their mechanics are different/inferior. Much as I loved to hate both of these machines (they replaced a beloved pair of center dials, toughest act to follow in the world of laundering) I feel my Amana washer with ss tub is (gulp) better built than any similar machine you can find new today. Can't say the same for the dryer though. <br
One thing is for certain. It's a whole (sad) new world out there with washers. They've become as much a cheap throw-away item as is a traditional CRT TV, except they don't last as long as a TV anymore. I guess most people feel why buy used when new is cheap enough, not realizing they'll be replacing that new machine sooner than if they had gone for a well-made older used one <br
Great story on the whole nonsensical demo of supposed Maytag superiority. What a tragic mess they made of that company, both Maytag and Whirlpool. Why buy a brand that's known for durability and quality and then badge garbage with it?

 

[repair-man]

Gar <br
I do believe the new Maytags have the exact same agitation as the DD Whirlpool/Kenmores. The part # for the Maytag transmission is one digit different (P/N 3360630 for Maytag & P/N 3360629 for Whirlpool) but if you order one it subs back to the Whirlpool # <br
As far as the difference between Norgetags & Amanatags. One was a 10 year washer and the other a 2 year washer
Seriously, the Norgetags were not that bad. They first appeared with the Maytag name in 1996 and were called "Performa". As a Maytag dealer it was nice at the time to have a washer with features for under $400. Some customers that walked through your door were just not willing to spend $500 + for a 2 speed machine. So if they wouldn't bite on a dependable care (which is always what we showed them first) then you moved them down to performa. But then things got a little confusing in Jan 1999 with the introduction of the Atlantis. Atlantis was priced and featured above dependable care. So selling Maytag was like walking on a high wire with no safety net. The cheapest and most expensive were basically the same insides and same wash baskets (the first year or two of Atlantis didn't even have SS tubs) so when you lifted the lid they looked very similar inside. This was the beginning of the end for dependable care. And ultimately Maytag <br
Amanatags came about in 2001 when Maytag took over Amana. The first series were just rebadged Amana's with the Maytag name. Then eventually in 2003 Maytag changed the design a little. They changed the control panel to match that of the dependable cares, put the norgetag transmission in, and "improved" the triple lip seal. Every one that I ever sold had a lip seal failure. Many had baseframes that cracked. And were generally noisey / flimsy machines. But they were marketed as the main line for a few years. They were priced in line with every other brand. But were absolute junk. So to me a direct drive Maytag is a welcome improvement. In fact I believe a rebadged GE would have been an improvement. This is the point at which I bailed on Maytag. Each new product was a little worse than the one it replaced. And my family was growing and needed more of my time. So I decided to just go back to my service only business. But if I were still selling Maytag today I think it would be better than 5 years ago <br
Ed

 

[mixfinder]

Performa

My mom has a Performa and bought it the first year they were out. The washer did large loads of wranglers and shirts, since my parents own and operate a Rodeo business and mom dressed all the help in matching apparel provided by Wrangler. My mother has develped demenetia in the past several years. She complusively does laundry since then. 8 to 10 loads a day on medium fills with two or three items in it. The washer has never needed a reapair and the matching dryer got a new motor, but it was while the dryer was still under warrantee. In November of 2000 I bought a TOL Atlantis pair. My wife is still using it since the divorce. Neither machine has ever needed a repair and they are still quiet. I guess we have good Maytag karma
Kelly

 

[andrewinorlando]

Kelly - that's interesting info. Like many other "problem" children, not all of them turned out to be complete garbage. Hopefully they'll continue to run trouble free for years to come. And sorry to hear about your mom's dementia...it's an awful disease to cope with, for her and for her family.

 

[andrewinorlando]

Notice that they killed off the dreaded three rack dishwasher from their website?

 

[appnut]

Yeah, Gansky1 mentioned that last night.

 

[DADoES]

Had a brief look at the Whirltags at Sears today. The two upper-end models with satin-metallic panels are nice. The controls have a solid feel. Interesting, there are several extra perfs grouped together at the 90° positions around the top of basket <br
(I just realized that I *totally* forgot to 'scope-out the Kenmore Elite dishwasher drawers while there! Dammnit!)