To JSneaker
I thought I should just counter your response.
I own a Huebsch, which is the Canadian equivalent of Speed Queen, so I've got first hand experience owning one. It doesn't have the spin-balance problems your Samsung does, it "Just does it" regardless of what's in the tub.
The reason why these machines are so expensive is because of the quality of the components they use inside of the machines. The PDF file I'm including in the link is for Huebsch, but it's from the same manufacturer. You can vastly see a difference between the comparison between a Whirlpool FL and a Speed Queen FL. The high price is for all of the extra steel they are using inside the machines.
Cost shouldn't be a factor when deciding on purchasing a machine. Buying a cheaper machine now could cost one more in the long run. What one should look for is quality, durability, functionality, supportability, effectiveness and usefulness. Out of all of those things, there are very few manufacturers which come out on top.
As for their limited flexibility, Mine has only a few cycles. Regular, Permanent Press, Delicates/Bulky, Rinse and Spin and Spin Only. That's all we really need.
As far as my Huebsch is concerned, it fills up to a preset level and then as the load absorbs the water, the washer adds more to fill up to that predetermined level. There isn't a need for a separate towels cycle because it's all automatic, like it should be.
Another thing you mentioned was that most front loaders take an hour or more to wash. My Huebsch does a regular load in 40 minutes. If I want an extra rinse, it takes 45 minutes. That's only 15 minutes slower than my old top loader. They don't call them "Speed Queen" for nothing.
I think at first the limited flexibility of the cycles is an initial turn off, but when you think about it, how many cycles do you really need anyway? A front loader is very easy on clothing, so the need to have different cycles isn't as necessary as one would need with a Top loader. For example, the Delicates cycle on my Huebsch has a noticeably shorter tumble in each direction and the pulse spin / final spin is slower. It cleans woolens without felting them. That's what we need.
My only beef with my Huebsch is that I wish it did have some kind of a setting which would allow for a high water level so I could get better cleaning action with comforters. Other than that, it still gets my comforters wet and that's good enough for me. (A friends LG had a water level so low, the center of my comforter was dry in the middle. We had to wash it again using the water+ option and that helped.)
Sorry to hear about your issues with Electrolux. My father bought one of their upright vacuums back in 1985. It's been nearly indestructible. My Mom still uses it, I recall it set my father back around $2k in mid 1980's dollars. You get what you pay for!
As for the Miele's, they are fairly expensive but I think that's because they come imported from Europe, so there are extra costs involved. I'd probably recommend the Miele W3033 washer and the T8003C, but keep in mind that these are European capacities, which means the washer has only a 2.52 cu.ft tub capacity.
The way I see it though, the Speed Queens are better value for the money over a Miele. However, if having lots of cycles is your thing, then I'd pick a Miele.
If you were going to stack Miele's, make sure that the appliance shop you buy them from can professionally install them for you so they're stacked properly.
home.huebsch.com
- check out the video link I provide below - this is a queen size thick blanket and you can see the W3033 handles it with ease, and uses more than double what most front loaders on the market today use here in the US.
