New Whirlpool VMW/ Belt drive washers

[norgechef]

I want everyone to give their honest opinion on how they like the new belt drive washers or what they think of them and I don't want anyone smashing peoples posts because they disagree or have a different opinion!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and as we all know some of you love washers most people hate, and the rest of you have generally ok washers that mostly everyone doesn't think much of. I think me liking Norgetag/Maytag performa washers is a perfect example of that.

I will start by saying that im not very impressed with the new belt drive VMW washers. I have tested a Kenmore VMW that my friend owns that he bought new about 2 years ago and has not been very satisfied with it either.

He complains the washer takes too long to start filling and when it does fill it fills very slowly and makes funny noises while filling. He also hates the lid lock that is armed at all times during the cycle. He also says that ever since he bought it it will go severely out of balance every 5 or 6 loads and the drum inside will actually hit the insides of the washer, he says it often tries to self-correct the load but it usually keeps going off balance until he stops the washer, gets the heaviest item and puts it on top of the agitator.

Apparently for the last year or so it has been clunking on the slow down from the spin cycle so he's not sure how much longer it will last, and this is a single person using the washer for 2 years!

Aside from those issues, he also tells me that performance wise the washer does not wash well and that the rinse cycle is very poor on the Normal cycle so he uses the permanent press cycle to get a full rinse.

I know I would avoid getting one at all costs, like I said some people may love them but i'm not one of them and as long as I can I will try to use up all my old washers and then probably buy a Speed Queen so I hopefully wont have to think about buying a brand new washer until at least 2025...or at least I hope so! I'm still waiting for some company to come out with a similar design to the Whirlpool Calypso or Maytag Neptune TL, just something with a neat wash system and a recirculating filter/waterfall.

Anyway, that's an honest owners opinion on the new Whirlpool Belt Drive washers design and performance, what is yours?

 

[DirectDriveDave]

I could easily make a whole post about it. But, I instead made a video in 2011, talking about the differences between the new BD and DD. Watch it whenever ya feel like it. 

 

[norgechef]

Watched that video a few years ago

And couldn't agree more for the most part. And you're right, even if these were reliable washers under the hood you would probably NEVER see one of them last as long as a direct drive because of all the electronics, but I guess durability is not an issue for some people as long as it works for 5 years or so.

However, sadly some people probably won't even get that. I feel really bad for the people who are buying Maytag VMW'S and expecting them to last as long and work as good as original Maytag's. Hopefully people are aware that by now no new appliances will last as long as ones from the 90s did.

New Speed Queen top loaders sure won't last as long as they used to now with the energy saving maximum medium water levels for large loads will be putting quite a strain on the transmission, besides...CEE won't be long shutting that down when they find out people are finding out how to adjust the water level switches on them, im sure some energy efficiency agency will find a way to put a stop to that. If not, Speed Queen top loaders will be done away with in a few years due to energy standards anyway...its quite sad really. Get one while you still can!