Opinions? Best cheap new toploader - US made?

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

firedome

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 21, 2011
Messages
2,610
Location
Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT
Need to buy a new TL washer for a rental unit that we plan to dispose of in a few years, hence needs to be cheap like $350-400 and prefer US made and US brand if possible... any opinions? Don't want to deal with used even though I love vintage.
 
New? Cheap? Best? Good? Toploader? US made?
Can't think of results for this equation in today's market.... sorry.

Though you always have second hand sellers, offering excellent older reconditioned machines with different time warranties.
But you don't want to deal with used....

There are still good new toploaders around, Speed Queen is an example...though are not cheap...all the rest of offerings are cheap, yeah...but what you get simply gives me the willies thinking of how laundry may get out of them...not to mention materials....
The "best" among the latests would be Whirlpool made machines, Roper, Kenmore, Admiral...actual whirlpool...you name it.
 
New, cheap, good, top loader, and US made...

Well, the BOL Whirlpool we bought 5 yrs ago for our summer lake place was all of those things, and I'm not exactly a perfectionist when it comes to buying appliances for rental properties, Freddie, I just want a decent new low priced US made TL machine, and I'm sure they are out there. So I'm soliciting informed opinions from those who actually know what is currently out there on our US marketplace.
 
Roper/Estate by Whirlpool - still Direct Drive?

Based on what I am seeing, the Estate by Whirlpool and Roper branded washers are still the old Direct Drive design (no lid lock and no start button - and parts diagrams online show them as DD machines.) They might be worth a look if they are still being made.

The only bad thing that I seem to remember hearing about some of the last DD machines was that the rinse cycle only filled the tub up about halfway - but I think there was a fix for that. Maybe these don't have that problem.

Estate:

http://www.estateappliances.com/sho...100&BaseModel=ETW4400WQ&SpecModelNo=ETW4400WQ

Roper:

 
Excuse me???? :)

Wasn't it you that opened a thread asking for opinions????
I gave mine, the fact I live away doesn't mean I don't know what's offered in US marketplace.
As of today I cannot see newer cheap "decent" toploader machines worth of consideration on salef in the US if not for machines part of the old stock in some remote places, granted that it's not that I considered the 5 years ago ones "good" either, but at least better... some still had a decent wash and rinse level, and some also still filled water hot without mixing it or allowed the user to do the trick of closing cold tap, reduced level and mixing water are things that today's recent electronic models i hope you know do.....
5 years ago is 5 years ago....sadly....
If you are sure that there are newer decent toploaders out there then go and get one......
I couldn't see any.,..according to what I consider "decent"...

Decency is subjective, what may be decent for you may not be for me....and gave you my passionate opinion as you requsted according to what I think....
I told you that among these machines a whirlpool made is what I think would probably go as near to the "decency" and caratheristics you mentioned it must have, but had to be honest about them in the complex and the fact I don't consider them decent to my views..., this is not what I'd get, I'd feel like throwing money down the toilet vs buying something second hand, but you don't wanna deal with used, if you have to buy a washer just to fill a laundry room space then whatever is good, no? But if you ask for the better one among today's " indecencies" ...again...I told you, what I suggest is to get is a whirlpool made machine...you don't have many choices actually, in The US now it's mostly all either Whirlpool or GE made....what changes is just a name....
Did not even consider the cheaper GE 's so hotpoint etc....as what you get a beautiful piece of plastic along with a very limited machine, at least whirlpool still use the damn metal and porcelain for every machine made by them.
If you know you're happy with your 5 years old whirlpool then get another whirlpool like it...if you can still find one easily, as I told most if not all newer ones have either mixed water and limited fill either for wash or rinse....
But
If you don't want opinions don't ask for them..... :D[this post was last edited: 9/23/2014-07:52]
 
FWIW

My mother bought a mid-range Kenmore TL and dryer (probably 5 years ago or less) to replace a "small cube" Frigidaire FL pair. She's been pleased with it and it's been reliable. The only drawback to me is the very loud, very harsh buzzer for the end of cycle--but I think that's on the dryer, not the washer. I think the buzzer can be turned off, but not adjusted. A minor thing, but possibly a concern if there are other apartments that could be disturbed.
 
Can't go wrong with Sears Kenmore for price

and the most amount of features, a fully featured top load washer on sale at Sears will run you about $350.00
Mike

 
1st Kenmore washer mtn1584 listed for $360

 

 

Oooh... check out the cut-away photo, it's a solid tub!  
smiley-tongue-out.gif


 

(ducks & runs)  
smiley-cool.gif
 
I have been buying the Whirlpool VMW machines for my rental properties, and they're good for what they are. However, I'm not too familiar with the competition in that price bracket nowadays. Can anyone comment on how these VMW's would hold up compared to the GE's on the market today, or those Frigidaire/Simpson things?
 
"Those Frigidaire/Simpson Things"

Ah yes, I remember such a "thing" well!

 

Electrolux (or "Electrosux," as they're often known as here) peddle them under the Simpson name. There are an alarming amount of negative reviews on line, because of the recirculating pump that redeposits lint and dirt (and was not filtering it) and a dreadfully ineffective lint filter. 

The re-deposition is collectively known as "Simpson-Snot."

 

The agitation is that direct-drive style outlined in the "Pulsator Washer" thread here in Deluxe now - which is generally effective for turnover, but most people reported poorer than average cleaning with these washers. I don't know how well they stood up/down in "CHOICE" testing, however. 

 

Models sold in Australia are assembled in Thailand, and it shows. Metal hinges for the lid rusting, plastic "etching" and loosing its gloss after just 3 years of ownership. Ours "forgot" about the recirculating pump (which stopped working, and the machine never knew it), which was a water-saving feature.

The machine had issues completing a cycle in early 2011, and had a new lid-lock (Electrocution hazard, replaced with the identical component install backwards) and a "Daughter-Board" fitted. Machine still "hung" for several minutes after the initial fill before continuing with the cycle. 

 

In all honesty, the Whirlpool products are better known for quality in terms of reliability and durability, IMO. I believe Combo52 (John) has sold many of the new Whirlpool washers, and they have been reliable for all accounts. 
 
Back
Top