Neither top load nor front load washers jive well with constant cold water washes. Top loaders are just more forgiving....for awhile. If you run a cleaning cycle on the front loader twice a month, you'll probably have a cleaner outer drum than the DD....which is very notorious for buildup at the very top (thanks to the neutral drain) and bottom of the outer plastic tub, especially with cold washes.
I have clothes I've been washing in a Maytag top loader (and drying) for 32 years (same slim figure the entire duration). They are not worn out yet and that includes 120F warm washes, spray rinses, and deep rinses. A front loader will be significantly gentler on your clothes compared to a DD.
