Even though you are coming from what amounts to a Bottom-of-the-Line Maytag, I would still recommend spending the little extra money on a machine that has the choice of slower agitation and/or spin speeds, along with the extra-rinse function, depending on your mindset and your house's waters supply:
When you consider you might have clothing that is more susceptible to damage than others - the extra speed selection will save you on clothes bills since the agitator won't be beating the clothes into submission (as much).
If you have an "abundant" supply of Well-Water, then I wouldn't be too concerned about the comments on the extra water usage seen with Extra Rinses.
If the supply can get sketchy under high-load situations, I would be more inclined to lean towards the FL machines, but I (personally) find the SQ ones are slightly lacking in terms of the control they offer the user - Compared to their traditional TIMER-based TL machines, I consider them inferior...
Even though the FL isn't very customisable, you can alter the water level set by the factory by adjusting the water pressure switch under the cover. This would give better rinsing than the two default rinses and "suds flush" between distributing-spins the machine does.
So, you can get more rinses for far less water expended AND dryer clothes to boot at the end of the cycle. If you use a tumble-dryer this means BIG SAVINGS!
I'm not sure about the cleaning power of the FL machines SQ offers, especially with the way the Water Inlets are likely to be setup, and the lack of heater.***
But, if you keep your water heater reasonably hot (from around 140º) this should be enough on the Warm/Hot settings to combat most of the " cold thermal mass" of the washer and accompanying laundry.
If you end up "pining" for a true hot-wash, then you can start the machine empty on a "hot" cycle, cancel after the machine fills, add laundry and start over. No, not exactly "automatic," but its better than "Eco-Mandated" "hot" you'll find on a lot, if not ALL other machines on sale today.
*** Several members on the forums here have the Speed-Queen-FL machines, and have been quite pleased with their laundering ability, especially given hot water and a GOOD detergent. Some loads, like loads of Whites, might need some Chlorine-Bleach to help things along a bit.
At least in the U.S., the FL machines SQ offers wash very quickly, so that's your tradeoff: Eco-Mandated machines that take 1:30hrs (or more) and clean well, having followed instructions or machines that don't take quite as long, but might not clean as well. The exception, of course, is the Top-Loader, which from the reports stated around here seem capable of doing most loads of laundry very well in a very reasonable amount of time (with reasonably large quantities of water).
I'll add here, since it might be useful, if you already have a 240v electrical supply at your house, depending on service availability, you should be able to get your hands onto a European-style Front-Loader.
The added voltage is of GREAT benefit to these machines, as they can heat the water from tap-cold to near boiling, or anything cooler in very reasonable amounts of time. You also get a "profiled" wash, thanks to the cold-inlet and gradual heating to high temperatures.
Given proper understanding of one of these machine's operation, and thus a correct understanding of how to effectively utilise this sort of machine, then I would hazard to suggest you could probably get better cleaning than either of the SQ offerings around the same price-point.
At least here in Australia, buying the Miele washer was (from memory) about $200 cheaper than the SQ-TL machine, and about $300-$400 cheaper than the FL machine.
When you consider you might have clothing that is more susceptible to damage than others - the extra speed selection will save you on clothes bills since the agitator won't be beating the clothes into submission (as much).
If you have an "abundant" supply of Well-Water, then I wouldn't be too concerned about the comments on the extra water usage seen with Extra Rinses.
If the supply can get sketchy under high-load situations, I would be more inclined to lean towards the FL machines, but I (personally) find the SQ ones are slightly lacking in terms of the control they offer the user - Compared to their traditional TIMER-based TL machines, I consider them inferior...
Even though the FL isn't very customisable, you can alter the water level set by the factory by adjusting the water pressure switch under the cover. This would give better rinsing than the two default rinses and "suds flush" between distributing-spins the machine does.
So, you can get more rinses for far less water expended AND dryer clothes to boot at the end of the cycle. If you use a tumble-dryer this means BIG SAVINGS!
I'm not sure about the cleaning power of the FL machines SQ offers, especially with the way the Water Inlets are likely to be setup, and the lack of heater.***
But, if you keep your water heater reasonably hot (from around 140º) this should be enough on the Warm/Hot settings to combat most of the " cold thermal mass" of the washer and accompanying laundry.
If you end up "pining" for a true hot-wash, then you can start the machine empty on a "hot" cycle, cancel after the machine fills, add laundry and start over. No, not exactly "automatic," but its better than "Eco-Mandated" "hot" you'll find on a lot, if not ALL other machines on sale today.
*** Several members on the forums here have the Speed-Queen-FL machines, and have been quite pleased with their laundering ability, especially given hot water and a GOOD detergent. Some loads, like loads of Whites, might need some Chlorine-Bleach to help things along a bit.
At least in the U.S., the FL machines SQ offers wash very quickly, so that's your tradeoff: Eco-Mandated machines that take 1:30hrs (or more) and clean well, having followed instructions or machines that don't take quite as long, but might not clean as well. The exception, of course, is the Top-Loader, which from the reports stated around here seem capable of doing most loads of laundry very well in a very reasonable amount of time (with reasonably large quantities of water).
I'll add here, since it might be useful, if you already have a 240v electrical supply at your house, depending on service availability, you should be able to get your hands onto a European-style Front-Loader.
The added voltage is of GREAT benefit to these machines, as they can heat the water from tap-cold to near boiling, or anything cooler in very reasonable amounts of time. You also get a "profiled" wash, thanks to the cold-inlet and gradual heating to high temperatures.
Given proper understanding of one of these machine's operation, and thus a correct understanding of how to effectively utilise this sort of machine, then I would hazard to suggest you could probably get better cleaning than either of the SQ offerings around the same price-point.
At least here in Australia, buying the Miele washer was (from memory) about $200 cheaper than the SQ-TL machine, and about $300-$400 cheaper than the FL machine.
Also, there is a long delay (IMHO) between final spin and second rinse. 
