Speed Queen top loader review / Consumer Reports.org

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mtn1584

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I was bored and googled SQ top load washer reviews, and stumbled upon a new reivew of SQ lastest TOL TL, (Consumer Reports.org) which I own and love. It seems like CR did not give it a good review. They also reviewed some other new washers also. Is it me, or is CR biased? I think my SQ is the best built American made TL on the market, with a super strong warranty, longer than any other brand, true commercial construction, and great capacity and washability why would CR give this machine a bad review? This pisses me off because I really believe in this product, and I hope this does not hurt Speed Queen's sales or reputation. I know other club members feel this way also. I would suggest writing to CR as someone already has, to let them know how we feel, and to support this great product.
Thanks
 
Come on folks...what the hell do you expect? This is the same magazine that rated the Magic Chef (GE clone) dishwasher with plastic interior and center wash tower with no filtration as highly for overall performance as they did the KitchenAid Superba dishwasher back in the late 1980s. Enough said.....

This is the same magazine that tested top load washers with average 8 pound washloads to develop their performance ratings until some genius figured out that this is probably not the way most folks do laundry, and that if one is buying a large capacity washer, there is probably a reason for that (and its not to wash an 8 pound load of clothes).

And for the record, Whirlpool front loaders and Whirlpool dishwashers are anything but junk, judging by the KitchenAid dishwasher I recently bought at Lowe's Labor Day sale, since it was time for a new toy for the kitchen...and it is one of the best cleaning dishwashers I have used....as good as the LG, and as good as the GE tall tub I had. The KitchenAid has the ProScrub option which, I must say, does exactly what it says it is supposed to do. The only thing the LG beats it at is capacity volume and overall solid "feel". Everything fits in an LG, and its steam option can clean grease off an engine, similar to the KA ProScrub option. But very, very happy with the KitchenAid - quiet, fast, and very nice looking machine.

Will post machine specs in separate thread.
 
I agree, I think these are gerat machines. I subscribe to CR and use them as a guideline, not the Bible.

If you are happy, that is all that matters.

However....most of the NEW toploaders did not get a great rating for washing performance.

The frontloaders did. I am looking at a Spped Queen frontloader now.
 
They (CR) are definitely biased against traditional top load washers. I know front load he washers use less water and energy, but I like to wash with more than a teaspoon full of water and a capfull of detergent. I wonder how much longer Americans will be able to purchase traditional top load washers.
 
The top loaders I think were better years ago. They filled all they way up, they hard long spray rinses, (which is needed to get rid of all the high sudsing detergent). Now, I think for the most part, there are no more spray rinses on the top loaders and they may not fill all they way up

Does your new Speed Queen do any spray rinses?

If I were to get a top loader it would be a Speed Queen.

However, I have to say having many machines througout the years, I think the front loaders do a much better job washing and rinsing.
 
My SQ fills to the top row of holes after I adjusted the screw on the back of the machine. It does have spray rinses as well between the wash and rinse cycle.
 
Top Loaders Need Water

Lots of it to do the job correctly. Sadly with all new energy mandates from the federal and in some cases local governments, top loading washing machines are going the way of the Dodo.

The only way around one can see is to either attempt to tweak water levels, or launder less than recommended amoung of laundry per water ratio so there is enough water to get the job done properly.

Funny how persons say CR is biased against top loaders, time was we would have heard another story from CR about front loaders. In short CR disliked them, as nearly as much as they did Euro dishwashers with manual clean filters, but that bit has changed as well.

IMHO if anyone wants a decent top loading washing machine, they really are much better off with a vintage unit.

Just my two cents.

L.
 
i heard a couple of years ago CR got paid off to recommend asian cars, it seems to me they highly rate whirlpool appliances, i KNOW for a fact the newer wp dishwashers and front loaders by wp are junk, it ALSO pisses me off that CR would do that about the speed queens, what? beacuse they are made in AMERICA and not in a slave shop????? i wonder if speed queen can sue them for giving them a bad reputation.
 
Consumer Reports often lacks in credibility. Just look at the top-rated Whirlpool Calypso, which many people demonize as "Colapsos". I know of one that has appeared several times on Craigslist, which is now marked down to $80.00. I'm waiting to see if he finds a buyer. If not, then I may just swoop in and pick it up for scrap. Or, maybe I'll fix it up if I can find a cheap pump.

The trouble with today's highly regarded electric gadgets, is that they can fail. But many personal computers keep going for years, even decades, so I won't always fault the electrical components. The real problem, however, points to the engineering and mechanics. There are a lot more parts to remove and diagnostics to be made in order to get to a specific cause, and simplicity lacks. Hence, a technician is usually called to fix what ever breaks. These machines often cannot be serviced by the consumer. They are designed to be REPLACED instead!

Back to the Speed Queen. My own observations of Alliance's offerings, is that they are all very solid. Unlike the plastic GEs and fragile Cabrios, or the plastic Boschs, they appear to be designed to last through many years, or even decades of use. Speed Queens will continue to hold their value far longer than any fancy front loader on the market. And, I do feel that Speed Queen makes a much better front loader than other manufacturers because they are not nearly as finicky with detergents. And this is in spite of the lack of an internal water heater. You can run smaller amounts of regular detergent through a Speed Queen front loader, but trying that with a Duet will most likely void the short warranty!

NorfolkSouthern
 
What perturbs me most about Consumer Reports is that we live in a culture where the majority of consumers rely soley on information posted in their mag. I work for Oreck. Oreck makes a vacuum in the US with a ten year warranty. It's called the Platinum. CR rated this vac #10 or #11. I personally know that this vac is not only an excellent vac, it can easily be repaired and will last at least 15-20 years with scheduled tune-ups. CR rates either a Kenmore or Hoover made in China #1, and people flock to stores to purchase these unrepairable units because CR said they are #1 or #2.
I basically take what they say with a grain of salt, but I know alot of the buying public won't even look at an Oreck, or Speed Queen simply because CR rated them as only average, because they don't have the short lived bells and whistles that other units have.
I'm just sayin'.......That's all!
 
I don't recall vintage Speed Queen washers getting rave reviews at CR, either. Nor did they get particularly high scores for reliability.

My Frigidaire top-loader gets scores that make the Speed Queen's look stellar, and I still like my washer. It cleans very well with soft water and a top-notch detergent. It's a big ol' hunk of cheap white plastic compared to a Speed Queen, but it was half the price, too.

If I were to replace my indexing Frigidaire, I'd choose a Speed Queen. I like traditional slow-stroke agitation and a stainless steel tub. I believe most GE top-loaders are now slow-stroke Hydrowave's, as well.
 
im not sure what month the review was, i was at the dentist. and CU had reviewed washers and acknowledged the Maytag Centennial with its semi retro styling. CU stated the only thing retro about the Maytag was its energy consumption. I think launderess is right. To gain favor they must use about 5 gallons of water and no more electric than a night light. alr2903
 
CU is PU

As usual, they're full of it. Apsolutely the Speed Queen top loaders are FAR and AWAY the very best top loaders today. They balance washability with gentleness, something unachievable with DD Whirlpools and have the best warrantys on this planet.They are the closest thing in quality to the old helical drive Maytags that we'll ever see again. They're as gentle as a dove,as strong as an ox,and as reliable as an old steam locomotive.
 
Consumer Reports is no longer very accurate

I subscribe to Consumer Reports.org and find them to do a sloppy job of reviewing products now. Most of the time, they can't even correctly list the features of a machine. And one of the craziest things I've ever seen is they reviewed 2 Maytag model washers-- same washer except one had an extra rinse feature and they had totally different ratings as to washing performance etc. There is no way those two machines cleaned differently. So I don't pay them much attention anymore-- I but what I like and am pleased with. I trust everyones opinion here much more than theirs.
 
Speaking from a technician's point of view, I hope these Alliance Speed Queens hold up better than their predecessors. I'm talking about BEFORE the Amanatags with the plastic outer tub.10 years seems to be how long they lasted before leaking. These washers were prone to chewing up belts and brake pads. And the tub seals would eventually leak and wet damage bearings below. Hope that doesn't happen with these machines. Time will tell. I will admit they are well built machines, but difficult to service.
 
Confusing

I feel I would be better served if Consumer Reports rated items by manufacturer and left the brand name off. Then we'd be able to know which machine were advisable under a brand. I would also like it better explained that occluded part numbers and Kenmore specific repair services can be less satisfying.
 
I agree with John,

We've had the SQ TL machines here since the late 80's branded as Kleenmaid, and the maximum age is about 10 years before the lower seal fails and you're up for a full dissasemble and $200AUD in parts.

If you dont notice the water damage when it first starts, it can take out the quick connect connector for the motor (Shorts and Melts) and in some instances the motor as well.

If you ever needed anything more than a belt change here, they're not usually cost effective to repair.

Hopefully the seal has been redesigned and they'll be good for more than 10 years now.

Otherwise the concept is good and they do a great job, its good to see a competitor to the DD design.
 
Brisnat, my Amana started leaking at 7 years. It was the most expensive washer i have ever owned. The real heart breaker is the seal was cheap the labor was ridiculous, just as you posted. alr2903
 
Must be pot luck!

My first Kleenmaid branded Speed Queen lasted 20 years. My in-laws have had theirs for 19 years now and apparently never had any problems.

At my work we have another one that must be at least 20 years old and is used no less than half a dozen times every day. It gets serviced in-house by our own maintenance guy and I've only known it to have broken down once in the six years I've been there.
 
While it is true that CU did not like tumbler washers from their introduction until the mid 60s, a lot of it had to do with the performance of the low-sudsing detergents available at the time and the very small tubs in the machines. By 1964 or 65, they rated the straight front Westinghouse average in cleaning ability and we never had complaints with the cleaning ability of ours. Of course, detergents had been improving also so maybe that helped.

I believe that they could bring more expertise to their ratings and maybe a little less bias. For years they pushed the 6 cylinder engine in Toyotas saying it gave a smoother operation to the car. I always bought the 4 cylinder to save gas and never noticed rough motor operation. It is possible that with trying to achieve lower hot water usage and lower overall water consumption, the performance of top loaders has fallen. It is true that they do not spin as fast as many front loaders, but many front loaders don't spin all that well in the rinsing phase so their rinsing is sometimes not that great, but CU was not usually concerned with rinsing performance.

What specifically did CU say about your new SQ that you disagree with?
 
~Consumer Reports often lacks in credibility.

I lost all faith in them years ago when they downrated Maytag (classic) Dependable Care washers becasuse they don't have a "lip" around the top to contain water.

I mean REALLY!!! Of ALL the criteria in the world, this is the most minor one of all.

I read their magazine second-hand (I won't give them one red cent of my money), and even then it's just good for a laugh.
 
CR is SUPER Inaccurate....

I can't believe anyone would/should believe in a magazine that states it test so thoroughly, but apparently cannot bother to notice the basics like YES, the Speed Queen DOES HAVE a bleach dispenser (doh!) and NO, it does NOT come with a ONE year warranty, but rather a industry-leading THREE YEAR warranty (double doh!). So much for thorough reviews.

Actually we have CR to thank - after following it's advice to dive into Cabrio purgatory, we have climbed out and are now the soon-to-be proud owners of a pair of 2009 Speed Queens! They will be delivered next week and we can't wait.

I have this website to thank for all the great pictures, action shots, and discussions that helped us make the decision. Frankly, the last I had heard of Speed Queen was in the 1980s. I called my aunt to see if she still had her Speed Queen and she had just bought a new Roper (omg) and given the Speed Queen pair to her daughter. The appliance store where she'd purchased the original SQ said they weren't made anymore and talked her into a Roper. Her Speed Queens were 31 years old and had only had a pump replaced back in the 1990s. I guess the wood grain control panel didn't match her newly remodeled kitchen. :)

I also was very impressed with the customer service of Speed Queen HQ as they patiently answered any questions that I had, sent me the parts and troubleshooting manuals via e-mail, and spoke of some of the history of the machines. According to them, the washer's last "major" redesign was in the late 1990s, and the dryer hasn't had a major redesign in 24 years. <!> If it ain't broke... I'm just glad they have the new controls panels...as 90s as they are, they are still an improvement. I told the guy they should bring back some of the style they SQ's had in the 60s, etc. He chuckled and pretty much said they're pretty stodgy on design. I did order the cool color (red) inserts for the knobs...we'll see how they turn out. And I've ordered the "Crown" badge/logo that is usually on the front left of SQ cabinets, but missing on these models for some reason.

I'm also thrilled to have a great 210º agitator with long sweep action than the corkscrews we've dealt with for the past twenty years. Looking forward to a non-dancing washer during spin and some soothing old-school washer noises. No more chug-chug-chug-chug-chug-chug for me!

Don't get me wrong, we've had excellent service from Whirlpool for 30 years, but the Cabrio turned out to be a deal breaker lasting only until the warranty was up (the lid started rusting, but was "patched up" by the 2nd repair man - the first never showed up). We checked out the newer machines and hate the "sensor" technology, etc. I'm perfectly capable of determining water levels and wash types myself, thank you.

My local dealer was great. Her knowledge of SQ was a little lacking as she's not been a dealer but for 1.5 years, but they made up for that in service. Although they are 40 miles away, I performed the entire transaction over the phone. The dryer is going to be customized for a left vent option (never even knew such a thing was possible! Thanks SQ!), they are going to reverse the door and install it--all at the whopping charge of $35. Wow. I don't even have to pay for it until it arrives at the house. Amazing. Take that Home Depot/Lowe's! The dealer and the service I received from SQ made the decision easy...and I feel great in supporting a local dealer and supporting a legendary American company (insert flag waving here). lol

Something I found interesting. According to the manual, you must fill the tub with at least 1 quart of water. I'm guessing this primes the pump. Never heard of that--but will be sure to do it before the first use. Another great SQ benefit--very detailed and useful owner's manuals.

Anyway, just wanted to throw out an initial post as I just registered for the site--along with a "thank you" for all the great info!
 
Congatulations on your new SQ purchase

You will be very pleased with your machines, I love mine so much, I bought a set for my mom three months after I had mine delivered. Best of luck to you.
Mike
 
Dan, welcome to the SQ club. If you have any questions when you get the set, let us know.
 
Congrats on the decision to purchase the SQ's!

Hey Dan,

You made a wise choice! You're going to have years of trouble free service from an excellent company that truly backs their products with the best warranty in the business! I've been thinking about purchasing my 3rd SQ washer when the laundry room gets a newer remodel. We certainly have the plumbing already run for it. All we need to do is get another outlet on a different circuit and we're in business. Please let us all know when they arrive and what your impressions of them when you see and hear them operate. They are quiet and never get out of balance when they spin. If my Dad's Maytag Atlantis washer & dryer ever goes bad, I'll replace them with a set of SQ's - he'll love the simplicity of the operation. Gotta love Dad though, he doesn't read the manual to operate the washer so I had to write the instructions down on a set of index cards! He's now 88 years old. - Enjoy your purchase! - Mike L.
 
Speed Queen customer service number is (920) 748-3121. Also to anyone ordering a new SQ, be sure to save the shipping material for the TL (brace and plug)...you need it when you move to help prevent damage to the washer--another great point from the manual. (when you can't get a new toy for a few days, it's always fun to read the manuals as a way of passing time). :)

My research even went as far as searching the area for a Speed Queen laundromat. I finally found one (most are Maytags around here for some reason with FLs). The one I found still had TLs and I was lucky to go when there wasn't anyone else there. I was able to gauge the sounds/performance of the machine there...pretty much everything everyone said and matched the sounds I had heard on the videos (just quieter). The stainless steel tubs are mesmerizing. The laundromat tubs looked much smaller to me, and I was concerned about that--but I believe the laundromat versions are something like 2.8 cu ft, and also they don't have the fabric softener dispenser "crown" on top, so it could make it seem smaller than it is. I'm thinking the capacity should be fine.

It was also interesting that Speed Queens are deeper/narrower than Whirlpools. This was going to be a problem with the dryer until I discovered the mult-venting options. Our dryer vent in on the left wall in a laundry closet. Even with a right angle duct adapter it was not going to fit. Again, the owner's manual showed a solution with multi-vent options. I bought the kit and the dealer is going to install that as well. I'm keeping the knock-outs as I may need them if it's ever moved. I bought 90º gooseneck hoses for the washer to add some more space. The "ledge" at the back of the washer is interesting as well.

Now, I wish someone would post or message a "how to" on the switch bypass and water level adjustments. I want to do these updates, but really don't want to mess anything up, as one would imagine. Everyone has said they are simple to do, but you know how it is.

A note on indexing (which I think is a cool feature). From Speed Queen: "...According to our manufacturing specs...the washtub can rotate up to 5 revolutions per minute with a 14lb load and maximum water fill. With a smaller load there is less indexing, no load I would expect almost no indexing." Case solved on indexing...depends on the weight.

I'm also looking forward to the "wrinkle out" option on the dryer. I do a similar process on timed drying to fluff up those clothes I don't want to iron. Nice to have a cycle just for that now.

I'll post pics of the panels with color inserts when I get everything in and set up.
 

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