Wait, reviewed.com knows us?

[Chetlaham]

Pros

Compared to impellers that tangle and rip clothes, dumbed down temps, locking lids, hour plus cycles, no real suspension, 5 year life expectancy, cheap parts 1/2 the cost of the machine and front loads without heaters that still last 5 years (temps will drop way faster assuming hot water entered the tub from the small water fill) yes all those would be considered pros.

Yes high spin speed and boosted temps are a big plus, but you have to keep in mind that in the US we do not have 240 volt 13/16 amp receptacles at the washer so we do not have many front loads on the market that can take cold water and can heat it up all the way to a boil wash (and our detergents have to reflect that). As is a tankless gas water heater is pennies. Thus if you want a machine that can wash a load of clothes with really hot water that does not take an hour and a half a deep fill top load is the only way to go in the US.

As for capacity being small I disagree. It would be considered large in front of most European machines that fit underneath kitchen counter-tops and larger than some vintage machines like genuine Maytags.

 

[henene4]

Yeah, so, it's not all pro with the SQ.

And I wrote "small", not small. Of course, more then I could I ever dream to get my hands on, but small compared to pretty much any FL or TL.

Don't bring that impeller argument. It has been shown these claims are 95% user error.

And still: basicly half the extraction spped of some machines. We have several members with FLs beyond the 10 year mark.

 

[Chetlaham]

"And I wrote "small", not small. Of course, more then I could I ever dream to get my hands on, but small compared to pretty much any FL or TL."

I think you are referring to a different machine. I can list a dozen washers smaller than Speed Queen, and most every Euro washer is smaller than a US front load.

"Don't bring that impeller argument. It has been shown these claims are 95% user error."

Can you show me something to back up this claim?

"And still: basicly half the extraction spped of some machines. We have several members with FLs beyond the 10 year mark."

I doubt they will make it to 20 years when used daily. Yes, any front load will out do a top load in terms of spinning, but as I said most US front loads do not have heaters and are very poorly made.

 

[mtn1584]

I feel so dirty!!!!!!

For over 50 years my clothes have been washed in top loaders with a 15-18 minute wash cycle since I was a kid!!!! GE, Whirlpool, Kenmore and now SQ!!!
Are you telling me my protein stains have not been coming out!!!!
OMG!!!! What have we been doing wrong?????

Listen millenials!!!! When you've got a nasty stain you pre treat or soak, it's worked that way for years.
Unless your washer has a two and one half hour wash cycle.

My wash comes clean in my SpeedQueen and it came clean in my past machines as well.
Hey Germany, your Barbie Doll sized under counter washers are not as big as the SQ 3.3 tub.
This is America, WE invented and pioneered the Automatic Washer.

 

[washman]

I see lots of pros

*don't need to"reboot" the thing when the control board goes wonky
*Don't need "cleaners" to "clean" the machine whose very purpose is to clean my clothes
*Uses gobs of water, which I like, because I don't subscribe to current thinking that has dumbed down common sense and deluded people into thinking a few cups of water are sufficient for clean laundry
*I get true tap hot water and don't see the need or expense of heated water ability.
*has old school, crude, mechanical parts that are easily replaced and don't cost the world.
*Actually has real metal in the construction including the inner and outer tub.
*Best warranty in the business

Plus I have 40+ years of living on Mother Earth which gives me a practical, real world view of things. Among those are 4 decades of doing laundry in TL machines from my mother's Kennmore, GE, and (sigh)Whirlpool to laundromats. Got by with a few basic cycles rather than the absurd proliferation of 45 plus cycles today. Never had to clean the machine and never suffered illness due to fecal cross contamination. Never had a need to "sanitize" my laundry either. Regardless of water usage, the machines back then and Speed Queed today are much better value because, well, they last. Try that with an eco-tard designed FL or HE TL. Let us know how much a control board or mode shifter costs. Assuming they are available.

Unlike the current "millennial" generation which to be quite frank does not know its collective ass from its elbow, I don't automatically accept everything the government or some agency tells me as 100% unquestionable gospel. Like climate change, global warming, the earth is drying up, hurricanes are getting stronger, et cetera.

I have this incredibly annoying habit. It's called thinking which means I prefer to research things myself and form my own opinions. I know that pisses off the government and algore, but it is what it is.

 

[Chetlaham]

Check rates

And Id like to know how someone claiming Euro washers are larger than most US top loads gets more check rates than those who say it like it is. Me thinks Europeans are yet again jealous of US technology and consumer goods.

 

[stephenk]

"Consumer reports and other always seem to somehow down play their clean ability, but in all honesty I would not be surprised if they are being influenced by select entities... Lets face it, consumer reports and the like are a marketing platform controlled by the big players."

I'm a CR subscriber, so I know a little about this.

You've got one thing significantly wrong about Consumer Reports. They actually buy all the products they test and they don't accept advertising. They also don't let companies use CR information in their marketing. Their entire budget is paid for by their subscribers. The whole point of doing all this is to avoid influence from the manufacturers.

You're correct that many online reviews are suspect because the reviewers get the products for free from the companies in exchange for reviews. That creates a conflict of interest.

CR avoids that conflict of interest by not have a connection to the companies. They buy the products themselves and they aren't beholden to advertisers because they don't have any advertising.

 

[mrboilwash]

Capacity

Have done more than just a few loads in Speed Queen toploades over the years and can confirm they don`t hold more clothes than an average Euro 5kg frontloader.
While the Speed Queen tubs are considerably larger in sq.ft. you have to load them loosley to get good turnover and avoid damage to clothes whereas you can stuff a Euro FL with their endless wash cycles and still get good results. (I wouldn`t try to cram full any US FL with their quick wash times.)

I have no intention to turn this thread into another FL vs. TL discussion just saying SQ`s TL capacity seems a bit overrated to me.

 

[Chetlaham]

But are you really getting good result over loading a UK or Euro front load?

 

[lorainfurniture]

*don't need to"reboot" the thing when the control board goes wonky 

With the exception of the awn432, they all have control boards. Luckily rebooting a speed queen is as easy as unplugging and plugging back in. 


*Don't need "cleaners" to "clean" the machine whose very purpose is to clean my clothes 

This is customer education problem.  Too much soap/ softener will gunk up any machine, requiring a self clean of some sort.  

*Uses gobs of water, which I like, because I don't subscribe to current thinking that has dumbed down common sense and deluded people into thinking a few cups of water are sufficient for clean laundry 

12 gallons of water can clean just as well as 40.  


*I get true tap hot water and don't see the need or expense of heated water ability. 

100% agree


*has old school, crude, mechanical parts that are easily replaced and don't cost the world. 

Not exactly true.  Timers are expensive, the transmission is a small fortune, in fact, there are not very many "cheap" parts on a speed queen. 


*Actually has real metal in the construction including the inner and outer tub. 

This, in my opinion, is just a sales gimmick.  I have only seen a very, very small amount of broken outer tubs. 


*Best warranty in the business 

Speed queen does have the absolute best warranty, if fact,  they encourage their servicers to replace a few more parts than what may actually be needed to prevent future break downs.  

 

[washman]

*With the exception of the awn432, they all have control boards. Luckily rebooting a speed queen is as easy as unplugging and plugging back in.

Wrong. My AWN542 does not have a control board anywhere

Not exactly true. Timers are expensive, the transmission is a small fortune, in fact, there are not very many "cheap" parts on a speed queen

Wrong again. Even the transmission is cheaper than a control board on a new FL or HE TL

12 gallons of water can clean just as well as 40

If this were true, then manufacturers would have offered machines like this years ago, not due to ill conceived DOE mandates.

This is customer education problem. Too much soap/ softener will gunk up any machine, requiring a self clean of some sort

Odd. Until recent years, there was never a need for "customer education" on how to use a washing machine. Sounds more like a design problem to me. Reminds me of the ill fated Fiero where GM "educated" customers that 3 quarts of oil in the Iron Puke engine was ok when in fact it was designed for 5 quarts.

 

[lorainfurniture]

Wrong. My AWN542 does not have a control board anywhere

- Seriously, I'm not going to mention every discontinued model Speed queen made. The Awn432 is the only mechanical control model available to buy new.

Wrong again. Even the transmission is cheaper than a control board on a new FL or HE TL

- Are you a technician? I am, and have been for the last 15 years. Control boards vary in price, but most are right around the $200 price retail. A speed queen trans (38165P) retails for $330. Trans replacement REQUIRES a $100 tub seal too.

If this were true, then manufacturers would have offered machines like this years ago, not due to ill conceived DOE mandates.

-Its called progress. Just like cars used to get 3 miles to the gallon, and broke down every other day. Things become more efficient.

Odd. Until recent years, there was never a need for "customer education" on how to use a washing machine. Sounds more like a design problem to me. Reminds me of the ill fated Fiero where GM "educated" customers that 3 quarts of oil in the Iron Puke engine was ok when in fact it was designed for 5 quarts.

- Until recent years, washers used 40 gallons of water, facilitating the need for outrageous amounts of soap. When you add too much soap to an efficient washer, it becomes gunked up. If you put 10x, or 20X the recommended amount of soap in your antique washer, would clean well?

Just to be clear, I absolutely love speed queen products. I own the top load 9 series, and the front load set. I am an authorized speed queen dealer, as well as authorized to service them. Speed queen is a very, very reliable washer/ dryer that does just a GOOD job washing clothes. Its the best machine on the market in terms of reliability, and warranty, but I can't say its the best performer out there.

 

[Chetlaham]

"Not exactly true. Timers are expensive, the transmission is a small fortune, in fact, there are not very many "cheap" parts on a speed queen."

Sounds like the point is being missed. Those parts will last 20 to 30 years unlike most other modern machines so price becomes irrelevant. On a modern machine where those parts will fail one after another after only 3-5 years the high cost becomes a major factor needing consideration. BTW, the timer, belt ect is cheaper than the control boards on many modern front loads...

Speed Queen is now refereed to as a "Luxury" brand where just 30 years ago any American could walk into any store and purchase the same construction if not better. A low income family could purchase a dirt cheap Galaxy or Filter Flo and have it last as long as a modern Speed Queen will. This is a classic example of the declining middle class. People are told less is more, more is bad, evil, uneducated, not good for the environment ect ect.

 

[Chetlaham]

"-Its called progress. Just like cars used to get 3 miles to the gallon, and broke down every other day. Things become more efficient."

Progress is just a feel good term, one which I see it for what it is. Cars use more gas today on average than they did in the 50s and 60s. While gas motors have become more efficient the cars themselves have become a lot larger. Families went from Chevy Impalas to decked out climate controlled mini vans.

And the longevity you mention. That was in the 1900s. The cars in the 50s and 60s did not break down every other day with care.

"Just to be clear, I absolutely love speed queen products. I own the top load 9 series, and the front load set. I am an authorized speed queen dealer, as well as authorized to service them. Speed queen is a very, very reliable washer/ dryer that does just a GOOD job washing clothes. Its the best machine on the market in terms of reliability, and warranty, but I can't say its the best performer out there."

And the best performer is? I going to be honest. I see many knowledgeable sales men and appliance techs, but when it comes to selling appliances I see a what looks like a pre written script. I've been in stores where I see appliance sales people push HE machines or insist the customer they will be happier with TOL giving each one the same speech. Its almost as though customers who refuse to buy HE or the status quo are somehow doing something socially unacceptable. The truth is consumers are just being toyed with and punished at no fault of their own. Ok, I get saving water. But why remove every soft food disposal out of every DW with a manual clean filter? The point voyager system and the re-designed low water version after that (the one I have on my DW) works very will with food particles while saving water. So what was the point to remove that from every new Whirlpool made DW while customers everywhere are being told its better?

 

[foraloysius]

Just another frontloader versus toploader discussion. These discussions have never lead anywhere because one is not perse better than the other, it depends on a lot of circumstances. To each his own plays a big role here.

Chetlaham,

You appear very in favour of Speed Queen toploaders, but I noticed that your profile says that Miele is your favourite appliance brand. Funny!

 

[Chetlaham]

Miele

It was until I discovered Speed Queen. When you take Speed Queen out of the equation all thats left in the US is Bosch and Miele in terms of passable modern quality. I should have put none for modern brands but I still like to think things haven't gotten that bad. But my favorite brand of all time would be Maytag.

I have nothing against front loads washers, I've used several and when washing normal day to day items with light soil they do indeed save water. But, when it comes to durability (and perhaps even clean ability) IMHO top load and front load Speed Queens out do any modern US or European washer.

 

[kb0nes]

Well we are WAY off topic here but I saw this...

"Cars use more gas today on average than they did in the 50s and 60s."

Ummm please cite your factual evidence to back this claim up. I'd bet that the average today is quite a bit better.

Sure some late models could be huge and heavy but if we compare 50's apples to modern day apples the cars today are VASTLY more fuel efficient. And in every other performance metric they are superior too. The reliability claims are laughable, my 6 year old Honda has yet to go in for ANY service (other then maintenance fluid changes I have done myself). How many sets of points and plugs would a 50's car have needed in 6 years? Vintage cars are cool in their own ways, but automotive progress has made a LOT of distance in the past 60 years.

Back to appliances, the same is true. Personal preference will play a big part in the comments you read here and in reviews. Top loading machines use more water and they have more complex and expensive parts and in general will require more service. Overall they lack the progress in evolution that has brought us to the mechanically simple front load machines. Really the only reason that toploaders exist today is due to personal preferences and people's inertia towards change. There are many frontload fans that have made the needed adjustments to their laundry methods and they would not go back. Clearly the machine style isn't at fault.

 

[glomain]

well

i for one owned a duet set & almost danced the happy dance when they went out the door & would never look back (had them for 8 yrs.) back to low tech.old school top loaders & never been happier !OH YA & CLEAN CLOTHS TO BOOT.

 

[frigilux]

You'll notice I stayed out of the discussion in the latter part of this thread. I tend to give Ben a fair amount of leeway in the 'SQ vs. Other Brands' debates, considering his position as Patronus Absolutus of all things Speed Queen; and frankly, there's a lot to love about the brand. I do try to gently remind him that some things, like global warming, are matters of science, not politics---just as the whole 'smoking causes lung cancer and heart disease' argument came down to science and not politics. But he still smokes, so there's work to be done. Hi, Ben!

On To Other Matters: Let's sort out the notion that cars from the 1960's can compete with today's in the mileage department right here, right now.

Average MPG of a 1965 Chevy Impala: 13.5
Average MPG of a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan: 21

(Mileage figures courtesy of Fuelly)

[this post was last edited: 8/8/2016-13:22]

 

[washman]

Hi Frig!

FWIW, since the tobaccakuh tax went up in PA, you will be pleased to know I am in the process of winding down and ultimately quitting smoking!

With the money I will save, it will like getting a pay raise. I'll have more money to spend on seed, fertilizer, and bug killer! In the fullness of time, I will have a yard worth of BEtter Homes & Gardens!

And I can go back to trying different detergents and seeing which work best in the Speed Queen!