Your valued opinions on 4 potential vintage-ish machines for regular use...

[firedome]

So... we're buying a house in Denver, moving from Central NY. The Whirlpool Duet there is already having hot-water filling issues (cold is ok) and it's a good excuse to replace it as we, outliers that we are, still prefer a TL so it would have been replaced anyhow.

The following 4 machines are potential replacements at around the same price (150-200), and would like your opinion as to:

Which would be best for regular use by 2 people considering:
- durability
- reliability/simplicity (all mechanical controls a must!)
- availability of parts
- design/cleaning ability

also approx date/age of each? ('80s to '90s?).

W1 Roper (WP era?)
W2 Hotpoint (GE)
W3 Whirlpool
W4 Maytag


We'd get a new SQ but... it's gotta be used, at least for now.
Price matters because having bought a 3rd house while keeping the existing ones for now, funds are tight right now...so we're looking for value!

What say ye? Which would you buy to use (hopefully well into the future).

I'm leaning towards one in particular, but let's hear your take!
RA in NY

 

[phillymatt53]

Hot water filling issues sometimes are due to calcium buildup on the little screen filters inside the hot water hose or inside the washer's threaded connection.
It'll look like powdery or crusty white crap, clean it out carefully and try again.

 

[maytag85]

I’d go for the Maytag. Direct drives are harsh on items and have issues with lint.

Filter Flos are good but use a bit more water, biggest reason I wouldn’t use one on a daily basis since the brake assembly can punch a hole through the transmission causing 2 quarts of oil to spill onto the floor making a big mess.

 

[gizmo]

The Duet probably just needs a new hot water fill valve, they are cheap and easy to replace so give it a try.
If, after using the Duet for a few weeks/months, it doesn't win you over, then replace it later.

 

[qsd-dan]

You'll have to explain your lifestyle a bit more.

Any pets?

Work/Hobbies include getting really dirty?

GE Filter Flo will use the most water (about 50 gallons a cycle without a second deep rinse). Good for cleaning extremely dirty clothes and pet hair. Probably the hardest of all washers to find someone to work on who knows their way around one. Parts are getting hard to find.

The DD's are easy to work on and find most parts (except timers). Just about anyone in the repair industry can work on it. They have the biggest capacity of the lineup. Make sure it neutral drains before spinning or you'll be pulling the trans and installing a neutral drain kit and possibly a new clutch. The internal filter is worthless. It'll probably be the harshest washer on fabrics.

The LA512 Maytag has solid reliability but is 40 years old. Easy to work on unless the trans needs to come out (still not that bad) and will keep churning away even in poor condition and under the worst conditions. Lint/hair filter works well for pets, fairly easy to get most parts and the 206230 timer is all over Ebay. This has the longest spray rinse of all machines if detergent allergies exist and rinsing is important.

 

[wayupnorth]

My Maytag 511 is 41 years old and its mate the 410 dryer are still working like they did new out of the box with one $28 part at almost 40 years, Thats my recommendation from my 40+ years of "Clinical Testing"