I have personally had good luck with both Maytag and Whirlpool. Whirlpool makes the Roper brand and used to be considered the low end models. Maytag makes the Kitchen Aid brand (they now make washers and dryers) and that was considered their top of the line. Any more with all the cost saving measures that have taken place within all brands I don't really know if one brand is better than the rest.

 

Checking Consumer Reports might be a good thing to try.

CR for Washing Machines

 

If you go the route of a FL washer you should consider the Whirlpool Duet and or Kenmore Version. You can usually pick up the Whirlpool version for a little less if you shop it around. Some stores like LOWES sell it for $1097, but some independants sell it for $997 so you can get the price match plus 10% making it around $900. The maytag Neptune (Original) is now $799, but if you go to their web site there is a class action lawsuit against them. Unfortunately another US manufacturer is about to go BUST, they stoped using the UAW last year and moved there plants to Mexico, and this year some of there products are rebadged LG (lucky goldstar)Technologies appliances. The Frigidaire FL washers are good for about 5 years of hard use, but expect to do some repairs on them. I've personally had the Duet/HE3 in my own home for 3 years now and it gos constantly, but it has been serviced in the past all covered by the factory warranty. I use the rebadged Frigidaire FL as a GE in the coin-op version in my apartments and they never stop running as they see about 200-250 loads a month and after 2 years (about 4,800 loads of laundry) have only needed minor repairs all less then $100 per service call, but just the washers at $1.50 a wash make about $300 a month times two for the dryer is another $300. But depending on your needs only you can tell whats in your budget. The original Neptune has been in use in laundromats for about 9 years now and seem to hold up very well.

If you go the route of a TL you should consider some of GE's product offerings. They are inexpensive to purchase and offer E-STAR models at 1/3 less then the others. Although you get what you pay for sometimes.
Good Luck

 

we have had numurous washing machines that were used.......when the last one went decided that it was time to buy a new machine. We went and looked and decided on the Roper large capacity (which is made by whirlpool) it is a wonderful machine and really does get those clothes clean.......it being a top loader it can wash up to 3 pairs of coveralls and 16 shirts in one load ( this is in the manual) although we have NEVER loaded it that much!

 

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The Kenmores look to be a good unit, and Consumer reports agree with that. I have the Maytag Neptune, and the water and electric bill changed almost immediately. My mother has an older Neptune, and it is still performing just fine, so they aren't too bad a unit either. All the same, front loaders appear to be the way to go.

 

As I posted above, we love our Maytag Neptune Front Loader. No problems...yet.

However, I searched for info on the alleged lawsuit, and found several links, including the Maytag site. Apparently there have been recurring problems with mold around the door seal (which we control easily by wiping with a bleach rag once in a while) that some people report as making their clothes smell like vomit; and circuit board and wax motor failures.

I never received notice of the class action suit, and the time frame just expired. . Knock on wood we don't develop the other problems.

Here are links:
http://maytagfrontloadsettlement.com/

http://www.bobvila.com/wwwboard/messages/162013.html

http://blogs.msdn.com/johnmont/archi...15/230169.aspx