I'm thinking I would like to replace the noisy plastic tub Kelvinator with a nice new front loader. My budget is about $600 give or take about ten percent. Durability and features are my main concerns, in that order.
Stackability would be a big plus, as my laundry area is a little small. Are the Kenmores a good deal? I had a 1966 Kenmore top loader that I absolutely loved, but had to leave behind several years back.
Anyone?
TIA,
Johnnie

Frigidaire built front loaders are the least expensive machine to step into. Available under the GE, Kenmore, Gibson labels as well. You can stack the dryer on top, a big plus, but the dryer is smaller capacity than the washer and can be troublesome because people overload without realizing it.

I guess I'm really at the bottom of the line there. What does it look like if I kick loose a couple hundred extra dollars? What about toploaders?

Hi,

We have the MOL of the Frigidaire FL (made by Electrolux). We paid about $772 here in Pennsylvania for it. We have had it about 4 months now and we love it. It replaced a plastic almost TOL GE top loader that only lasted 7 years. The pump went and as this would have been the third repair on this, my wife wanted a new one. The main motor went at 2 months and the rubber suspension mounts all broke after 2 years. Our first GE lasted over 14 years and was still running when we got the new but was having troubles shifting speeds during agitation and spinning and you could sense a burning smell.

As for the new one. We have found it does save on water and detergent in just these few short months we had it. It is soooo quiet the only time you hear it is when filling or rammping up to the high speed final spin. It does have a window to watch it, which we found the Kemore elite in white does not have one. Why have a FL that you cannot see it wash. We do not pack it full like you can because we are just a family of three. I calculated out that we could put 13 pairs of jeans or 18 towels in it. This was based on the Kemore Elite or Duet advetising. We have had up to 15 regular bathtowels in ours. regular towels will dry in about 20 minutes due to the fast spin this machine has (950 rpm) A regular cycle takes about 30-40 minutes. My sister has an Asko and it takes almost two hours to to a hot wash for whites, they only hook up to cold water and it has to heat all the water itself. We are planning on getting the matching dryer if our 20 year old Whirlpool ever needs to be replaced. I very much doubt it will be too soon, the only thing it ever needed was an $11 pulley wheel a few years ago. Hope this helps. We looked on a few sites and the Frigidaire had the best ratings we could find. The Neptune had the worst. And we know about 7 dis-satisfied Neptune owners. The European models got good ratings but are very pricey yet.

Mike

Yep, gotta recommend the Frigidaire FL. I got mine last spring and I couldn't be happier with it. I also got the matching dryer and stacked the pair. Lemme tell you, it's really handy to pull the dry clothes out at shoulder level.
I've jammed some pretty huge loads in the washer, and while they filled the dryer pretty far, I don't think it was overloaded.
I paid about 600 bucks for mine at Lowe's. I think they may be down to about 550.

Three of my children have bought the Frigidaire FL and love them two bought the bases to sit on the other one stacked. They like the way load to load the dryer keeps up with washer. Even my wife who has always said no FL said our next will be a Fridgeaire or clone the other kids (three) agree.

The last one that bought got it from Best Buy for 479.00 on sale.

Parunner, that white Sears has some kind of inserts over the window that makes them that silly dark. Someone at THS showed how they simply popped those off and voila, windows!

Thanks Scott, I will tell my friend.

The frigidaire/electrolux built front loaders seem great for the money. I would have chose one myself, except we are on a crazy solar water system. For this reason, I got the Kenmore Elite HE3t with the heater. The other day I pulled the smoked glass off the front and enjoy much improved veiwing.
I wish that frigidaire made their machine with a heater-I'm sure it would be hundreds less than the hettie

I think there is a bit confusion about two different washers here, the Kenmore based on the Frigidaire and the Kenmore that is similar to the Duet. The last one has the smoked glass door. The first one has a price tag under $600,- I think.

Yes, Louis you're right. The Kenmore elite machines have the smoked glass, are built in Germany by Whirlpool. The one W/O the heater runs @$1,000 and the one with the heater is @$1300.

The somewhat smaller electrolux/frigidaire built kenmore machines are priced hundreds less and are a good choice for those who don't want to spend so much.

Sorry if any one was confused.