Can anyone give me any feedback on the Kitchen Aid Ensemble and the Maytag Epic? I also saw a Siemens Front loader at Lowe's but don't know much about it..Thanks for your help.

Hi Muffin -

The Bosch Nexxt model was top rated, right after LG, in Consumer Reports January 2007 laundry issue. There are two models to choose from, you can't go wrong with either one. And, the dryers have a glass window so you can watch all the action!!

You have gotten me addicted to this site..after all the crap I have had with our Bosch dishwasher, I doubt I would want to get the W/D ..are you home?? call me..lets have lunch!

I love my Frigidaire Affinty..Never mind that consumer reports doesn't like it.. It fairly quick, and when used with the right amount of Tide or Wisk HE, it cleans about the best i've ever seen... And there reasonably priced.

I noticed that LG and Bosch took top honors in CU; however, unless things have changed, there have been serious issues with LG parts availability, along with a scarcity of service persons educated on these machines. The Whirlpool Duet was in the top echelon, just below these machines, and parts/service are no problem at all. I bought a Duet set, and they're fine machines. Another thing-I priced out circuit boards for several different brands of FL washers, figuring that these are the most likely culprits if there's a breakdown. Whirlpool's came in as most reasonable.

Forgot to mention; the new Maytag Epic is basically a Duet with different appearance. This should be a huge improvement over the Maytag Neptune, which is junk. The home centers and appliance stores are selling the neptunes at impossibly low prices-don't fall for it!!!

Chad-- Your Frigidaire Affinity received an overall score of 66, which is still well into the 'Very Good' rating. The only front-loader they've ever really dumped on is the new SQ, and that's only because the wash cycle is so short it didn't clean their stained test items very well.

Had CR added the optional extra wash time when testing the Affinity, I'll bet that cleaning score would have jumped up, too.

Your machine outscored almost all the top-loaders, as well.

Mine is on par with the Oasis (same score)

Word for Word
"Highs
Using the heavy-duty wash cycle, this machine was excellent for energy efficiency and gentle on loads. It has a digital readout for time remaining, an end-of-cycle signal, a lighted stainless-steel drum, and an extra rinse option. This model is stackable.

Lows
Its wash performance was only fair using the heavy-duty cycle. It also was judged as good for noise, though there are quieter ones.

Bottom Line
Overall, this is a very good front-loader that is energy efficient, good at washing, and very gentle. There are better front-loader models to choose from even though it is rated very good. It is backed by a 1-year warranty. "

They used Heavy duty Cycle... I find it works no better than regular..

Than again if they used stain clean it would've helped..
Mine is the 6000ES unit (which is being discontinued), and doesn't have the lighted drum

I did look at the Higher Rated LTF2940ES.. Curious as to the diffrences... At the time, mine was $45 more than this higher model and i liked the buttons and settings and the door (was a regular round door vs the square door)better...

I did look at a Duet and HE3t (clearence) but with mantince agreement, pedestal etc.. The HE3t was $1200 and the Duet was $1000..I paid $909 for mine

Did not like the bosch because if placed on a pedestal i couldn't see the controls..
Couldn't find a Kitchenaid, otherwise i might have gone with this

The others (Maytag, LG,Semins and Samsung) where all out for other reasons

The GE's where my second choice

I like exploder's Frigidaire.

I know the GE has a much longer wash cycle, but I've been wondering if maybe that might not be a blessing in disguise (perhaps all that additional tumbling might yield better results in colder temperatures...)

I'm liking the Epic a LOT, but I'm not sure the high markup is justified (shouldn't Maytag be selling their products at a LOWER price point, so they can prove themselves to us once again?)

I bought mine, i was mad at Lowes (they did redeem themselves though..They actually just sent me a $600 check to re-imburse me for all of my time and troubles with the washers i bought and the issues i had with another appliance purchased there, with a signed apologie letter from the manager)but bought it there any way because of free delivery, half off pedistal,plus they had to come get the roper and $50 off the washer becasue it was out of it's box..

Scott,
I read someones thing here about the GE's and now that i have had a chance to play with the GE's today (a lady and family who's renting from me) I like the Frigidaires FAR FAR better... When she got them delivered, she figured i could install them for her and test them out (I taught her how to do laundry cause she kept killing the Top Load i provide in my rentals)..I do like the styling better of the GE, but the controls don't seem as useful, theres no auto temp control, the pedestal is not as nice as mine and theres no extended spin, which i use for my grams danity things or stuff spun at lower speeds..I also (boy i will do anything to play with a washer)don't think it cleans diapers or kids cloths that well.. Also the door handle doesn't seen very sturdy..
The wash settings are fine, although i find the cycles on the frigidaire cover every thing this does with fewer cycles..
Oh yeah, the wash times can be just as short as the frigidaires, unless you use Stain Wash (IMHO i think CU used this)

On a side note:
I gave her $330 twords this purchase, so i did not have to keep a washer in her house.. She orginaly bought an LG from Homo Depot and its motor burned up in a little under 5 days... The second set lasted 2 weeks and it started leaking...
She was frustrated and swapped for the GE..... I tried to talk her into retruing them for a Frigidaire..

Scott-- I'm with you on the Maytag Epic! That will definitely be my next pair. There is an LG dealership about 30 miles from me and they do their own service (which seems to be the big obstacle LG needs to confront), but I like my Frigidaire/Maytag dealer, so rather than buying a Duet pair, I can get the same thing under the Maytag branding.