Thread Number: 12311
New Washer Advice (No More Than $400) 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 216531   6/17/2007 at 02:01 (6,155 days old) by btjustice ()        

I want to spend no more than $400 on a new washer. I like top loaders. I was thinking about getting this Whirlpool...

www.lowes.com/lowes/lknQUESTIONMA...

Are there better brands out there for the price? I heard that Maytag is now made by Whirlpool and that Kenmore is also made by Whirlpool.




Post# 216544 , Reply# 1   6/17/2007 at 07:47 (6,154 days old) by exploder3211 ()        

Have a $299 GE toploader here.. Works fine, bleach dispenser doesn't work right unless full, but otherwise i like it. Not my favorite mind you (if you could spend another $99 you could get a basic Frigidaire F/L), but it gets the job done with little fuss

Post# 216548 , Reply# 2   6/17/2007 at 08:38 (6,154 days old) by andrewinorlando ()        

If you like top loaders, that machine will serve you fine.

Post# 216568 , Reply# 3   6/17/2007 at 11:00 (6,154 days old) by passatdoc (Orange County, California)        
a front loader may be within your reach

 I don't know what part of the country you live in, but in Southern California, several retailers sell the Frigidaire 2140 for $540. The water district issues a $100 rebate, and the gas company gives $35 rebate. The net cost after rebates would be $405. The cost has declined since I bought one for $600 in March 2006. I realize that the math might not transfer over to another part of the country if the local water and gas utilities don't offer similar rebates. The smaller 3.1 cu ft Frigidaire 530 is sold for about $500, but I don't know if similar rebates apply to this model (they should, unless the 530 is particularly wasteful on water use).

www.howards.com/products.htmQUEST...

www.universal-akb.com/frigwas1.ht...

Of interest is that both of these retailers sell ONLY Frigidaire front loaders now. They no longer carry any toploaders from Frigidaire. Per their website

www.frigidaire.com/products/laund...

they still make two top loader models. Given that they are owned by Electrolux, it makes sense that they would transition over to front loaders to a greater degree than an American company.



Post# 216573 , Reply# 4   6/17/2007 at 11:08 (6,154 days old) by passatdoc (Orange County, California)        
530 does qualify for rebates

 www.energystar.gov/index.cfmQUEST...

At least where I live, you could buy the 530 for $500 and receive $135 back in rebates, net cost $365.

Post# 216577 , Reply# 5   6/17/2007 at 11:13 (6,154 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

Whirlpool conventional top loaders are hard to beat for the $$$$. Frigidaire front loaders are also great for the $$ but longevity is questionable. You could easily get 8-10 years from the Whirlpool, which is saying alot in today's throwaway climate.

Post# 216580 , Reply# 6   6/17/2007 at 12:55 (6,154 days old) by maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)        
Do you really need NEW?

 If not, I would strongly suggest resale, because most older washers are better made than almost all new ones.

However, if you really need/want new, that would be a decent choice.


Lawrence/Maytagbear

Post# 216657 , Reply# 7   6/18/2007 at 00:11 (6,154 days old) by btjustice ()        
Bought The Whirlpool

 I went ahead and bought the Whirlpool. After hooking it up and running a few washes through it, the tub and agitator lean to the upper right and the water dispenser is loose and doesn't shoot out a lot of water when the tub is filling. I might return it. Not sure.

Post# 216658 , Reply# 8   6/18/2007 at 00:17 (6,154 days old) by btjustice ()        
I Might Get The FTF530FS

 I am not sure who I would call to see if I can get a rebate on it or not, but $500 seems to be a decent price. Does anyone here that owns one have more information on it? Maybe even a video?

Is Frigidaire a better brand than Whirlpool?

CLICK HERE TO GO TO btjustice's LINK
Post# 216659 , Reply# 9   6/18/2007 at 00:56 (6,154 days old) by btjustice ()        

Would this video be identical to that Frigidaire?

CLICK HERE TO GO TO btjustice's LINK
Post# 216673 , Reply# 10   6/18/2007 at 05:58 (6,153 days old) by passatdoc (Orange County, California)        
Frigidaire

 Zanussi and Frigidaire are both owned by Electrolux, which claims in its ads to be the largest manufacturer of front loader machines in the world. If you take the sum total of its divisions (Electrolux, Frigidaire, Zanussi), the claim is believable. The 530 has manual dial controls rather than electronic button controls. Also, it is standard US size, 27 inches wide. The drum capacity is about 3.1 cu ft, vs 2.0-2.2 for European machines, which typically are only 24 inches wide. So the 530 is larger than the Zanussi you see, but probably of similar quality.

The retailer should know about the rebates. In my area, the websites of the water district and gas company have information about rebates, as well as lists of which models qualify. In parts of the country without water shortages, they may not offer water rebates, but I imagine all gas utility companies would offer incentives to buy front loaders, which use about 2/3 less water and therefore less hot water.

The new generation of Frigidaire front loaders has not been on the market long enough (only about five years) to have a reliable database of how long the machines last. Five years from now, if the machines last there will be a body of ten-year owners who can vouchsafe for the models. I own the 2140 and it was released a little over two years ago. One member here has posted about owning the machine for two years, so far no problems. I bought my 2140 in March 2006 and so far it has given excellent service.

Post# 216674 , Reply# 11   6/18/2007 at 06:03 (6,153 days old) by passatdoc (Orange County, California)        
ps

 The 530 has been on the market (? 4-5 years ?) longer than the 2140 and 2940, which were introduced about 2-3 years ago. The 530 has the same footprint as the 2140 and 2940, but the drum is only 3.1 cu ft vs 3.5 for the 2140 and 2940. You also should check prices for the 2140. Some California retailers offer it for as little as $540, in which case after rebates runs $405.

Post# 217008 , Reply# 12   6/19/2007 at 22:30 (6,152 days old) by browncow ()        

I have one of these, the WP 5500 model. The Lowes and Best Buy 5540/5530 variants are slightly different. I think the BB has an extra load size setting, and the Lowes has an extra cycle, but minus one water temp setting.

I prefer the wider tub on my old Frigidaire. I doubt some of the larger items I have will fit in the WP that would have fit into the Frig.

The neutral drain of the WP also doesn't work as well as a spin drain. It leaves slightly damp clothes in a ring at the bottom of the tub instead of stuck to the sides of the tub as a spin drain would.

The first one I got had a scratch front and center. The second one is ok, except for a slight dent in the rear in the corner. I don't know what that says about WP quality control.

It's OK. I got it cheap, and it works. I was gonna get either the Roper or Inglis badged units, which are almost identical, except I came upon a great sale on the WP for the same cost.

The way I saw it, all I needed for now was something adequate and reliable. I didn't want to spend the additional cost for something really worthwhile at the moment.

Post# 217021 , Reply# 13   6/19/2007 at 23:57 (6,152 days old) by btjustice ()        

Yeah that's my problem too. I don't want to spend more than $800 for a washing machine. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I went shopping again tonight. I went to Home Depot, a local supplier, Best Buy, Lowe's, Dick Van Dyke Appliance World, and Sears. Their nice front loaders started at $900 plus another $200 for the metal thing to set it on to raise it up a couple of feet or so. HOWEVER, the local supplier has a Frigidaire 2140 that was damaged in shipping. It has a couple of small dents in it on the right and left sides and some minor scratches. They want $450 for it. Dick Van Dyke had them new for $700. These were the only 2 places that have that model.

Then something dawned on me. One of the selling points on the FLs is that they are easier on clothes. I wonder if they are just as hard on clothes since that spin at like 1000 RPM and the fins built into the tub would 'grind' into the clothes just like the agitator on a TL would during washing. Actually it may be worse in a FL due to the speed on the spin as opposed to the speed of the agitator washing clothes in a TL.

I mentioned in another post that the tub was off center. I mentioned this to the salesman at Lowe's who I bought it from and he said it may have happened because it was loaded into my pick-up on it's back. Not sure if that is the cause or not but I am mad that the tub leans. Also it doesn't pump cold and hot water into the tub as well as it should. I think I will take it back.

Post# 217068 , Reply# 14   6/20/2007 at 02:12 (6,151 days old) by passatdoc (Orange County, California)        
1000 rpm spin

 The baffles aren't a big deal, because at that speed the clothes are pretty much mashed up against the wall of the tub due to centrifugal force. The baffles help tumble the clothes at wash speeds, however.

If the merchant will give you a full guarantee on the 2140, and if you can buy a five year extended warranty at reasonable cost (I got five years for $100), the dented 2140 seems like a sweet deal. You can contact your gas and water companies to see if they offer rebates. If you get the same $135 in rebates that I did, your net cost before tax is $315....best deal on a FL that I've ever heard of!

Post# 217070 , Reply# 15   6/20/2007 at 02:28 (6,151 days old) by btjustice ()        

No rebates in my area :(

Post# 218228 , Reply# 16   6/25/2007 at 18:30 (6,146 days old) by xyz ()        

Well from my point of view, a person who recycles way more washers and dryers than I care to talk about. I can tell you that if the state of California pays a rebate to people who buy Frididaire products, then I say this, I can't remember the time I hauled off a Kenmore product to scrap yard Roper included. I have hauled off many Frididaires to scrap yard. Most every part of a Kenmore can be recycled and kept from the landfill or scrapyard. I recycle and reuse all parts if possible. Even if they have a new life as something else.

Post# 218229 , Reply# 17   6/25/2007 at 18:31 (6,146 days old) by xyz ()        

point is....Frididaire must have someone in high office in their pocket cause their products suck.

Post# 218230 , Reply# 18   6/25/2007 at 18:33 (6,146 days old) by xyz ()        

Frigidaire is a company that was in biz till the 70's, Frididaire is present company.

Post# 218270 , Reply# 19   6/25/2007 at 21:05 (6,146 days old) by btjustice ()        

Well so far I am perfectly happy with this Frigidaire 2140. My only gripe is the detergent. I keep using too much, lol.

Post# 218625 , Reply# 20   6/27/2007 at 00:40 (6,145 days old) by wcd63 ()        
Re Whirlpool

 I had bought the Whirlpool from lowes and had to take it back for the same reason. not once but twice!!
go with a front load! I have had mine four years now and like it very much.

Post# 218628 , Reply# 21   6/27/2007 at 00:41 (6,145 days old) by wcd63 ()        
Re Whirlpool

 I had bought the Whirlpool from lowes and had to take it back for the same reason. not once but twice!!
go with a front load! I have had ming four years now and like it very much.

Post# 218813 , Reply# 22   6/27/2007 at 13:41 (6,144 days old) by llmaytag (Southern California)        
Whirlpool

 llmaytag's profile picture
btjustice,

I wish I would have seen your post sooner. I have that exact model which I purchased when I discovered that my Maytag needed a tubseal. I figured since Maytag had been purchased by Whirlpool, I'd do better to go to Whirlpool.

The machine does wash my clothes, and like you stated, the tub does lean to one side. I hate the neutral drain which sounds like a growling captive animal that is finally silenced by a loud clank when the drain stops just before the spin. The second rinse doesn't have a spin spray. Also, my hot water injection is very very slow. With the help of a very good friend we determined that it's not the pressure and there is not obstruction. Frustrating, when I select hot, after a while it will start filling with warm, so when I want a hot wash, I turn off the cold water faucet until the wash has finished filling. Also, the machine does seem to agitate rather vigorously, which I think he putting undue wear and tear on my clothes.

It was a good price, however...


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