Whirlpool Vantage

Well, I just got home from Lowes. The Vantage was on display and powered up in the appliance department. Here is what I thought.

1) I liked the automatic lid opening but it seemed that you had to fight it to put the lid down.

2) Navigation through the cycles was cumbersome and the screen responsiveness was quite slow. Electing to start over meant you had to power off and power back up. There is no 'HOME' button.

3) User option settings seemed dumbed down and unclear. For example, the maytag Bravos with a heater has a clean boost option button where temperatures are guaranteed through use of the heater. I could not figure out how to enable the same option through the Vantage console or if it even exists.

4) Quiet. I was able to engage a spin only cycle. And while it was spinning at top speed, I was fooling with the controls on the dryer. A salesman walked up and started talking to me about the pair. He was unaware that the washer was spinning up a storm as it was so quiet. I leaned over and hit the light button and illuminated the interior. The led lighting did stay on until the cycle completed. Unfortunately, I feel the led lighting is quite dim for the heavily tinted windows. Too bad.

5) I went through most of the cycles on the dryer. I could not easily locate an air only cycle. The trick was to select a timed dry and then hit the portion of the screen that says medium heat. I say portion of the screen as it did not appear to be a button at all. I thought it was just a status feedback area at the bottom of the screen. The dryer would not start as it was in a demo mode. I was terribly curious to find out how quiet the dryer operated. I failed to locate any information to indicate the drum reversed at all. I don't think it does. Too bad.

That is about all the time I had to play with them as the salesman began to sell them hard. I think they have a contest to see who can sell the first set.

Malcolm


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Post# 457301 8/16/2010 at 14:55 (4,995 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)
Checkrate/Likes Has anyone gone to Whirlpool Vantage Training yet? I would like to get some product feedback... Malcolm

Post# 457302 , Reply# 1 8/16/2010 at 14:58 (4,995 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)
Checkrate/Likes *Tub Light?* Like... Can the tub illumination stay on through the entire cycle or do you have to hit the button every couple minutes...

Post# 457345 , Reply# 2 8/16/2010 at 19:22 (4,995 days old) by surgilator_68 (Maryland)
Checkrate/Likes If I remember correctly the light will stay on the entire cycle and turn off at the end. It even stays on when the lid is opened after the cycle is complete for a period of time. I don't remember how long though.

Post# 457347 , Reply# 3 8/16/2010 at 19:46 (4,995 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)
Checkrate/Likes *Good News!* That is impressive news. I wish the online documentation for this set was better. I remain intrigued by this set. I wonder if they are on display at any retailers yet. Malcolm

Post# 457367 , Reply# 4 8/16/2010 at 21:43 (4,995 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)
Checkrate/Likes Jason---Does the Whirlpool Vantage washer use the new belt-drive system? Jamie had some very positive things to say about his new belt-drive Whirlpool impeller top-loader.

Post# 457406 , Reply# 5 8/17/2010 at 04:44 (4,994 days old) by logixx (Germany)
Checkrate/Likes I wish Whirlpool would upload some sort of virtual control panel so one could check out all the options and cycles. GE did this with their Harmony pair and Maytag with their Neptune. And yes, too little written info on the set! They say to go to whirlopool.com/vantage to get the full manual but there's none! :( Alex

Post# 457420 , Reply# 6 8/17/2010 at 08:09 (4,994 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)
Checkrate/Likes *Pics* based on what I have seen online, I believe this machine uses the F&P drive system. Malcolm

Post# 457460 , Reply# 7 8/17/2010 at 10:40 (4,994 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *WHIRLPOOL VANTAGE WASHER-DRYER* Yes it does use the F&P drive system. Its a very over priced pair of Cabrios for people who like gadgets. It may well be a fun washer and I may well have one someday when I get a returned or free one. I didn't get where I am in life by running out and buying every new car or appliance that caught my eye, I can be patient. When the MT touch screen Neptune TL washer and the drying cabinet dryer came out I was interested in both. And now I have an unused gas drying cabinet and the touch screen Neptune LT washer, neither cost me a thing. Now I am not trying to keep anyone from going out and buying these new models, it is a great boom for the economy after all. But these high end appliances tend to become available sooner than the more practicable models.

Post# 458247 , Reply# 8 8/21/2010 at 08:15 (4,990 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)
Checkrate/Likes *Best Buy Fail* I went through Best Buy last night with the hope of putting my hands on this set. Alas, they don't have them on the sales floor and the sales girl didn't know what the hell I was talking about. I had to direct her to their own web page for enlightenment. Sheesh! Since they cannot go out on the internet to browse, only to their internal website, you would think they would have a little knowledge about what is on there. Malcolm

Post# 458249 , Reply# 9 8/21/2010 at 08:22 (4,990 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes malcolm, you're expecting wayyy too much from the typical sales person.

Post# 458269 , Reply# 10 8/21/2010 at 12:46 (4,990 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)
Checkrate/Likes *Home From Lowes* Well, I just got home from Lowes. The Vantage was on display and powered up in the appliance department. Here is what I thought. 1) I liked the automatic lid opening but it seemed that you had to fight it to put the lid down. 2) Navigation through the cycles was cumbersome and the screen responsiveness was quite slow. Electing to start over meant you had to power off and power back up. There is no 'HOME' button. 3) User option settings seemed dumbed down and unclear. For example, the maytag Bravos with a heater has a clean boost option button where temperatures are guaranteed through use of the heater. I could not figure out how to enable the same option through the Vantage console or if it even exists. 4) Quiet. I was able to engage a spin only cycle. And while it was spinning at top speed, I was fooling with the controls on the dryer. A salesman walked up and started talking to me about the pair. He was unaware that the washer was spinning up a storm as it was so quiet. I leaned over and hit the light button and illuminated the interior. The led lighting did stay on until the cycle completed. Unfortunately, I feel the led lighting is quite dim for the heavily tinted windows. Too bad. 5) I went through most of the cycles on the dryer. I could not easily locate an air only cycle. The trick was to select a timed dry and then hit the portion of the screen that says medium heat. I say portion of the screen as it did not appear to be a button at all. I thought it was just a status feedback area at the bottom of the screen. The dryer would not start as it was in a demo mode. I was terribly curious to find out how quiet the dryer operated. I failed to locate any information to indicate the drum reversed at all. I don't think it does. Too bad. That is about all the time I had to play with them as the salesman began to sell them hard. I think they have a contest to see who can sell the first set. Malcolm

Post# 458299 , Reply# 11 8/21/2010 at 15:39 (4,990 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)
Checkrate/Likes Interesting! Thanks for "taking one for the team", Malcolm. I detest pesky salespeople. I know they have to earn a living, too, but give me your name and I will find you if I decide to make a purchase.