The 2018 SQ machines have received reviews that could not be more polarized.  I think your decision needs to be based on whether you want a traditional, old school machine with long stroke agitation combined with a full tub of water, or are willing to be a guinea pig and go with an entirely new system that provides a relatively gentle swishing action.  If the linting issue is a key element in your decision, you might be better off with swishing instead of churning.

I'm not biased about either one, because I do not believe the SQ machines from 2017 and earlier are the holy grail of modern day washing machines, particularly when it comes to rinsing.  I had an Amana, which at the time was a SQ clone, and rinsing was token at best, and unacceptable IMO.  Spin speed was also on the slow side, but most top load machines can't compete with front loaders in that regard.

I'll never buy a top load machine again.  After having owned two front load machines, I speak from experience in saying that front loaders are far superior at cleaning than top loaders, and they spin at RPM almost twice as fast, which results in shorter drying time.

We have purchased 6 of these new washers and I have been testing the TR7000 and the TR3000 model in our shop.

There are no surprises from what I have written already, and the 18 may be a good washer for some users, in fact better for some users than the 17 washers. The advantages of the 18 are quieter operation, better spin and balancing performance and much gentler on clothing and easier service and longer life, all pretty impressive.

BUT it will not wash nearly as large a load clean and it uses a lot more water trying to do so, it simply does not turn over and get really dirty items clean, the machine has to be under loaded to get any reasonable  dirt removable, we are talking 3 pairs of jeans in the 18 not getting as clean as 8 pairs in the 17. This is why  SQ will continue to build and sell the transmission machines for commercial use and for sales in several other countries.

I have sold two of the new machines already, one to a good customer that wore out two calypsos, she valued a very gentile washer that she could wash her good clothes in without damage. I sold her the first Calypso to replace a 1988 MT DC TL washer that she hated because it ruined her good clothes and she loved the calypso so much that we sold her a rebuilt one when the first one had serious problems after 9 years, I think she will really like the 18 SQ.

We will really hand pick the customers who we sell this new washer to, I dough that we will sell 1/2 the SQ top load machines we sold last year [ 89 ]

Which machine would have in my house ? [ and which machine do I have in my house ? ] Differently neither of these SQ TL washers, The 17 is too crude and the 18 is just not that effective at cleaning and uses far too much water for what it does.

If you want one of the best performing TL washers ever a good 1986-2005 KM, WP or KA DD washer is far better.

In my house we have a 2005 SQ FL washer, a 1999 WP DD resource saver, a 1971 Lady Kenmore, a 1973 FD 1-18 and a gas 1965 LK combo, more machines are planned after the laundry area gets remolded.

John L.

Washers As Crude;

Lack of a two piece agitator

Lack of any automatic water temperature control

Lack of any type of sound control insulation

Lack of a spin clutch, instead all the clutching stress was born by the belt, Very likley to go out of balance with certain loads

Old fashioned construction, very hard to disassemble for repairs, steel outer tub subject to rust & leak problems

Yes DD washers have some crude elements and they got noisier and cheaper as time went on, that's why I suggested getting a nice model built before approximately 2005, but even MT DC, Norge, GE and FD TLers got nearly all these refinements that 2017 and before SQ TL washers missed out on.

John L.

Frankly I respect all these different opinions, but I wouldn't have a back-breaking front-load washer even if it came with an electronic robot maid that did a whole lot more than the laundry. I do think those teeny tiny front loaders I seen in European kitchens and bathrooms are cute. I took care of a neighbor's pool as a kid and remember her all-Whirlpool pink kitchen with a built-in washer-dryer under the counter. It looked kind of small. I tried to imagine my mom using that thing. She had a huge laundry room and the piles of sorted clothes with 4 boys was 12 feet long. I guess we were dirty kids.

The serial # will tell you when it was built.