|
Thread Number: 31271
Admiral or Speed Queen |
[Down to Last] |  |
| Post# 472099 10/29/2010 at 01:16 (4,927 days old) by snowberry () | ||
|
I seem to be leaning toward Speed Queen TL but for about 1/2 that price there's an Admiral at Home Depot that someone thought was a good basic machine. Are they pretty dependable? (the Admiral) | ||
|
| Post# 472127 , Reply# 1 10/29/2010 at 09:24 (4,926 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY) | ||
Yaris vs Camry
I compare this in car terms to 2 cars. The Admiral (WP DD) machine would be like a Toyota Yaris as the SQ would be like a Camry. The Admiral is a basic machine, fairly simple to do most work on and the DD's historically seem to have some durability. The SQ is the "luxury" line so to speak, it is smoother, heavier built and costs more. The SQ has it's roots in the commercial laundry business, so it is a well built machine no doubt. Either would be a great machine in my opinion, just a matter of taste and what you want to spend.
I like the SQ because it has a long, slow stroke much like older washers and I think that's a lot of appeal with the crowd here. The big draw backs for the SQ is cost and availability. It's not a brand that is stocked locally usually. You can also almost get the Admiral washer and dryer for the cost of just the SQ washer. If I were in a pinch with little money I'd go with the Roper (Lowes) or Admiral (HD). Ultimately it all depends on your budget and taste. I think the SQ is a good machine for "enthusiasts" but don't feel it's the most practical choice from a budget standpoint for the average consumer. If you want good and cheap, I think the Admiral is a good choice. If you have more money to spend and want commercial level quality, the SQ would be a good route. -Tim | ||
| Post# 472138 , Reply# 2 10/29/2010 at 10:11 (4,926 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
Capacity | ||
Post# 472170 , Reply# 4 10/29/2010 at 14:44 (4,926 days old) by kenmoreguy64  (Charlotte, NC) |
||
Flooding?
The Admiral is no more likely to flood a floor than any other Direct-Drive washer. It is of the most commonly built washer of all time (something like 90 million manufactured) and believe you me, Whirlpool knows how to build them by now. If DD Admirals have flooded anything, it's either pure bad luck that could happen to anything, OR user fault.
Gordon | ||
| Post# 472175 , Reply# 5 10/29/2010 at 15:00 (4,926 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY) | ||
|
Admiral vs. SQ
There is a slight difference in size. The Admirals have a 3.2 sq ft tub and the SQ is a 3.3 sq ft so I doubt there is a usable size difference. The Admiral is also (I believe) a 1-speed unit, which would make it comparable to the AWN311 base model SQ. Neither the lower end SQ or the Admiral have noise insulation and are both a little on the loud side.
Around here the SQ AWN311 runs a tag of $549 and the Admiral can be had on sale for $299. You've not mentioned what your budget is and how much you are willing to spend. I think for the money, you'd be hard pressed to get a better deal than that Admiral (or comparable WP DD machine) for the cost new. I know a lot of people are big SQ fans here, myself included, I just don't think they compete from a price standpoint in the average home laundry market. Money talks for me, and that's a good machine for the money. From a repair standpoint, the Admiral is a much more common platform and parts and labor will be cheaper if the need for repair ever comes around. I've never heard of WP based machines having any abnormal flooding/draining issues and essentially the Admiral is a rebadged Whirlpool. We ran a bottom model WP DD machine hard (3 kids) for 7 years with only a pump being replaced (easy and cheap replacement). That washer is now in the field house at a local high school seeing use still. I guess that's a lot of typing to say that I think the Admiral would be the better buy here. Also not knocking the SQ, if you have the money and want something nicer, get the SQ. The Admiral however should suffice fine for a lot less. -Tim | ||
| Post# 472198 , Reply# 6 10/29/2010 at 17:32 (4,926 days old) by DanManTN (Tennessee) | ||
$549 - $299 = $250. 311 in my neighborhood is $499, TOL $599. The SQ has a full 3 year 'bumper to bumper' warranty, in home, plus 5 on tranny and lifetime on stainless steel tub. Not sure about the Admiral....guessing 90 days/1 year? 3 year extended warranty for Admiral = guessing $100? Most mom/pops deliver for free.
The SQ agitator is skinier than 'cork screw' type agitators. My initial concern over the 3.3 cu ft were quickly gone. I know I was surprised on how wide it was (as opposed to deep style tubs with Whirlpool style washers). SQ dealers - go to SpeedQueen.com and look to see what's around you...THEN look at the service locator - there will usually be many more certified service personell that can service the unit than dealers under warranty/post warranty. SQ allows you to chose whoever you want to service as long as they are from their directory/certified. They take care of all issues, not your dealer. I can honestly say that my SQ hasn't budged an 1/4 inch since I installed it (from horrible vibration spins/banging). That's worth the $200 alone to me. Just some things to consider/ask in your evaluation of what's right for you. | ||
| Post# 472201 , Reply# 7 10/29/2010 at 17:48 (4,926 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA) | ||
More like... | ||
| Post# 472203 , Reply# 8 10/29/2010 at 17:56 (4,926 days old) by DanManTN (Tennessee) | ||
|
"From a repair standpoint, the Admiral is a much more common platform and parts and labor will be cheaper if the need for repair ever comes around."
I believe the basic design of the Speed Queen is over 25 years old with refinements through the years...with thousands of commercial installations. Not sure if you can get more common than that. | ||
| Post# 472204 , Reply# 9 10/29/2010 at 18:07 (4,926 days old) by JeffG () | ||
|
Corkscrew agitators are brutal on clothes, if that matters to you get the SQ. | ||
|
Post# 472236 , Reply# 12 10/29/2010 at 19:57 (4,926 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
||
SQ VS WP DD
I sell both machines and would rate then as both worthy choices. I really like the longer warranty of the SQ the trans is covered for 10 years and even the motor has a 5 year warranty. If maximum capacity is important get the WP and add a dual action agitator it will then wash a far larger load than the SQ. Dual action agitators wash far larger loads with much less wear on the clothing also the short fast stroke does less clothing damage than a long stroke does which will actually hold on to clothing and drag them back and forth. One thing to keep in mind with a fast stroke agitation washer is that you use a shorter wash time to get the same cleaning.
| ||
| Post# 472279 , Reply# 14 10/29/2010 at 22:33 (4,926 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington) | ||
If I was in this situation, I would look at: Quality, features I would use and like, warranty. Speed Queen has been around many years and isn't a low end product. Look for features that will be used alot. look to see what the full warranty is and what it covers.
I've never been a fan of fast short-stroke machines from day 1, for many reasons of my own. Im a firm believer when it comes to belt drive long stroke machines, again for reasons of my own. Used machines, they would be a better price, but you don't know how the machine has be treated. (I would rather have a full warranty than not at all, when something does happen unexpectedly from a used machine.) Rich | ||
| Post# 472291 , Reply# 15 10/29/2010 at 23:32 (4,926 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY) | ||
|
Servicing and Longevity
Well, one could argue that the DD machines have been around for a bit as well. Speed Queens are not a common household brand, at least not around here. The commercial places here use Maytag, GE and SOME Huebsch (SQ). Your local, smaller repair shop probably has more experience with WP based machines based on shear numbers, they're a very common machine. I think it's in fact very safe to say that you can get more common than SQ, WP and it's derivatives outnumber SQ's quite a bit in the home as do GE's and many others.
I'm not arguing the superiority of WP to SQ, which is what I feel like this is becoming. I'm simply stating that for someone who needs a washer, who doesn't know the mechanics and just wants something that works for a reasonable prince, the WP comes out on top. SQ sells a high brow washer and charges accordingly for it. For this you get very well made machine yes, but an expensive one. That said, if I was fiscally able to do so I would certainly have a SQ set as I do like them. If I had a limited amount to spend on laundry equipment however, I'd get a basic WP variant set. Also to the shred statements, I've always heard the DA agitator referred to as "Cruel Action" or a "Shredmore" but I've never had this issue personally. I prefer the longer stroke, but have never had issues with the WP agitator cleaing or being unusually rough on clothes. I don't wash a lot of delicates or frailies though so I can't speak there. -Tim | ||
| Post# 472330 , Reply# 16 10/30/2010 at 04:00 (4,926 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
|
DD Design
Whirlpool has gradually begun to phase out this direct drive design. So if you want one, you had better grab it soon. While the Admiral is not for me, I can certainly see where people shopping on price would chose it. And if loaded properly and used with care, it would prove to be an adequate performer. However, I do believe Whirlpool has been guilty of embellishing capacity in the past. And the corkscrew agitator, in my opinion, just promotes machine overloading. I can remember my Mother looking at the DAA at Sears when they were first introduced. And she countered the salesman that if you are putting so much in your washer that you need a big screw to move them around, you're overloading and we walked away.
Malcolm | ||
|
Post# 472477 , Reply# 20 10/30/2010 at 22:39 (4,925 days old) by Volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH) |
||
SQ vs WP
I've had my hands in quite a few DD washers and yes, they are very very easy to service. They're also quite reliable. Nevertheless, I'd vote for the Speed Queen.
The Speed Queen is an all around higher-quality product. Where I am now, there's a new Roper set (Whirlpool Direct Drive) and the cabinets are super thin and flimsy. The mechanism isn't too loud, but the cabinets rattle and vibrate loud enough to be heard throughout the building. I'd pay the extra money just for the piece and quiet. Both are proven designs, but the SQ is the winner in my book. Cost is what you pay, value is what you get, Dave | ||
| Forum Index: |
| Other Forums: |
|
|
|
|
|
Comes to the Rescue!
