Maytag or Whirlpool front load washers

[Art Begun]

We've owned a Maytag Neptune front loader for about 6 years. Recently we had the free mildew fix which included a new front seal with drainage, new control board and new inner door. It made a fine washer better. We've had no significant problems with the machine and just bought an extended 3 year warranty for $330 from Maytag. I thought that was a darn good deal on a 6+ year old machine.

Anyway we are going to give that machine to the parents who are moving to the area and decided to buy the new Kenmore (Whirpool) HE3 washer top rated by Consumer Reports. We've had that for a few days worth. Enuf to give opinion of which is better.

Pretty much a draw so far. Kenmore is slightly bigger which is nice if you want to wash a thickly filled king comforter though it still really doesn't fit without a big squeeze. It is quieter than the Maytag except when high speed spinning. Then it goes nuts. Tried leveling and tighening wheels with no improvement. Will try plywood underneath as suggested by instructions next. It weighs a ton. The access is far less convenient then the Maytag. It seems to rinse better. Controls are more complicated than our early Neptune. The Kenmore clear door is fun but there is no light which is a nice feature on Maytag when unloading. I believe it has a transmission so I suspect it will be more complicated and expensive to fix then the Maytag.

[JTM]

Is there a question? Perhaps the going nuts bit? I would hardly fault it for becoming imbalanced over a water logged comforter that weighs a "ton".

As to the deal on the extended warranty, they are always a bad deal. If you read Consumers Reports on a regular basis you would see regular comments about this. The gist is that the purveyors of this snake oil have excellent data as to the frequency of repair so they know exactly what the probable costs will be--you don't have this information so you are guessing as to the benefit. Typically they double the actual cost and stack on additional incentives to the sales types to promote the extended warranties. Average life for washers and other major appliances is in the 14+ year range. My Whir[l]pool set is over 20 years and has never had a repair same for the refrigerator. Knock wood. So lets see I put 330$ aside every three years and well within the probable life of the appliance I can just get the latest and greatest replacement with all the improvements and greater efficiencies that will likely be available when the old ones bite the dust and go to that final resting place at the dump.

Regards,

John

[Art Begun]

Normally I don't buy service agreements either but Consumer Reports says the Maytag gives people problems although we haven't had any. Our last Whirlpool top loader (direct drive) lost its transmission in year 5 with only 2 family members. Something expensive is likely to break on the Maytag by year 9. Normally manufacturers don't give you a good price on a service agreement for a 6 year old washer.

The new Whirlpool vibrates dramatically at its highest spin rate no matter what the load.

Recently

thought

washer

worth.

still

plywood

fault it for

"ton".