I am in a quandary: to buy a new washing machine or repair the one I have. My 12 year old Kenmore produced a funny clicking noise when it should have started spinning the other day. The repair charge starts at $129 and I'm sure there will be parts involved, so I questioned the wisdom of investing a few hundred dollars in a 12 year old machine. Then I started looking at new machines. I hate my sons' front loaders. They love them but we have different needs. I often use my machine for soaking, treating fabrics, or dying & such... I assumed all top loaders would do these things but I am learning that the new top loaders are also computerized and, if I understand correctly, there is no access to the load once it is underway, so I could not let a load soak for an hour or overnight if I wanted to? Then the agitatorless motion & self-sensing water level offer issues that seem at odds with my uses. What are your experiences, likes and dislikes with the machines you use?

I'm another one that loves my front loader, Siemens brand. After owning a front loader for a while I do know what to shop for next time, as far as a soak cycle and a rinse only cycle. My machine has neither of these and I would like to have them. My sister bought a top loader recently and really doesn't like it. I think people (I may be wrong) that like top loaders are frustrated because the machine doesn't work like their old top loaders. Now, my daughter has a top loader that she loves, but, this was her first machine in her first home no real history with machines other than Mom's and I didn't get the front loader until after she had left home. New technology can sometimes be very frustrating, newer isn't necessarily better.

You could try a used appliance store to see about buying an older model in good shape. There is one in the town near us & they warantee them for a year.

I'm in the same boat. My washer has a drip that won't stop, so DH put shutoffs on the hoses that I have to use every time I wash. I soak DH's work clothes overnight & I don't know if that would work.

I loved my front loader, but it broke and was cheaper to buy new. I did go with one the new top loaders, price was a major consideration, going for a least $100 cheaper, so I did the stove I wanted. Now about 4 months later we had to replace the refriderator also.

I think you will find it a personal choice.

I have a Kenmore front load washer. Love love it! Not the first problem with it-you can open the door and have access to the load after it has begun the cycle. There is a lock on it; but it does unlock. And I can pre-rinse. Not sure about the soak cycle but I've never used these cycles so can't comment on them. But I would recommend a Kenmore front and mine is about 5 years old.
Sandy

Maytag....No frills ... Had mine for 20yrs........

I love our front loaders very efficient and you can soak things in it and do pretty much anything you want to. I have the top of the line Kenmores and yeah I dropped $5000+ on the pair but I am looking to get 25+ years out of them like I did my last set I bought when my wife and I got married. I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and I will say get the extended warranty, Sears stands behind them and never ask any questions. For the next 10 years I am covered so if any computer board fries it is replaced no problem at all. And when it goes out I can get another extended warranty to cover me the next 10 years.

Billy

I have a Maytag top loader. No problem with stopping the cycle to let something soak. In fact ... sometimes I forget to turn it back on ... for a day or so. Oops. Yes, the water is still in it.

It also has a hand wash cycle which I use when washing fabric (especially FQ's). The hand wash will agitate once or twice, the soak for several minutes - repeat.

I bought a GE top load several years ago because of the super capacity. My Kenmore which had lasted for over 15 years was not large enough for Queen size plus quilts. When it started acting up, I didn't hesitate. My sole criteria was the size. The GE was a mid-range price model and I have really liked it.

I did the research in the Spring & decided to hold off on replacing my washer & dryer until mine totally dies. The newer machines are so computerized that I doubt that they will last as long as the one I have.