Is your Oasis one of the original ones?

It was an early model, purchased in 2006. We have been through the F1 errors, with replacement of 2 control boards, numerous Ld errors (no apparent problem they could find, according to the techs, but various possibilities - suds lock,lint, etc.), and recently a machine that turned itself on and had a Po error code. I am pretty much fed up with HE and water saving technology at this point. The only way to get kids' clothes clean was presoak, heavy soil, and extra rinse which made for a really looooong cycle.

OK, then it sounds like you wouldn't be interested in replacing it with a new version of it. The Cabrio/Oasis/Bravos have had a number of changes/improvements since it first came out. The Oasis got a bad rap for the new machine bugs. And the later models got unwarranted glorification since they had the updates. But if you're not happy with the performance of it, no sense considering a new version of the Cabrio, Oasis or Bravos.

I have to wonder how much water is being used when you have to do a presoak, higher water level and extra rinses.

Does Sears carry Fisher & Paykel? There's one other thought, do they have the agitator version of the Cabrio/Oasis? There were some people here who traded their HE machines for the non-HE agitator machines. Otherwise, not sure what to suggest.

No, Sears doesn't carry F&P. I was limited to Kenmore, Maytag, Whirlpool, and GE in top loaders. Although I originally was going to choose the Maytag 3.5 cu ft traditional washer, I ended up with the Maytag Bravos HE. Being delivered tomorrow and I hope it works well.

Thank heavens for the searscares people! I emailed them (searscares@searshc.com) and a very helpful rep named Gerald arranged for a credit for the Oasis and I got to go and pick out the new washer. Dealing with Sears was a nightmare until Sears Cares was involved.

I would go for the GE. I have seen very little complaints about them and those I know who have them say they are very dependable machines.

I hate my GE Harmony. It is difficult to regulate the water, I recently had an awful mold problem with it. The tide washing machine cleaner seems to be helping that.
I do not think it is gentle on clothes

The worst is that I have the model with the heater bought in 2007. The heater can only be used for whites. Without the heater the top temperature is 110F which is not very hot since the metal tub takes away heat. I literally have to shut off the cold water source if I want a hot load without the heater

The only good thing is that it washes blankets without a problem. I also have a large family (5 kids).

I thought about the speed queen but was concerned about the blankets and the agitator

OH MY!

You are the first person I've ran into on a laundry forum that hates their GE Harmony.....

To be specific

1. I have two robes that are made of the soft fleecy material, machine washable. I put them in and they developed all sorts of pulls and pills after one wash. I think I may have washed them in my TL before it broke, no problem. I also have a couple of silky sweaters. I had washed similar ones in my TL without a problem, these pill in the washer even in a bag on hand wash. I occassionally get a very tangled load. My kids have some North Face down jackets. I have washed them in the machine and they develop small cracks or holes (I will take this up with North Face but I suspect it is the machine). My kids are gentle and bookish, not the types to roll in the mud. None of their friends report this problem

2. The water temperature used to drive me crazy. If you read the specs it says that hot without the heater is designed to be 112 F. The heater can only be used with white loads and the loads wash for nearly two hours then. Plus it fills with lukewarm water which it then heats. My TL used to fill with much hotter water from the tap on most cycles. It is ridiculous since the tap is about 10 feet from water heater and I always run the laundry tap if I want hot water wash. If I do not want the heater, I literally have to turn off the cold water supply. Apparently the lower model without the heater is designed to fill at 130F! as a max. This would have been better since I rarely use the heater. If you like using cold water for all your loads, this is the machine for you!

3. I recently had a mold problem that literally stunk up the whole house. I could smell it in the kitchen one floor up. It was impossible to find the source, I did clean the dispensers, and put bleach in them. The tub sort of floats in the machine and is impossible to clean behind without taking the machine apart. Fortunately the Tide cleaner, after about 4 uses got rid of most of the problem. For the record I never use fabric softener or dryer sheets and I always use HE detergent. We are guilty of not always leaving it open but I was surprised it happened after a few years.

As for regulating the water, you have to play with the controls and manipulate them if you want it to fill

Finally I do not think my laundry is any cleaner than it was with my TL. If anything it might be a bit more stained but it might be me making less of an effort

Having said this, we used a small Bosch on vacation which did not use enough water to get the smells or stains out of my kids laundry so I guess there are worse choices

If we move I might get another machine of the same type because of the blanket issue. It would have to have a better way of regulating the water temprature. I need a washer with hotter water on a regular length wash

oasisowner how do your new Maytag Bravos? I have one of the awful early Oasis washer/dryerys that I'd love to get rid of but can't afford too.
Nancy

oasisowner and craftmomnancy - another early Oasis owner/hater here! I hope to replace ours soon too. Can't stand the thing! We have considered F&P but will probably go with Speed Queen. Please let us know how you like the Bravos.

Sears carries F&P's "Elba" brand at their Outlet stores.

So far it seems to be working OK. I wish it had a pre-soak cycle, but the clothes look clean. It does not wring as dry as the Oasis did, but also does not twist the clothes as much. I purchased the Bravos 300, no water heater, and not quite as large as the Oasis, but can still do a huge load. Sears gave us an $800 credit for the old Oasis, or I would have probably gone with the Speed Queen.

oasisowner, does your Bravos washer not have a Soak cycle? My Bravos washer -- bought in mid-'08, a different model from yours -- has it, and I use it often, which is a great benefit. The only thing I would get on my washer today, which was not available when I bought it, is an internal water heater.

Does your washer have different spin speeds, from which you can choose? I can choose a Low, Medium, or High spin speed on almost every cycle (the only exception I can think of is the Bulky cycle).

The Bulky cycle, which is used for blankets, comforters, quilts, pillows, sleeping bags, etc, is pre-set for the Medium spin cycle and cannot be changed, AFAIK. When I wash thick/heavy items on that cycle, I use the Spin Only cycle on High speed before I put them in the dryer. This gives me great results every time.

No, there is no soak cycle. I can choose water temp (cold, warm, or hot), spin speed (on all cycles so far, but I haven't tried to change it on bulky), and soil level (light, medium, heavy). I still don't feel the clothes are as clean as in the old fill-em-up top loaders.

oasisowner, does your Bravos have a Pause button? If so, you could let laundry agitate for a few minutes, press Pause to let it soak, then press Start again later. This might give you the same benefit as a pre-soak/wash cycle. I used to do this when I had a traditional top loader.

My Bravos washer gets our clothes very clean. I do use the Soak cycle when they need it.