I have the Frigidaire Affinity 6700, and I love it. I bought mine through BestBuy.com. The different model numbers indicate that they are slightly different concepts upon the same model. All the specs on each vary slightly.

Example would be that my 6700 does not have a prewash but the 8000 model does, which increases the price of the 8000 by $50.

The only draw back that I have seen, and this really isn't a draw back for me, is because the Affinity's all have "iWash" technology you have to choose your detergent carefully. iWash determines the amount of water needed to effectively wash the clothes so it uses less water than some other FL models. Minor issue, if you ask me, as HE machines are getting ever more popular so just about every detergent brand has a detergent made for HE.

Even the HE detergents (like 2x Tide HE liquid) that will oversuds or not rinse away completely can me modified to work just by diluting them in another bottle and then measuring for your load. Not a really insurmontable problem.

I have been able to wash all of our clothes in it, king size comforters and blankets, and even sneakers if they are in with other clothes. I specify this because in my research I found some of these 4.0 cubic foot brands with the high price tags are not equiped to handle large comforters. It's not because they can't fit in a 4.0. Some of the 4.0's just can't handle the weight.

I can't say that all the models are reliable, but I can say the one I have is. I do a lot of laundry here, and this baby has held up to the challanges I have put her to task on.

This is the exact model I got at best buy plus their 5 year protection plan and the guys set it up for free, including leveling it, when they delivered it:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8537229&type=product&id=1188438379643

Well great review thank you Im going today to either buy the FA or GE.

happymom - how long have you had yours now? I'm pondering it again this morning - now wondering if I should just get another top loader. Do you know how much space you needed to allow behind it for the hoses? I'm still trying to figure out the space thing - my current machine is only 26" deep.

Since I have an HE front loader at home, I've adjusted to the low water, HE detergent thing. I love the Sears HE powder in the buckets!

Wait a second, there's at least one very big difference between the models unless they've changed specs. As I recall, only the 7000 and 8000 series have a heater. I believe 6000s do not. If as you say it's only $50 difference to get a heater, even though you'd likely use it only occasionally, to me it would seem foolish to not get it. As I recall it heats to 152°. Just my 2¢ worth.

Been lurking here for awhile now. I have the Affinity 6000 series for about 3 months now and I'm very happy with it. It was my first FL. I do have a concern that the auto temp for the warm isn't warm enough for my liking and it doesn't have the on board heater. I can put my king size comforter in it with no problems and I use the Sears Ultra powdered detergent in the bucket. I really love this stuff. I like the idea that you can stop the wash to throw in "those things" left behind. I also like the extra rinse and use it every time. I have softened water and I want to make sure that everything is rinsed clean.

Okay - I have printed out some spec sheets from Frigidaire website and have info on which ones have the heater and which don't. The 7000 and 8000 models have the heater - the lower level have Automatic Temperature Control - not sure how that works. I may consider the heater. I see the 6700 washer/6400 dryer on sale this weekend at Best Buy. I wonder if this is an older model that is being cleared out - is 7000 a newer model? The Frigidaire website has only 6000, 7000 and 8000. I keep thinking they might improve some of the deficiencies of earlier models so may be worth getting a newer one if it's a couple hundred dollars more. And then I see Gallery - which doesn't have a few things like the heater but otherwise seems similar.....such a decision.

I have though narrowed it down to some Frigidare since that is the best fit for the space.

Sorry it took so long to respond. I've been taking care of sick family and that takes up a lot of time.

I have had my machine for about a month. I know that is not long, but considering that I managed to break my two previous washers within 2 weeks of using them (don't ask...LOL), that is an incredible feet from my perspective.

Cynic is right. I completely forgot about the heating element in some versions, but then again I try to keep appliances to my needs and let the fancy stuff go. Fancy stuff to me is just something else that can possibly break. I follow the "keep it simple stupid" philosophy. LOL!

I saw in another post you finally broke down and ordered the Affinity. Good for you. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Thanks mom - I appreciate your feedback. I ended up getting the 7000 model because I just didn't want the shiny chrome trim. Kind of a dumb reason to make a decision but the price wasn't very much different so I decided to just get the one I liked better esthetically. I had to get it at Sears because Best Buy didn't have that model. I get it in a couple weeks - then we'll see - still deciding on the extended warranty.

Be sure to report back after you've had it a while. Would like to hear how you like it after using it for a while.

cynic - I will definitely report back. I'm looking forward to getting it. I have lots of guests at this place and wash alot of bedding, towels, etc. The one and only time I tried to wash a comforter in the top loader it came out mangled and deformed. It will be nice not to have that problem any more - at least I'm not expecting to have it since my FL at home works great for that kind of stuff. And this Affinity has gotten great reviews - it just hasn't been around long enough to get any longer term reliabilty reports. Hopefully it is improved over earlier models.

so just so that you know my sister in law says that the warranty doesn't cover the parts that are ordered over seas and usually takes 3 months to get..... she said that if you get the warranty thru best buy they will replace the whole machine so that you don't have to wait for the parts .....

also the heater (if you didn't know) was to sanitize the clothes by using extremely hot water (instead of chemicals) and that if that is an option that you choose to use you must be aware that you laundry will take time (because the heater is heating the water) the reviews say that it kills 99.9% of germs... :O

i am going to get an 8000 on Wednesday...... can't wait. :D

sierra jo - glad to hear you are getting one - we can compare our experiences. I'm still thinking about the extended warranty. I need to find out if I can get service on Saturdays since we're at this place mostly on weekends except when we take a longer vacation there. That could be a deciding factor. I have lots of time to cancel so I'm kind of procrastinating about making a decision. Are you getting any add'l warranty?

I finally got to use this new washer and dryer for the first time this weekend. Also got to see how it fit in my space. DH took delivery of it a few weeks ago. I really like it. It's very much like the older Duet models I have at home - just not as deep and not quite as high - and probably a little narrower. Functionally very similar though - which was what I was hoping for. The capacity is a little less but it's not very noticeable when you look inside the drum - or when you use it. It also fits perfectly in the space previously occupied by my toploader. So I'm happy for now - we'll see about the reliability. I decided not to get the extended warranty since I read horrible reports about the company that Sears contracts with to provide the service here. A friend of mine has a great appliance repair company recommendation and I'll just take my chances and call them if needed. Worse than needing repairs is having an extended warranty that "forces" me to use incompetent repair people.

"A friend of mine has a great appliance repair company recommendation and I'll just take my chances and call them if needed."
FWIW, I think you made a good decision. Service contracts are big money-makers for the companies, which is why they push them so hard and try to scare you into buying them.

"Worse than needing repairs is having an extended warranty that "forces" me to use incompetent repair people."
VERY well said! And throw in the waiting for months factor to get them out there...

i love my friggy F/L, next time the wife tears it to shreds with a bra wire i'll replace it with the larger affinity, however... we plan to move to the country in the next couple of years and when we do if there is a friggy washer in this house it stays here

frigidaires do NOT like softened water, something in the salt eats away the support on the inner tub

every time i change a rotten tub on a friggy if i look around the basement there is a water softener, i never see this type of failure in the city where ppl do not have softeners, considering 95 percent of my service work is in the city this is more than coincidence

brnt,

Thanks for posting that. Is it all softeners that can cause the prob or only some? I have STTP here and use that frequently. If it's going to break my machine I'll stop using it.

In response to Gibby May 26, 08:

This has to do with washer failures because of the corrosion of the aluminum "spider" bracket attached to the stainless steel drum. (See the web site http://www.appliancejournal.com/ or just search "Why Kenmore front load washers fail" for lots more information re why using aluminum to join with stainless steel in a liquid medium which the washer will provide is a recipe for failure.)

I called Electrolux and spoke with a person in the Extended Service Agreements office (866)386-5286 who informed me that Electrolux no longer has any kind of lifetime warranty on washing machine parts as of 2005. I then called the parts department at 1-800-599-7569 where I was informed that the spider bracket attached to the steel drum in this model (and I presume all other Affinity models) was made of aluminum. (By the way it used to be made of stainless steel previous to 2005 when the lifetime warranty was in effect. Nice timing,eh?) I then called my local parts dealer and was not surprised to hear that when the aluminum spider brackets would inevitably corrode to such an extent as to need replacement (say four years?) then the cost of labor and parts to replace the drum assembly spin basket which contains the spider bracket arms would run me about $500. Thanks, but no thanks, I will be returning the washer.

marek12345, you really hate Frigidaire, don't you? Are you going to find every post mentioning the name and crosspost this same thing?