I don't think the new machines are engineered to last 13 years. This is unless you buy possibly a Speed Queen or Miele. But no experience, so don't know if that is true.

I've got a 9 year old Maytag Neptune. No problems until this summer. The bearings are going and apparently you have to replace the tub, not just the bearings. This is apparently one of the most troublesome washers on the planet. So I plan on putting my money in a new machine.

The big thing I noticed with front loaders is you can't presoak stuff in the tub. This may not be an issue for you. I think they are just quieter and more efficient so I plan on replacing it with a front loader.

Because I hear every little noise I plan on getting the Samsungs with pedestals. If you don't want to spend the money on pedestals, you could build a lower platform. That way you could raise them but still be able to fold clothes on top.

If you like the Cabrio I am sure that there are other manufacturers that make the same type model. Maybe that would ease your fears with the problem issue.

I went around and around on this too. It was really hard to decide and I have lots of laundry- sports uniforms, beach towels, bedding etc. Here's how I ended up w/Bosch 500 plus-
Quietest washer on the market (I have a Bosch dishwasher and have been happy with the quietness)-and the washer and dryer have been very quiet.
No pedastals needed- and I was putting them on the second floor and every salesman said I would get more vibration/noise on pedastals- I am tall and I liked that the controls were on top and the door opened on the top- 2 less things to bend down for.
Been around a long time- 2 friends have them and would never buy anything else. I have never heard of one leaking (again big consideration for me for 2nd floor)
The HE top loaders seemed good until I read several didn't handle heavy loads well-ie,stuff on bottom stayed on bottom-I liked the idea of a proven system for heavy things (we have lots of snow pants/coats in the winter here in northern IL)
Bosch is consistently highly rated for years and are built in NC. Supposedly the parts are easier to get now-don't know- haven't had a need yet.
Price- wow- I thought Bosch was expensive, but they were less than the other FL's I looked at-about $850 each (I am sure you can get them cheaper- I bought them in a rush-took a month to decide but then had to have them tomorrow when the decision was made!
I have no regrets at all, but you have to look at all your personal needs and decide what will work for you.
I have to say for quiet,no vibration what so ever,.large capacity for heavy loads and not uncomfortable to load and use- I have a perfect match for me.
Good luck-take your time- realize and prioritize YOUR needs- I hope you find the perfect match too!

I went around and around on this too. It was really hard to decide and I have lots of laundry- sports uniforms, beach towels, bedding etc. Here's how I ended up w/Bosch 500 plus-
Quietest washer on the market (I have a Bosch dishwasher and have been happy with the quietness)-and the washer and dryer have been very quiet.
No pedastals needed- and I was putting them on the second floor and every salesman said I would get more vibration/noise on pedastals- I am tall and I liked that the controls were on top and the door opened on the top- 2 less things to bend down for.
Been around a long time- 2 friends have them and would never buy anything else. I have never heard of one leaking (again big consideration for me for 2nd floor)
The HE top loaders seemed good until I read several didn't handle heavy loads well-ie,stuff on bottom stayed on bottom-I liked the idea of a proven system for heavy things (we have lots of snow pants/coats in the winter here in northern IL)
Bosch is consistently highly rated for years and are built in NC. Supposedly the parts are easier to get now-don't know- haven't had a need yet.
Price- wow- I thought Bosch was expensive, but they were less than the other FL's I looked at-about $850 each (I am sure you can get them cheaper- I bought them in a rush-took a month to decide but then had to have them tomorrow when the decision was made!
I have no regrets at all, but you have to look at all your personal needs and decide what will work for you.
I have to say for quiet,no vibration what so ever,.large capacity for heavy loads and not uncomfortable to load and use- I have a perfect match for me.
Good luck-take your time- realize and prioritize YOUR needs- I hope you find the perfect match too!

I'm trying to make up my mind too on what my next purchase will be and I feel like a pendulum going tick-tock back and forth between FL & TL. But I try to keep rational and look at facts and sort out the fiction. There's so many myths floating that just confuse sincere people trying to look for their needs.

Myth busted: You CAN soak things in a front loader. Many people here do. No, you won't fill the drum but saturated clothes are soaking.

Myth busted: No, you will NOT save $1,000.00 a month in water costs and pay your house payment and buy a new car with the savings of a front loader.

Myth busted: Yes, top loaders will clean clothes and if used correctly likely will clean as well as a front loader for the average person.

Myth busted: You do NOT have to use special and expensive detergents in a front loader. You do need to use low suds detergents in any HE machine.

Myth busted: Although a heater can be handy on occasion, they're not used all the time on many if not most and that should be considered.

So many more, but these are my top frustrators.

So far, I'm kicking around the following:
Front loaders: Duet, GE, Bosch & Asko. (Miele's out of my price range to even consider.) And for me, some type of a pedestal is required, so that has to be budgeted in whether a commercial one or home built unit.
Top loaders: GE Harmony, Fisher & Paykal, Speed Queen and the Whirlpool line from Inglis/Roper on up to a higher level one.

I also have the bosch 500 with no pedestals on the second floor. The height of the pedestals just doesn't seem to be enough to make them really useful for storage in my personal opinion, plus they wouldn't have fit my installation anyway... and I like being able to use the tops of the machines. Reaching inside (bending) is not an issue for me, I'm 5-6 btw...

It can do a presoak, it can do a separate spin, it has a great handwash cycle.

I live outside Boston, with some of the highest priced wter in the country... so water consumption was a consideration, although as pointed out previously, it doesn't save you thousands... but I'm also on a septic, so again minimal water inflow means minimal outflow, which is good.

The front loaders are extremely quiet... well except for that jet engine reving spin cycle, but then my machine is about 10 feet off my headboard and I tend to run loads at night and never hear it, so it's not that bad really....

Soap... as pointed out as long as you use a low/no suds brand, it doesn't matter what you use, but be sure to cut back dramatically from what the package says... there just isn't much water in there compared to the tl machines.

fs... don't use, but I'm guessing this would be like soap, but back dramatically...

drying... time for this diminishes significantly due to the hgh spins taking out so much water...

cehck for authorized service in your area for whatever you buy... personally I recommend a local applicance store that services what they sell... they typically seem to have the most knowledgeable staff in sales and service... at leat from my experience...

good luck with what ever you buy... you will find people on all forums who love all models, and then people who also hate every model out there, regardless of tl or fl.... you really have to go look and touch and feel, and talk with knowledgeable sales people... dont' expect that at the 'big' national stores... even if you don't buy there, it's worth a trip to the small local store to get information....

baseballmom,

I always make it a point to steer as many people away from the Oasis/Cabrio/Bravos line of washers as I can. Read through the link I have posted to my blog and you will see there are a lot of people with problems with these machines. I know there are several users here who own them and like them, but I honestly believe they are in the minority.

I would suggest looking at frontload washers before considering a Cabrio. Any frontload washer. Even Frigidaire. And I don't say that lightly.

If you want longevity, look at Speed Queen. If you want high-efficiency in a top load washer, look at Fisher & Paykel.

Just my two cents.

Here is a link that might be useful: Washing Machine Blog

If it is only the lid that is being eaten by rust, you can quite easily get another one and replace it. That would be the environmentally and economically sensible thing to do. Go to a place that collects used appliances for disposal. They should be able to give you an intact lid that fits your washer. You can also go to your local hardware store and get enamel paint. Simply clean the rust away and re-paint it. If your washer is mechanically intact, tidy it up and keep it until it goes bung.

Please note that a new washing machine, which may deliver some water savings, but needs to be replaced in less than 10 years, doesn't deliver any real environmental or cost benefits. People focus too much on saving water and energy, without paying enough attention to the primary purpose and entire life-cycle of the appliances they are choosing. New isn't always better, nor does it necessarily perform to a higher standard.

Contrary to some claims here, there are lots of good-quality machines around that should last more than 10 years. Whirlpool, Fisher and Paykel, Speed Queen, to name a few. Let me reiterate that if it doesn't really need replacing - don't. Get some stickers, touch-up paint and use your imagination. You could turn your bland old washer into a fun work of art.

If you want to save water make sure you adjust the water level to fit the size of the load and try to do full loads as often as possible.

What people really mean when fussing about a washer (or any appliance) that doesn't last more than X number of years ... is that some problem will develop within that time-frame requiring a repair ... even if it's something very minor, the machine will be trashed instead of repaired, because, hey, it broke so it's junk.

A friend called last weekend, said his brother has a Kenmore washer (used at their ranch house) and dryer (used by his daughter at college) that they're going to dump unless I want them to try fixing. The dryer dries slow, and somebody washed a large rug which caused a problem with the washer that they think is bad bearings. I haven't yet investigated the dryer but suspect it's nothing more than a clogged exhaust at the daughter's college apartment or wherever it is she lives. The washer is simply a broken drive coupler, $20 part. And for this they dumped the machines.