The Cabrio washer & the F&P washer are very closely related. F&P has sold the same basic washer for about fifteen years or so. The Cabrio is Whirlpool's version of F&P's washer except that they've updated it a little.

They both use the same drive motor, but the rest of the Cabrio has been scaled up by Whirlpool so that the washer capacity is considerably larger. The F&P washer has 3.0 cubic feet of capacity, and the Cabrio has 3.9 cubic feet of capacity. Whirlpool claims 4.5 cubic feet for its high end impeller version, but they are refering to IEC capacity, which is a sort of fictitious number that's intended to account for the lack of an agitator. It's big whichever way you look at it.

Another difference is that the F&P washer uses a single drain pump, and an electrically controlled diverter valve to drive its spray system, whereas the Cabrio uses two seperate pumps, one for draining, and a separate pump for the spray system. Whirlpool probably chose to do it this way because the F&P diverter valve is notorious for failing prematurely.

Also, the F&P washer has a plastic top & lid, and the Cabrio has a steel top & lid. They both work, but some people don't like the look of plastic, and are concerned about it getting scratched if they use the lid as a work surface.

If I was choosing between the two, I'd probably choose the Cabrio because of it's higher capacity. I'd probably also choose the HE impeller version as well for the same reason.

There have been complaints/reports of the top/lid rusting after a couple years on Oasis models. Haven't heard that specifically about the Cabrio. Note that F&P *can't* rust on the top and lid.

Why not a GE Harmony? If you notice you never see anyone complaining about those or having to get service or swap them out.

I own the Cabro HE (impeller version) with the glass lid, I got it in March. I am very happy with it and have not had any problems. I just bought a new dryer (mine was still working fine in March) and I bought the Whirlpool Duet (not the Sport, the large one). I did not get the matching dryer because I did not like the filter on it. The dryer works good so far!

Well, okay Sparky. Why do I want a Harmony? I am certainly open to all suggestions. And I certainly have appreciated everyone's comments.

Actually, the F&P washer, the Cabrio, and the Harmony are all pretty similar. The Harmony has the same size basket as the F&P though. The Cabrio is bigger than either of them.

One benefit of either the Cabrio, or the Harmony, is that both washers have glass lids so you can check on your clothes while they're being washed. The F&P washers don't have this option.

I thing I think I should also mention, is that the Cabrio outsells the both the F&P washer, and the Harmony washer, by a considerable margin. This is because Whirlpool sells the Cabrio as an Oasis washer for Kenmore, a Bravos washer under the Maytag brand, as well as selling as the Cabrio under the Whirlpool brand. Under each brand there are also impeller models, and agitator models, as well as versions with and without the glass lid.

I think Whirlpool makes about 500,000 Cabrio washers a year, whereas F&P sells about 50,000 a year in the North American market. I'm not completely sure about the Harmony, but I think the volumes are comparable to F&P. The reason I mention this is because some people say that no one ever complains about F&P's washers, and one of the reasons for this perception is that while it's probably true that there are fewer people that have problems with their F&P washer, it's also true that the entire population of F&P washers in the USA is 1/10th the size as well, so unless you look at the percentage of complaints, just quoting absolute numbers is a little misleading.

I don't have the Harmony-I have a f/l but I have noticed that you read a lot about problems with all of the Whirlpool made ones(Cabrio Oasis) people getting them exchanged and not cleaning and all that stuff. That may happen with the Harmony also I just don't read it here. I have a neighbor with a F&P with agitator and she LOVES hers. You will just have to close your eyes and pick one since they are all similar.

I have the Cabrio with agitator. And I do recommend it if you want to wash BIG loads with a fair amount of water.

I like mine. I have had it for 7 months and so far, so good.
I have had the Cabrio gas dryer for 13 months. It works well too.

I started out with the Cabrio HE with impeller. It did not meet my expectations and I was able to trade it for the Cabrio with agitator. Better choice in my opinion.

With all I hear about F&P (positives) I surely would have considered one. They are not readily available in Ontario.

Cabrio sucks!!!

We have been having the same F51 error on washer.
The first tech that came said we where usinig the wrong detergent. My wife threw him out.
The second tech said that the connector under the motor had too much laquer on it in the factory and it melts into the connector. He cleaned it and it worked for a few months.
The error came back. This time the tech used a special cleaner on the connector that Whirlpool provides now. He also fixed somthing in the rear. Also he said the springs weaken under the washer that does the self level, said he fixed something there.
He said when it breaks again(not if), that he will try and get Whirlpool to replace the washer.
He also said he was at Lowes fixing 7 of them in the back room. At that time they offered him one for $200.00!! He declined and a storer associate bought it and called him the next week to fix it.
He said they are junk and Whirlpool doesn't want anything to do with them.
DON'T BUY!!! GARBAGE!!!!!

As I said before, I've had my Cabrio HE since March and not had a single problem. I think it just depends on if you are lucky and get a machine that works well, that goes for every brand out there. I had a Bosch first, actually two of them. The first one smelled like it was burning so Lowes took it back. The second one shook my whole house, after it was leveled several times by multiple people. It also did not wash well at all, it was no where near as good as the Cabrio is. I guess I could say nasty things about Bosch, but I would guess there must be good machines out there since so many people swear by them, I just did not get a good one.

Just be sure you can exchange or return your machine without paying a fee, And get the extended warranty. Honestly, with the way thing are now a days, if you don't want to worry about your washer breaking, you could try hand washing everything! When I was researching my washer purchase there were very few machines that people did not have horrible complaints about, and those that I could not find complaints about, I also could not find much info on so I would guess there were not many complaints because not many people own them. I could not even find them in my local stores to look at. Just buy what you feel comfortable with, fits your budget, and has the cycles you really need. And don't forget the warranty.

Good Luck!

By the way, Whirlpool first introduced the Cabrio in 2000, I think that if they wanted nothing to do with this machine they would have stopped marketing them at some point in the past 7 years rather than working on improving them.

My family and I purchased a Maytag Bravos washer for my grandmother and she just loves it!! She has had no problems with it so far (knock on wood!!)

It holds as much as a triple loader at the laundromat yet uses just enough water for whatever size load you wash in it, big or small! It also does a unique spin/spray rinse thing that does a superb job rinsing out the clothes! I highly reccommend the Bravos. Good luck washer shopping and let us know what you end up buying! :o)

JCrowley99, it seems you're getting the CALYPSO and CABRIO mixed up.

The Calypso was introduced in 2000 as a Kenmore model .. followed a few months later by a Whirlpool version. It was discontinued on the market sometime in 2006. I have two Whirlpool Calypsos that (per the serial numbers) were manufactured in early 2001 and late 2001. I know someone who bought one ("old" new stock) a few months ago that was manufactured in 2005.

The Kenmore Oasis and siblings Whirlpool Cabrio and Maytag Bravos were introduced just within the last year or two. Certainly not 7 years ago.

The Calypso and Oasis/Cabrio are *completely* different machines.

Oooh, I forgot all about the Calypso! I just know that Whirlpool first introduced the HE TLer in 2000. There was a problematic machine. Do both of yours work? Were those the ones that had the wash plates that items could get under or was that the old Maytag? I'm just glad my Cabrio works great, it is actually the best washer I have ever owned.

It is starting to get really scary buying stuff like appliances isn't it? I owned one of the Maytag dishwashers that was leaking through the dispenser. I called Maytag about it about 13 months after I got the machine(bought the machine in 1998, called about the problem in 1999). Since it was out of warranty they wanted to charge $80 to send someone out, then they said the new door seal would cost $150. I pointed out that it was obviously NOT the seal since the water was leaking out the bottom of the door but they assured me it was. I threw the machine away cause I figured it was a fire hazard. Now I keep getting letters from them that the machine has a leak that is a fire hazard, fancy that! If only they would actually listen to their customers they would have known that a lot sooner, I can't have been the only person who called them and told them about this problem in the late '90s.

By the way, I also know someone with an old Calypso, they bought it when they first came out. They have (somehow) never had any problems with their machine.

Yes, both of my Calypsos work. I bought them both as used. There was a change late in 2001 on the wash plate boot and seal design. My older machine in platinum (silver/gray color) was built in the 5th week of 2001 and has the original design. It has never had any mechanical problems or been disassembled far as I can ascertain. The cabinet is rusted inside around the top, which is a common aging aspect on them. I plan to refurbish it soon.

My newer machine (white) was built in the 41st week of 2001 and has the newer seal design, but proved to be more problematical. It was F-I-L-T-H-Y inside the tub, but much less rusted. I disassembled it for proper cleaning, treated the few rust spots spots, and found that the seal had leaked and corroded the wash plate mechanism. I got parts to repair it, then upon reassembly the inner basket loosened from its integral hub, which required another disassembly to replace it. It's in great condition now, I use it regularly. This was a pair, I have the matching dryer.

Interesting bit of info about the Calypso -- the tub sump holds about 1 gallon of water, so the machine basically fills with a little more than one gallon of water plus whatever amount the load of clothes absorbs to the point of saturation. A little more water gets added when the bleach and softener dispensers are flushed.