Fast wash cycle, the only drawback being that you cannot add additional water to the first cycle after a brief top-off. The rinse cycle does have an infinite refill. Overflows are a possibility because you cannot see how much water you have added while it's closed. You cannot fill the washer with an open lid. The dryer is really efficient: 30-35 minutes dries just about everything. I love my SQs, but not as much as I love the 25 year old Whirlpools they replaced.

There is a simple 10 second work around using a clothspin with the manual dial so you can open the lid anytime throughout the course. The reset button allows more water but it really already gives a full fill when using normal/heavy duty cycle which is the cycle like the old TL'ers. Also full fill on rinse. 30to35 minutes per load from beginning to end. Hot is true tap hot its not dubbed down. if your looking for a washer thats like the old traditionals the SQ manual dial is it.

"First, are their TL washers HE?"

No, they are not. Having said that, all washing machines sold in the US must meet the minimum standards set forth by the DOE. That's why the line of current TL's have the "Normal-Eco" cycle that includes only a spray rinse.

"Second, does anyone know the average cycle times of the TL SQ?"

Around 35 minutes. Ultimately, this may vary depending on your water pressure.

"Will the Speed Queen allow any water temp on the different cycles?"

The "Normal-Eco" cycle is essentially cold no matter what you select. All other cycles will deliver true hot, warm or cold ... the choice is yours.

"It looks like SQ offers two top load options (one with old school dials and the other with a fancier display). Any advice on which is better?"

SQ sources their residential electronic controls from the same company that produces the E-Controls for their commercial/industrial models. These digital controls are far more reliable than their mechanical counterparts ... so much so that SQ gives a 5-year bumper-to-bumper warranty on electronic models.

Beginning in January 2018, DOE standards become much more stringent. All manufacturers, including SQ, will have to modify their TL washers. Look for the following changes on Speed Queen models:

1. The IWF (integrated water factor) allows less water than ever to wash and rinse in the normal cycle. Expect to see a heavily modified agitator that can wash in low as well as normal water levels.

2. The IMEF (integrated modified energy factor) will now include water extraction as part of the energy equation. Expect to see spin speed increased to around 900 RPMs, and an improved suspension system to handle those increased speeds.

3. Say goodbye to mechanical controls. 2017 is the final year for these as 2018 regs cannot be met with mechanical controls.

4. All cycles, other than normal, will still allow a tub full of water as well as true hot.

Don't anyone panic. TLs are not going anywhere. In fact, the opposite is true. They are making a comeback as many in the North American market had less than positive experiences with horizontal axis machines.

Wow thank you all so much for the insight.

I'm excited to hear the SQ isn't HE on normal cycles! I'm going this weekend, possibly tomorrow night to look at washing machines and will be buying asap.

...I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I finally lost it last night. Between dealing with ATT/Directv the previous days and then having to call ATT again last night, my patience were running low. While talking to ATT, I tried washing 4 pairs of jeans. I got the first UE error about ten minutes into the load. I moved the jeans around, cursed it and carried on. Later I got another UE error. This is when I started going crazy. I kicked the machine as hard as I could and tried to rip the top off but couldn't. So I stopped the load and attempted to move the jeans around again. Finally the load got down to 9 mins and usually at this point it finishes it out. But a short while later I walked by and it went back up to 11 mins. A few mins later ANOTHER UE error (this is the 3rd UE error in one wash). I completely lost it.

I walked into the garage, grabbed a hammer and made my way back to the laundry room. I started hitting the dash on the washer. I hit it as hard as I could probably 5-6 times cursing and screaming this POS machine. At that moment I couldn't help but wonder why I would let such a pile of crap upset me so bad. I knew without a doubt I was getting a new washer asap. I threw the soaking wet jeans in the dryer and told myself - ruin the dryer too - I don't care. I'm done with LG!

Later that night my husband asked me why the hammer was in the laundry room. I just shrugged. And while at dinner that night I told my family how I lost it. This was the first time my husband didn't dare try to tell me I wasn't getting a new washer. And when I mentioned SQ (which he knows is pricey) he still kept quiet.

For how hard I hit the dash on the LG, I have to admit it doesn't look too bad. There are dings and buttons messed up but I was hoping the whole dash would just crumble... It didn't.

Final thoughts... I was going to put the old washer on CL for free and just warn how crappy it is. But I think I'll take the hammer to it again, let out all the anger it has caused me over the years and then let the appliance people take it when they deliver the new one. I'm hoping this is a lesson learned. Going forward, if anything should cause me such grief, I'm not going to wait 4 years through screaming and cursing.. rather I'm going to replace that item right away. It's not worth the stress it has caused.

LOL! Amazing story!!! :D I am sorry though that your machine gave you such grief. I'm also glad your husband understood the severity of the situation. I don't blame you for how you reacted! To be fair, I absolutely lost it the other night while making cannelloni for dinner. The last cannellone just didn't want to roll up properly, then all the pasta tore up and the filling started spilling everywhere... the more I tried to salvage it, the more damage I did. I started fuming, sweating, grinding my teeth... in the end I took the whole sad thing and squished it in my fist, cursing at it and threw it in the garbage, yelling. I later marvelled at how angry that poor cannellone had made me, only realising a day later that it was PMS :) I forgot all about it and never mentioned the episode to my husband, who enjoyed the meal very much :D

Vivien !!!! I loved your story too!!!!

I'm so happy to hear I'm not the only one losing it at times lolololol!!!!

Tore up pasta and UE errors... that's all it takes :)