I'd honestly consider calling around for an old Speed Queen washer, or... searching the local inventory on Craigslist for a nice, used top loading washer from the late 90's or early 2000's. So many people move/upgrade, and really don't comprehend what they are giving up.

I've had my eye on some Kenmore "80 Series" units that have turned up. The main thing I look at is the Fabric Softener dispenser (is it gooey/yucky) looking, the bleach dispenser (is there rust/dirt) and what the water temperature is set at (I pass over "Cold/Cold" units) . Stuff that looks gently used, and clean.

I also know to AVOID anything with a "start" button, or locking lid. Those are all made recently, and are mostly garbage.

Beyond that... I wouldn't say there is a machine, out there (Top Loader) wise that I'd consider buying today.

I would definitely avoid wash plate type of top loading washing machines. I don't think you would be happy with those.

I agree with the other posters about looking around on Craigslist, the classified ads, even local Facebook groups--such as garage sale or trade up/down FB pages. I see lots of top load washing machines up for grabs on my local garage sale FB page and mine is a very small town. It's amazing how people are ditching their top loaders, but this is CA and water keeps getting more expensive here.

I have a 2016 Speed Queen top loader and I'm happy with it. I had more flexibility with TLers from eras gone by, but it's as close as one can get in modern times. After getting used to it coming from 12 years of FL use, I give it a thumbs up.

In case you didn't know, there are compact FL washing machines. Bosch, LG, GE, Whirlpool, Miele, etc...If a SQ would fit, these likely would as well.

Good luck.

PS, forgot to mention that Maytag has a commercial top loader currently that taking a couple points off for lack of features, people seem pleased with. Maybe some of the other members can provide the model number of it so you read about it and see a video on Youtube of how it performs.

I agree with looking for a used TL machine on either Craigs List or at an estate sale if you can't find a current model you like. I have a 2017 TL SQ that I am very happy with. There is some good advice in the above responses-if you see crud, smell mildew or see rust-keep looking. YouTube is full of videos that will show you the wash action. I hope you don't have someone in your household who says to you like my partner says to me="you're not looking at videos of washing machines again are you?" :()

>>>"Maytag has a commercial top loader currently that that . . . people seem pleased with. Maybe some of the
other members can provide the model number..."

Maytag MVWP575GW

I think [this thread might be the most recent discussion[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/speed-queen-2018-owners-or-washing-machine-recommendations-dsvw-vd~5390188) of it here.

The last, great 2017 model of SQ are the AWN432. If you can find one still in stock somewhere, you're golden. Our old FL machine conked out last month and that's when we started looking at reviews & saw the new SQ's are junk. We had no luck in our area finding the old model but there is also the SQ LWN432 you cold try to find. This is a commercial model like for apartment buildings and laundromats but it does not have the coin op thing. It looks just like a regular machine, almost identical to the AWN model.

We got the LWN432 last month ($899) and it is super. . It is a tough, old school machine that gets things clean. It is not a fancy machine, but it works so well, night and day difference over our junk FL that never seemed to get things clean.

This LWN model has same wash action as the AWN432 and none of the "agi-tub" stuff their 2018 home models have with no working agitator. I don't know what Speed Queen was thinking, going to ruin their super reputation putting out such a disappointing machine. If we could not have got the LWN432 we were looking at the commercial Maytag model posted by someone else above.

Here's a source for the LWN432. 7 left. Free shipping.

Thanks for all the input. I never knew about washing machine videos & I have to say they are almost zen-like! I am looking into the LWN432 model!

I don't see that the 2018 SQ TL design does much of anything regards to water restriction. Every video I've seen shows them filling with a considerable amount of water for the load size.

I think your right Dadoes about the new SQ filling up...but that's where it ends. The agitator does nothing..what a shame. IMO if your using a TL'er you have to have agitation.

Anne Duke, I have a Fisher & Paykel toploader 14 years old that has a shower rinse option so that's not a particularly new feature. F&P's implementation of it rinses quite well. The volume of water used is adjustable via a configuration menu, and the machine also varies it per the load size.

Anne, I am grateful for your in depth review as you are the only one who has their hands on the new SQ washer!

It's not unusual that a given brand over-touts a feature new to them that others may have had for years. F&P, for example, has had automatic water level sensing on their agitator toploaders since the mid 1990s. Kenmore had it on their top-of-line Lady Kenmore for one year in the early 1960s.