I repaired the old Whirlpool 3 times, and the plastic inside the control panel is breaking to pieces. I love making old things work, but its time for a new machine. Any suggestions under the $400 budget range? Any to avoid?

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

I found a Kitchen Aid at Lowes for around $425. It was out of the box, and had the instructions with it. I had seen it the night before and by the time I got back in the morning, the price had been reduced to the $425. Great buy.

I've got the tub from the old Sears in the back yard waiting its final demise.

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

look for a kenmore on sale, they're made by whirlpool and they have to clean to a slightly higher standard than kitchenaid or whirlpool.

I bought one about a year ago, and after doing my research on Consumer Reports and other websites, the Kenmores were always rated the best.

I bought one at Sears for $550 installed, but you could get below $400 very easily. Especially if you install it yourself.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

You may want to check Craigslist. The KitchenAid dishwasher in my house has been working flawlessly for 5 yrs and I got it for free. It had been in an office kitchen for quite a few years with very little use. A remodel led to it's replacement but an attempt to sell it failed because it was copper colored so it was given away. A $3 can of white epoxy paint solved the color problem. It felt as good as making an old machine work.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Whatever you do, don't buy anything with the name "Maytag" on it. I bought all new appliances from them thinking they were really top-notch, which I think they used to be, but they are absolute crap.

I've never owned anything as poorly made as Maytag appliances. Word to the wise!

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

It seems most brands are really made by Whirlpool now, so it would be logical that most machines in a price range would perform about the same, except for maybe some minor details. I guess I'll compare the Whirlpool and Kenmore in person. I'm surprised by the shipping weights of some of these machines. 70 lbs! I can lift that with one hand.

I'm not getting any input from my wife. She wants me to revive the old machine, even though I tried to explain to her that most of the plastic screw holes are stripped out, and the control panel is held on by a glued-in popsicle stick.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Whirlpool are the class of this segment unless you want to pony up big dough. They own Maytag now, it will be interesting to see what they do about them. I have the cheapest GE made, plastic tub, and nearly everything else too, picked it up and carried it into the house without breaking a sweat. It was free since I got it for testing some new product designs in it. What ever you get make sure you get wash arms on the upper rack and a tall tub if it's in the budget. Nylon racks are well worth the trouble but may not be available at your price point.

I must post a dissenting opinion on the Maytag.

When the Whirlpool that came with the house died, I replaced it with a Maytag, about 5 years ago. This one, at least, is quality. It is MUCH quieter than the one it replaced. It can barely be heard when running. We haven't had any problems or casue for disatisfaction. I vote for the Maytag.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

We have a GE, and it's LOUD....whatever you do, go for a quiet model. The nicer you go, the better insulated they tend to be. This particular one also smells sometimes, we've had to run cleaner tabs through it periodically, which I never had to do with the Whirlpool's I've had in the past.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics