My 13-or-so year Kenmore front loader, which I liked and which was kind to my clothes, died a horrible death last Spring. A small area rug thrown in to clean a cat barf stain absolutely did it in. The "tripod" separated. I paid a repairman I know almost $200 to fix it though he warned me the fix would be temporary. Then it did stop working.
I was busy at the time and shopped sales rather than consumer feedback, and I got on a Memorial Day sale an unpopular (I guess) Maytag, which I think has an impeller agitator, which works differently from the big central shaker (even though it does have a pillar in the center). It's an energy star like my old Kenmore.
I like it, but it makes uncanny noises. When loaded and pressed, it clicks. (It is calculating its water supply.) Also, the detergent has to be put in before the laundry items. It does a good job but takes a long time (I have it set, due to my allergies, to extra rinses). It was marked down from over $530 to 399, and I feel I got a good deal. Clothes are clean, and this one has a big capacity that I am appreciating after some 15 years of tiny loads. I've only had it a few months, though. But I like it and do not agree with the negative reviews I saw on Lowes' website. Yet I am glad for them, as it got me a discount on a good machine.
A cycle does take a long time, and the lid does lock, but I am used to that from my front loader--plus there is a button to press if there is an unbalance, which unlocks it. Too soon to say if this new kind of agitator is easier on clothes but so far it looks as if it is.
Edited to add: My repairman told me this about front-loaders, after telling me that mine has lasted more than most do. The "tripod" is a design flaw as it is held by a few screws that corrode and rust, which causes the whole unit to fail. I may have misunderstood his comments, which were technical, but that was my takeaway. So the front loaders don't last as long as top-loaders due to this design flaw, according to him.
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