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 | | From: | Peter | | Subject: | Advice for a top load washing machine (Fisher-Paykel or Westinghouse) | | Date: | 23 Jan 2005 03:42:58 -0800 |
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 | I'm in the market for a new top loader on a budget, so I can't really
afford fancy european makes nor decent front loaders. Anyway, I'm
tossing between these two, both can be had for under $600:
1) Fisher-Paykel MW512 (5.5 kg)
2) Westinghouse LT609SA (6 kg)
Fisher-Paykel has Smart Drive which supposed to be gentle on clothes,
also Direct Drive means less mechanical parts to break down. It also
has auto-out-of-balance-correction, auto-lint-disposal, and a max spin
speed at 1000 rpm. The MW512 (Pride) is the lower end of its
counter-part GW512 (Excellence).
On the other hand, the Westinghouse one has slightly higher capacity,
delay start (not important for me), prewash/custom/favourite programs,
temperature sensing and time display. It also features a see-through
window, the LT609SA is better than its counter-part LT608SA.
Both machines have 2-star energy rating and AAAA water rating. Which
is a better machine out of these two? I've heard both good and bad
things about Fisher-Paykel, but hardly anything about Westinghouse
(fridges yes, but not washers).
There're heaps of used Fisher-Paykel on eBay, I also saw lots of
re-conditioned Fisher-Paykel on the paper. Is it because they're
popular and have a large market share? Or simply because they're no
good and problematic?
I'd appreciate your comments. Thanks.
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| | From: | zsutherland_oz at yahoo.com | | Subject: | Re: Advice for a top load washing machine (Fisher-Paykel or Westinghouse) | | Date: | 23 Jan 2005 04:27:36 -0800 |
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Peter wrote:
> I'm in the market for a new top loader on a budget, so I can't really
> afford fancy european makes nor decent front loaders. Anyway, I'm
> tossing between these two, both can be had for under $600:
>
> 1) Fisher-Paykel MW512 (5.5 kg)
> 2) Westinghouse LT609SA (6 kg)
]
Hi Pete. I don't know about Westinghouse, but I've owned a F&P 6.5 kg.
smart drive for about 4.5 years. Absolutely NO problems at all, but I
have heard of plenty on the net. Just wondering when my turn will come.
I think that they are very hard on clothes, towels etc. fray along the
edges, I think this is because of the sudden reversal of the adgitator,
if you use the gentle wash, it seems to be better, but then high speed
spin is not available.
I have made up my mind that if it dies I will replace it with a front
loader.
Cheer's, Ian Sutherland.
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| | From: | Mark Hathaway | | Subject: | Re: Advice for a top load washing machine (Fisher-Paykel or Westinghouse) | | Date: | Mon, 24 Jan 2005 06:14:32 +1100 |
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| Yep, many a horror story regarding the Fisher and Paykel. Mine developed
shorted turns in the stepper motor, killed the driver stage and the power
supply, was 4 years old.
I was close to building my own drvierstage and writing new microprocessor
code and hunting down the shorted turns, water pump bearings were about dead
too (unsealed, wtf are they thinking, it's a damp area), but found a 9kg
commercial whirlpool for 150 bucks. Only problem is its so damned wide
doesn't fit in the washer space.
Build quality on the F&P is very cheap, you can do better
Mark
wrote in message
news:1106483256.105389.34690@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Peter wrote:
>> I'm in the market for a new top loader on a budget, so I can't really
>> afford fancy european makes nor decent front loaders. Anyway, I'm
>> tossing between these two, both can be had for under $600:
>>
>> 1) Fisher-Paykel MW512 (5.5 kg)
>> 2) Westinghouse LT609SA (6 kg)
> ]
>
> Hi Pete. I don't know about Westinghouse, but I've owned a F&P 6.5 kg.
> smart drive for about 4.5 years. Absolutely NO problems at all, but I
> have heard of plenty on the net. Just wondering when my turn will come.
>
> I think that they are very hard on clothes, towels etc. fray along the
> edges, I think this is because of the sudden reversal of the adgitator,
> if you use the gentle wash, it seems to be better, but then high speed
> spin is not available.
> I have made up my mind that if it dies I will replace it with a front
> loader.
> Cheer's, Ian Sutherland.
>
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| | From: | eltan | | Subject: | Re: Advice for a top load washing machine (Fisher-Paykel or Westinghouse) | | Date: | Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:32:44 +1100 |
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| Visit ur local library for Choice magazine or access online, the magazine
just did a review & test of washing machine 2-3months ago.
I think their best buy is LG.
"Peter" wrote in message
news:c48d0aae.0501230342.2faa7ad0@posting.google.com...
> I'm in the market for a new top loader on a budget, so I can't really
> afford fancy european makes nor decent front loaders. Anyway, I'm
> tossing between these two, both can be had for under $600:
>
> 1) Fisher-Paykel MW512 (5.5 kg)
> 2) Westinghouse LT609SA (6 kg)
>
> Fisher-Paykel has Smart Drive which supposed to be gentle on clothes,
> also Direct Drive means less mechanical parts to break down. It also
> has auto-out-of-balance-correction, auto-lint-disposal, and a max spin
> speed at 1000 rpm. The MW512 (Pride) is the lower end of its
> counter-part GW512 (Excellence).
>
> On the other hand, the Westinghouse one has slightly higher capacity,
> delay start (not important for me), prewash/custom/favourite programs,
> temperature sensing and time display. It also features a see-through
> window, the LT609SA is better than its counter-part LT608SA.
>
> Both machines have 2-star energy rating and AAAA water rating. Which
> is a better machine out of these two? I've heard both good and bad
> things about Fisher-Paykel, but hardly anything about Westinghouse
> (fridges yes, but not washers).
>
> There're heaps of used Fisher-Paykel on eBay, I also saw lots of
> re-conditioned Fisher-Paykel on the paper. Is it because they're
> popular and have a large market share? Or simply because they're no
> good and problematic?
>
> I'd appreciate your comments. Thanks.
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| | From: | khangu at gmail.com | | Subject: | Re: Advice for a top load washing machine (Fisher-Paykel or Westinghouse) | | Date: | 23 Jan 2005 23:33:20 -0800 |
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| Seriously, don't rule out front loaders because of cost. Unless you
need a large capacity front loader, some could be had for not much more
than $600. Just shop around.
I remember sone LGs were down there in that price range. They are much
more efficient, using both energy and water. The wash cycles are a lot
longer though.
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| | From: | p19010101 at yahoo.com | | Subject: | Re: Advice for a top load washing machine (Fisher-Paykel or Westinghouse) | | Date: | 24 Jan 2005 02:01:11 -0800 |
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| Thanks for the advice. Yes, I've seen front loader for under $600. In
fact, Retravision has the Whirlpool WF665 for $550 (cash price), but
it's a very basic machine. The Whirlpool AWM5100 is the best buy 5.5 kg
washer according to Choice, it retails for $782 (probably can be had
for $650 or so).
I know the benefits of front loaders, primarily they use less water and
electricity (it'll take years to pay off), but they also require
expensive low sud powders. Gentleness is the major selling point of
front loaders, but the wash cycle typically double the time required by
top loaders.
Some people may want to stack a dryer on top of the washer to save
space, but then most dryers come with wall mount brackets anyway. It
takes more affort to load/unload a front loader, people having back
problems best to stay away from it.
I'm not against of front loaders, I'll buy one if it's within my reach.
Just that I don't believe any front loader is better than top loaders.
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| | From: | p19010101 at yahoo.com | | Subject: | Re: Advice for a top load washing machine (Fisher-Paykel or Westinghouse) | | Date: | 24 Jan 2005 01:20:00 -0800 |
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| Thanks for the suggestion. I knew about the test report, but $11.95 for
3-day online access is a bit steep. What I didn't know is that Choice
magazine is available from my local library, so I went there this
afternoon had a quick look. Now I know where to go next time I need to
buy household appliances.
It's good to know that both machines are in the "what to buy" list. For
the benefit of others, following machines are recommended (from
September 2004 issue):
Small (up to 5.5 kg) RRP
---------------------------
Miele W828 F $1799
Whirlpool AWM5100 F $782*
Fisher-Paykel MW511 T $599
Hoover 500MD T $649
Simpson 36S550L T $699*
Medium (6 to 7 kg) RRP
---------------------------
Miele W1986 F $2999
Whirlpool AWM8121 F $968*
Westinghouse LT609S T $799
Hoover 600MD T $749*
Large (7.5 kg or more) RRP
---------------------------
LG WD-1019BD F $1999
Fisher-Paykel IW812 T $1099*
F = Front Loader
T = Top Loader
* = Best Buy
The full report includes a comprehensive feature comparison table,
check it out. The Fisher & Paykel MW511 is superceded by MW512, they're
practically the same except that MW512 has AAAA water rating thanks to
the added Eco option (MW511 is AA rated).
I've heard that Westinghouse washers are rebadge of LG, is it true? It
appears that Westinghouse, Simpson, Hoover, and possibly few other
brand names are now distributed by Electrolux.
Anyway, the report concludes that both machines are in the same league,
one employs direct drive technology while the other has higher
capacity. Fisher & Paykel's banner says "parts not there, can't fail",
but to me it means "parts not there, can't repair". I will go ahead
with the Westinghouse machine.
Peter
eltan wrote:
> Visit ur local library for Choice magazine or access online, the
magazine
> just did a review & test of washing machine 2-3months ago.
>
> I think their best buy is LG.
>
>
> "Peter" wrote in message
> news:c48d0aae.0501230342.2faa7ad0@posting.google.com...
> > I'm in the market for a new top loader on a budget, so I can't
really
> > afford fancy european makes nor decent front loaders. Anyway, I'm
> > tossing between these two, both can be had for under $600:
> >
> > 1) Fisher-Paykel MW512 (5.5 kg)
> > 2) Westinghouse LT609SA (6 kg)
> >
> > Fisher-Paykel has Smart Drive which supposed to be gentle on
clothes,
> > also Direct Drive means less mechanical parts to break down. It
also
> > has auto-out-of-balance-correction, auto-lint-disposal, and a max
spin
> > speed at 1000 rpm. The MW512 (Pride) is the lower end of its
> > counter-part GW512 (Excellence).
> >
> > On the other hand, the Westinghouse one has slightly higher
capacity,
> > delay start (not important for me), prewash/custom/favourite
programs,
> > temperature sensing and time display. It also features a
see-through
> > window, the LT609SA is better than its counter-part LT608SA.
> >
> > Both machines have 2-star energy rating and AAAA water rating.
Which
> > is a better machine out of these two? I've heard both good and bad
> > things about Fisher-Paykel, but hardly anything about Westinghouse
> > (fridges yes, but not washers).
> >
> > There're heaps of used Fisher-Paykel on eBay, I also saw lots of
> > re-conditioned Fisher-Paykel on the paper. Is it because they're
> > popular and have a large market share? Or simply because they're no
> > good and problematic?
> >
> > I'd appreciate your comments. Thanks.
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