I find it interesting how governments justify rules like this by claiming it reduces energy consumption and is, therefore, more ecologically sound. But I have to wonder how much more green it is to build an electrical appliance with an underpowered motor that will most assuredly burn out before a larger motor and, therefore, require replacement multiple times. Our landfills are filled to the brim with underpowered appliances that burned out and required replacement. Meanwhile, the overpowered 35 year old washing machine in my basement is presently doing a load of laundry and the 55 year old coke machine in my kitchen is still capable of freezing a bottle of beer. They don’t make ‘em like they used to and it has NOTHING to do with energy consumption. It’s just one more lie told to consumers.
For the first 15 years or so, the wife and I used 2nd hand washers and dryers. She really wanted a new washer and dryer, so we finally went and bought a set. The dryer works OK, but the washer is the worst piece of crap I've ever experienced. It's the "modern" front load type without an agitator. It doesn't get the clothes as clean, it takes an hour to wash a load, and the drain water pump has failed 3 times in only 7 or 8 years.
I think the reason it doesn't clean very well is because it uses much less water than the top-load agitator type washer.