I’ve replaced two sets in the past 10 years in the old house and the new house.
What I’ve found is the new dryers work much faster then the old dryers with the extra high speed spin in the new washers. But the new high efficiency washers suck because they take much longer using low water so the net result the new pairs take about the same time as the old ones.
If I could find a refurbished old washer with extra high speed sin I’d go that way, I could care less how much water they used.
“...high speed sin...”
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I still like old-fashioned low-speed sin.
A Speed Queen top loading washer cycle is 28 minutes.
http://www.speedqueen.com/products/top-load-washers.aspx
My washer still works fine; it was the dryer which shut-off 10mins into the cycle. I might as well get a matched pair if I’m replacing the dryer, since they’re both upstairs next to the master BR.
My GE gas stove, dishwasher, ‘fridge and microwave all lasted 22yrs, but when my Sis wanted to give away her new condo’s new black GE appliances, I took them. She got some beautiful stainless appliances. I think the older units were built so much better; the longevity and trouble-free operation backs that up. I don’t need 23 different water temperatures, 14 spin settings, 5 cool-down cycles, 2 cat fluff options, or a dry-off, no spot setting.