Maytag Bravos vs Whirlpool Cabrio

[hockeyprincess]

Hi Budget Board friends, I'm coming to you again for advice/reviews on a new washer dryer set. My washer died last night, and the repairman told us when the dryer went out a few years back not to fix them anymore, just buy new. They are approx 15 years old.... anyway I was thinking we would get a front loader, but just before we were going to purchase a clearance set, found out that our wash room is set up opposite of what it needs to be for the front loader doors to open properly. They will open opposite (washer door into the dryer area) and our room is way too tiny for that to happen. Also too small for the "hamper" style dryer door. Have to have doors that swing open.

So.... that narrowed down my choices tremendously, and we're looking at the Maytag Bravos or the Whirlpool Cabrio. There is also a LG model but not sure of the name. (we tend to gravitate towards LG for some reason. Not sure why but we like the styling and the reliability--our kitchen appliances are LG) The LG is pretty high priced. Reviews/pros/cons/likes/dislikes on any of the above? We would like to get something this week, considering I only got 1/2 my laundry done when it konked.

Thanks so much! You are always a wealth of knowledge and you help greatly!!

 

[JDUCKY]

FWIW, my DGF just LOVES the Cabrios that we have. We looked at front loaders but you can NEVER add an additional item to the load (like that extra pair of socks or that shirt you found in the kids' bed or something). Plus, you have to purchase the stands that the washer/dryer are placed upon and that's another $300-350.

I must admit I was a bit leery of all the dials and buttons on these things but it's really easy to use and they work great!

 

[TiggerTails57]

We liked both Maytag and Whirlpool and came close to buying one.
But ended up with the Samsung 419 steel blue.......being delivered this week! They have a pause button to add the odd sock etc.

 

[StephMK]

We have a set of Cabrios that we bought almost 4 yrs ago. For the most part, I really like them, the capacity is great! However, I will warn you that our salesguy recommended the extended warranty due to the electronics. For whatever reason, we agreed and had to have the electronic board on the washer replaced about 1.5 yrs ago. Otherwise, we have had no problems but I was surprised to have that kind of repair so early on for the prices they charge.

 

[scbelleatheart]

They both come off the same assembly line at the plant. Until 6 months ago so did LG but no longer. Depends on features you want.

 

[Anne34]

We just bought the Maytag Bravos....almost the same price at the Maytag store, but Maytag had a better warrenty. The Cabrio was only one year parts & labor while the Maytag was 3 ?

 

[kleubanks]

Love my Bravos...We bought them in December of last year.

 

[tiffany123]

As a prior poster stated: They are basically the same machines. Built in the same plant by the same assembly line and same assembly line workers.

 

[Reifsy]

Hi Budget Board friends, I'm coming to you again for advice/reviews on a new washer dryer set. My washer died last night, and the repairman told us when the dryer went out a few years back not to fix them anymore, just buy new. They are approx 15 years old.... anyway I was thinking we would get a front loader, but just before we were going to purchase a clearance set, found out that our wash room is set up opposite of what it needs to be for the front loader doors to open properly. They will open opposite (washer door into the dryer area) and our room is way too tiny for that to happen. Also too small for the "hamper" style dryer door. Have to have doors that swing open.



Thanks so much! You are always a wealth of knowledge and you help greatly!!

Just to let you know, most front load washers and dryers can have the door swings reversed pretty easily. There are usually holes on the opposite side to switch the hinge over. Otherwise they make a reversal kit you can purchase to be able to do it as well.

 

[SalandJeff]

Do the clothes get tangled easily in these top-loaders? I thought I had read that somewhere. And do you feel that your clothes get really clean (the dirty, grimy ones!!!)?

 

[Bren's Mom]

I've had the Cabrio set for over 2 years now. LOVE them. Yes, they get the clothes really clean. My dh does a number on his white uniform shirts, and the Cabrio does a great job with them. And with my 5 yo ds's grimy clothes! I've not had tangling issues. As I pull from the washer I shake the bigger things (like jeans for example) before putting in the dryer. But that's about it.

 

[funforfive]

I have the Bravos....My only complaint would be that the washer spins clothes almost too dry I like to hang clothes on the line to dry and end up needing to iron. It takes less time to dry in the dryer

 

[TheRatPack]

We have the Cabrio and love it. It gets clothes really really clean and I love that it doesn't have the agitator, so you can put big blankets in it...etc. It does tangle clothing though....sheets are usually wrapped around each other and you have to untwist them before adding them to the dryer. Blankets always end up looking like a muffin top when I open the washer LOL Still, we got ours for around 400.00 because it was an open box item....so for the price I think it was well worth it.

 

[crjack]

I've had the Cabrio set for over 2 years now. LOVE them. Yes, they get the clothes really clean. My dh does a number on his white uniform shirts, and the Cabrio does a great job with them. And with my 5 yo ds's grimy clothes! I've not had tangling issues. As I pull from the washer I shake the bigger things (like jeans for example) before putting in the dryer. But that's about it.

Ditto. I do the same thing and have also had great luck with my Cabrio set. I like the traditional height and layout of them and at the time of my purchase they actually held more in size than the front loaders.

They also fit much better with my laundry area as well.

 

[hockeyprincess]

I was told by the salesperson (who was really trying to sell me a front-loader) that the doors are all made to swing the same way and can NOT be changed??? I was looking at a 4.3cf washer/7.0?? (I think) dryer that was the Affinity (whirlpool) on clearance, last year's model, for $680 roughly for BOTH.... then found out about the door issue?? (Or maybe non-issue?)

Anyway, I tried to post yesterday that I had just found out that the two I had questioned, like stated, are made by the same company....same place, etc after reading some reviews online.

Also found out that LG and Kenmore Elite are the same thing. Both have this traditional style washer/dryer w/HE qualities, so maybe the question needs to be LG/Kenmore vs Maytag/Whirlpool? Any reviews on those models?

Thanks everyone! If I'm gonna spend this kind of money I want to get a great quality for the price, and I will admit I know little to nothing about how they work.... besides the energy and water savings. I appreciate your input!

 

[JDUCKY]

Home Depot and Amazon have customer reviews of those washers at their respective sites.

 

[tonums]

I have the cabrios, and love them. The spin cycle is almost silent, and the clothes come out so dry already! Also, I seem to be able to cram way too much clothes in them, and they still come out clean.

 

[rock_doctor]

Go into Lowes and get the cheapest washer and dryer you can find. Swing by your post office and get a movers packet. There will be a 10% movers coupon in the packet for lowes. They are very happy to take the coupon for just about everything and they don't care if you are actually moving. My suggestion is, no High Efficiency machines. Trust me, they are a nightmare. We have a Kenmore Elite (same as the Cabrio) that has been an absolute piece of junk, so much so there is a class action lawsuit against whirlpool about these machines. Mine is two yrs old and i just had to put the second computer board in it. So that $1000 machine so far has cost me over $400 in repair costs in two years. See if you can find a simple non-HE washer and go with that. If you can't then go with something foreign, like a Samsung or Bosch. If you do go with the Elite or Cabrio then make sure you download the service manual because you will need it. If you are reading this and have this machine you can google F50 or F51 (error codes) and should find a link to the service manual in pdf format. Print it. Good luck

 

[hockeyprincess]

Home Depot and Amazon have customer reviews of those washers at their respective sites.

Thank you! We don't have a Home Depot around here but will check out the reviews.

 

[Lex33]

We purchased the Bravos pair last year on Black Friday. Home Depot had a special $499 each. Sears matched the price. I also bought the washer warranty. The dryer warranties aren't recommended. I replaced a 25 year old dryer and a 15 year old washer. Since I don't have much to compare them to, I would say that they are fine. They do what they were intended to do. One thing I have noticed is the washer leaves the clothes very wrinkled even if you take them out quickly. For the first time we installed them in a second floor closet. Considering the house is 50+ years old, the vibration isn't too bad. You can definitely feel the spin cycle and the dryer going, but overall it is a decent washer/dryer.