As this will be a third floor install I would also like one not particularly prone to balance and vibration problems. (I am installing it right next to wall where joists mount so it is a fairly firm part of the floor but I would like one known for stability and vibration reduction as it is not going to sit on a concrete slab.)

I remember some years ago that the kenmore version of the duet sport had heat for other cycles, does it currently? Is there even a kenmore version of the sport since I don't see any 3.4 cubic foot kenmores. Also the price differential used to be about $10 more for the sears kenmore and now the difference between the duet sport (eg at best buy and elsewhere for $500) and the kenmore (seems 3.7 cc kenmore is $770) is 50% more money.

Requirements:
-3.4 to 4.00 cf
-heating on cycles in addition to sanitize
-120 volt
-low vibration or at least somewhere in the range of the models known to have better vibration compensation
-extra rinse option

Strong preferences:
- warm water rinse option (not necessarily heated but using standard mixing)
- cost below $700

thank you in advance for any advice!

Your best bet would be to go look for machines with the criteria you require, then check price. Then see about issues with vibration. You might be able to shore up the floor a bit to help.

Frigidaire claims they have the same suspension and mechanics!!!

Crazy. The gallery is $525 at sears although they will give it to me for $499 and the affinity 800 is 585 and they will give it to me for $560.

There seem to be about five or six t models with heaters one can get for under $700, indeed under $600. but most are sanitary only.

I just don't get how CR is rating one Frigidaire 3.5 CF as the worst in vibration and one as the best, when Frigidaire says they supposedly have the same guts.

I think it is more likely the drive system, balance or suspension inside are in fact different.

FYI I downloaded a bunch of Frigidaire service manuals and sadly I see the temperature settings have been being lowered by a few degrees every couple of years

Doesn't really phase me. guy says it is seven years old. So the completley new replacement cost of his model is $500 (current price for the newer version of his Frigidaire gallery at sears) . That is $71/year.

I would bet dollars to donuts that this is exactly the average cost per year for front loaders whether you buy a $1500 machine which would have to last 21 years or a $500 machine lasting 7 years to get the same depreciation cost per year

I have a $420 GE top loader which is dying after four years with what it turns out from reading is a VERY common problem, across a dozen models over three years. Motor wont work on gentle wash, slow spin and just clicks. Part is $250. Timer dial (over $100) is also failing.

Every brand has problems. LG, Bosch and Miele have nightmare prices on parts and very thin service infrastructure with people waiting weeks or longer to get sa service call and their machine fixed. GS/Whirlpool and Frigidair whcih are much easier to fix are made cheaper and cheaper. Speed queen starts out so absurdly expensive for what you get that they make no sense either.

That is why I am looking at the sub $700 range and why I am interested in the $500 machines look at sears current prices on gallery at $500 and affinities at $550 to $570). I intend to chuck it when there is a problem because I simply believe that all frontloaders have problems.

I lived in Europe. Front loaders there have much smaller drums. Simple physics tells you the centrifugal forces of a 25% smaller drum is not 25% less but about half. (you calculate on squares not liner reduction of size)

(v*v) / r

For a constant RPM, v varies linearly with the radius. So you've got a second power of the radius in the numerator, but it's divided by the radius in the denominator, leaving you with a linear relationship to r.

Centrifugal force does vary as the square of the RPM.

Maybe I'm too idealistic *smile*.

-Roger

I was responding to the video. I don't find it a shocking indictment of Frigidaire per se that a seven year old front load machine failed.

They are no longer "durable goods" they are sold and marketed like electronics, indeed the ever increasing number of electronic components within the washers, practically guarantee some problem after seven years.

So you expect to get 10 years out of a $600 washer. The guy got seven years out of a $500 washer. It will cost him $500 to replace it.

No, you are describing centri*petal* force. Mass causes increase in centri*fugal* force through squares of mass. It does NOT vary linearly!

You square the mass of the load!

If you are assuming people will be putting the same amount of wet clothes int eh 4 CF as the 2.5 cubic foot the forces wont change much. But if you are spinning 10 lbs of wet clothes instead of five lbs the forces are NOT merely doubled -- they are FOUR times as much!