I'm sitting on the other end of the couch from the wife reading my book and she asks "what does your forum group recommend for washing machines?".

Stupid me says without thinking "thats easy, Speed Queen."

10 minutes later she says the TC5 has the center agitator and knobs instead of the keypad. Oh, the TR5 is ultra quiet as well, I want the TR5, in white.

Stupid me: do you see what they cost?

Her: Yes.


So I go by the close appliance store and they don't have the TR5 in stock. I go home and start calling all the stores in town that carry Speed Queen and there is not a TR5 to be found. The best I get is one store will be getting a shipment in sometime later this month, but they don’t know exactly when.
Finally I find a store with a couple in stock, in Waycross GA. So I spend 5 hours driving there and back so I can proudly say we have a Speed Queen washer.

I will admit, it is pretty quiet

Our dryer died a bit before we were going on a trip for a while. Housesitter needed a dryer. We needed a dryer.

Wife asks what to get. SQ or Maytag Commercial. Our favorite local store has a Maytag Commercial for many hundreds less than SQ. Ok.

Delivery happens, with a brand new dented Maytag that goes thump thump. Um….no. ‘Well it’s the only one we have.’ Then I guess you’re re-delivering, a SQ. So the day before we leave we have a SQ that ROCKS!

Now I’m almost hoping the washer dies…

ETA: you made the correct, albeit expensive, choice.

We bought a SQ TC5 about 2 months ago. It’s a little noisy but man it cleans and is much faster than the standard high-efficiency ones. Mrs. BB61 says when the dryer goes will get a SQ dryer too.

Yea, a little tongue in cheek humor but you’re both spot on.
This really gets filed in the "buy once, cry once" folder.

And there is not much lift left in our dryer so….

Given the in-stock problem in your area, might as well order the SQ dryer you want now.

Love my SQ set. Should be the last set I have to buy. Too bad they don't make a Speed Queen refrigerator.

Purchased my Speed Queen washer in May 2017 and it's still going strong (quietly) 8 years later.

They make front loaders now. $2599 each for the washer and dryer. Top loader, like OP, $1k less. It’s on the books for my future. My LG Tromms were bought in 2005 and were built when they were trying to make a name for themselves. Cold water inlet was replaced, and that’s been the only major down time for the set. But I know I’m on borrowed time. At least the SQ’s will last longer than I will on this planet. If I can buy once, and cry once, and be done with it, that’s just my fucking game.

I've had my analog set for 10 years or so. Paid $1400 for the pair. They sure have gone up in price.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
I've had my analog set for 10 years or so. Paid $1400 for the pair. They sure have gone up in price.

Heck, they've gone up in price mainly over just the last 5 years...

I paid $1800 for my TC5/DC5 set in June 2020.

Just 5 years later it's more like $2800-$3000 for the pair nowadays.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
I've had my analog set for 10 years or so. Paid $1400 for the pair. They sure have gone up in price.

Heck, they've gone up in price mainly over just the last 5 years...

I paid $1800 for my TC5/DC5 set in June 2020.

Just 5 years later it's more like $2800-$3000 for the pair nowadays.

How gentle are the top loaders with the center agitator on clothes? My Tromms have stainless steel tubs, and the little Delrin rollers and I have clothes that are 20 years old that look new. Are the Speed Queens just as gentle on your clothing? Curious as I know these are in my future.

Agitators were the norm for generations, up until just a decade or two ago. And they actually get your clothes clean, unlike a lot of the ultra high efficiency front loaders.

I haven't had any issues with undue wear in my 5 years of ownership.

They have a Delicate cycle for... delicate things.

And they can actually fully fill the basin with water, like washers used to do, which helps the clothes to glide around inside.

The only caveat is that they do have a slightly smaller than average basin (3.2 cubic feet vs. 4-5 on many other washers nowadays), so the agitator might end up being rougher on your clothes if you try to cram huge loads in there, like you may be able to get away with on another type of washer with a larger capacity. The clothes wouldn't be able to move around, and could take more of a beating from the agitator.

So just keep the load sizes reasonable.

Thanks for the reminder. I just ordered a TC5. The wife has been after me to get one for a few months now.

I guess SQ sets the pricing, the cheapest places and the most expensive local place I wouldn't dare buy anything from are the same price.

I want a scratch and dent one! lol Because of where it needs to go, and how it has to get there, it's sure as hell going to be scratched and dented before I ever do any wash in it.

I paid $200 for a scratch and dent GE in 1991-2000. I'm still using it, though it doesn't work right anymore and is beyond repair at this point. I guess I owe the washing machine gods nothing with that life span. Not the price of things I hate as much as knowing it won't last. (spent the last few days trying to find a dehumidifier that isn't crap. Apparently there aren't any) So dropping the coin on a SQ is seriously being considered.

5 hour drive?

Its way cross over yonder in Georgia.

Where's Loganville?

Change your user name to SpinCycle!

Enjoy your new high quality washer!

We've been getting close to being in this boat. Our ~12 yr old Whirlpool Cabrio pair has been through its ups & downs.
Washer was seeping when running, and stopped on its own.
Dryer intermittently has the 'check vent' light illuminated, regardless of vent condition.

Given the positive regard the SQ units get [like the Waste Kang for disposals (also on the to-do list)], they're top of the list.

What's the big difference between the TR5 & TC5? Other than a couple hundred $?
Main things I see are lid lock and 'ultra quiet' in the headings.

quote:

Originally posted by 12GA:
Purchased my Speed Queen washer in May 2017 and it's still going strong (quietly) 8 years later.

Pretty much our experience, same vintage. Not one single issue with our SQ washer and dryer, not one, and we really don't expect any. We never had a front load and never intend to, top loads have done us good for all of my life.