Product review (5 stars): Not To Be Sold In 2018!
I bought my first washer-dryer pair in 1977 as a kid in college--a GE set in avocado, no less  Great set.  Over the next 20 years, in various homes, I had 3 GE sets.  These were the excellent Filter-Flo machines first introduced in 1957, refined and improved over the years.  Then, in 2000, I discovered that GE had brought out a newer line with cheapened controls and flimsy construction.  From 2000 to 2017 I owned 2 front loaders.  While they washed well and efficiently, they both eventually blew that front bearing that costs well over $500 to repair.  Also--I live alone and don't generate but about 2-3 loads weekly at most.

When this last front loader just blew its bearing I decided to look around and was quite disappointed in what I saw.  Mostly front loaders from Korea at the big-box stores, with lots of electronic toys on them (even wi-fi!) but no real improvements in durability.  Fortunately, my city still has a traditional appliance dealer and he carries Speed Queen.  After looking at their front loaders I decided to go back to the traditional top loader for durability and simplicity.  Actually, the electronic control panel model of this same washer was only $20 more and with a longer warranty, but I decided to stick with this.  My last front loader gave me hell for a few years with electronic control glitches.  It was under maintenance but that doesn't wash the clothes!

I'm quite pleased with this machine.  In order to satisfy the government, it does have a normal-ECO cycle on it that limits the water and the hot water temp.  Fortunately, there is also a 'normal' cycle that gives traditional deep-water wash and rinse, and hot at the temp I choose.  It is not loud, but definitely not completely silent as my front-loaders were.  I like the idea of energy and water savings, but I use so little extra I don't feel bad about it.  I'm really loving the fact that I can open the lid and add items while it washes; I used to be really bad about wanting to add something on the front loaders and I couldn't.  I will say that I find the clothes marginally wetter at the end of the wash because the spin speed is slower than my front loaders, but not disturbingly so.

I learned that this, the last 'knob' machine by Speed Queen, is being discontinued at the end of 2017.  Why?  Well, our government is once again meddling with our washers.  Apparently, according to SQ, it wasn't possible to satisfy them with a mechanical timer.  Of course, the same excellent machine will be offered with their electronic board--and it's commercial grade--but obviously there will be changes, not necessarily for the better.  Those of us with newer dishwashers know how the government regulations have messed them up.

I'd recommend this machine highly, but if you want complete control over your washing, you'd better buy before 2018.