Product review (5 stars): finally a basic washer that works - Speedqueen 432
My traditional agitator washer (GE) died after only 3 years of use in my family of 5.  I attempted to repair it but I discovered 1 poor quality design feature such that I decided to sell it for scrap instead.  I approached my purchase research with a very open mind.. looking at all features, quality ratings and design types available.  I spent a better part of a week researching the HE front load, Top load Agitator, and HE Top load only to discover the huge number bad reviews of which summarize in a list below.

Top load HE:  Twists your clothes in balls, Does not wash towels well,  Clothes come out not even wet. Locks the lid.  Must use HE detergent.  Circuit board failures. High repair rates. 1 year warranty on most brands.

Front load HE:  Door Rubber seal issues.  Must run cleaning tablets monthly or weekly.  Quality issues because of the side load design.  Must leave door open or risk mildew.  Circuit board failures. Must use
HE detergent.  High repair rates. Long cycle times.  1 year warranty on most brands.

Top load Agitator:  Quality issues with many models.  Auto-temp and water level sensors that don't really work well.  The two common bigbox models from Whirlpool and GE are more cheaply made because these models are considered "old-style" and ugly.  1 year warranty on most brands.

I just wanted a simple  high quality, long-lasting  washer that offered the basic features and cleaned my clothes.  I know how much water, what temperature and what type of agitation should be used.  It does not need to be in an areo-dynamic shell, or need to play songs.  It does not need an IPOD interface or a clock.  What I found was a product made by a US company manufactured in the US.  I recognized then name from when I was in college and using coin-op Laundromats:  SpeedQueen.  I am not in any way affiliated with this company.  I just wanted to be happy with my investment.  I was actually excited when I purchased  this  unit ( Speedqueen 432)  after reading the many positive reviews.  When I got mine hooked up, I ran it  for 7 loads  straight to get caught up on the piles of dirty laundry.  It ran quiet, no out-of-balance loads, and the clothes came out clean.
PROS:
No electronics/computer,  no Auto water level or temperature sensors,  No lid lock,  Commercial parts. 30 minute cycle.  Soak feature.  3 year top to bottom warranty.  Stainless steel tub.  No need for HE detergent. Extra rinse cycle.
CONS:
You have to add water softener by hand if you use the extra rinse cycle.  Cannot wash big bulky items like comforters.  Not compact or stackable.

You can buy it on Amazon. I bought mine from a local Appliance Store. SpeedQueen does not sell to the Big Box Stores. It is a commercial washer with a 3 yr warranty. 5 yr on motor and 10 yr on transmission.

My best suggestion is to carefully research the unit you buy.  I do see a need for alternate designs  where physical space or water conversation is a real issue.  For me neither was a problem.  Government regulations have messed up what used to be a simple task.....  to buy a washer that gets clothes clean and works without board failures.  I also feel most manufacturers  are focusing more on  flash and features than quality and functionality.  Buying a washer should not  5 year purchase cycle.