@My3Kiddos & @BSL1199 = I had the same experience with Consumer Reports. They have Speed Queen with a low rating because of water usage. You have to dig around on their site to see customer reviews and those quite often clash with their ratings. I’m glad I heard about Speed Queen (here on CC) and didn’t go with the CU ratings.
On my SQ, although the tub fills for the various wash cycles, there is only one cycle that fills the tub for the rinse cycle. (That is also the only cycle that has an option of using warm or hot water for the wash cycle.) This saves water.
@3puppies nice idea…I just looked at mine. It would mean moving sheet rock walls…not just adding an extra inch or so of trim.
Oh well.
This topic has come up several times before. We have a HE top loader. ITs made by LG but sold by Sears. The washer and dryer have been great. Used the steam feature once and not sure it did much. But they are otherwise great
Basic Speed Queen Top Loader. LOVE.
we used this site http://www.reviews-washer-dryer.com/gas-dryer-reviews.html
So you SQ fans- do you like their dryers too? The dryer needs upgrading so I’ll be buying both.
I have not used their washers, but I have a SQ dryer that I absolutely love. Neither my high end 17 yr old Kenmore (junked it even though it marginally worked) nor a newer LG Tromm (crap) had comparable performance. Love the fact that it has a metal door instead of plastic.
@BunsenBurner you are my complete consultant! First you reaffirmed my choice of dress for a wedding last week (and it was perfect!) and now you affirm my choice to get the SQ. I am off to the local shop to make a deal 
Bought a Speed Queen dryer last summer for our vacation place. It’s on an island, so I had a limited selection of dryers (only 2 places to buy appliances). Both stores recommended the SQ. It works well fine. I got a very basic model so it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other models.
I have a basic Hotpoint washer/dryer set with agitator. I can only buy the basic traditional units because the bigger ones won’t fit in my laundry space. On sale, I spent about $800 for both about three years ago, and am pretty happy with them. When they die, I will buy another. They are not fancy and don’t save a bit on water consumption, but that is not important to me.
I also have a relatively cheap lawnmower, and will run it till it dies. Then, I’ll buy another one. A long time ago I bought an expensive Toro walk behind, and every year got it serviced. I finally realized it was cheaper to buy a mid-range walk behind and run it till it dies, rather than keep servicing an already-expensive lawnmower. So far, I am entering season four with the $200 lawnmower.
I think you either pay up front with a more expensive whatever, or pay at the back end by replacing it more frequently. For me, personally, I decided to save at the beginning and hope things last a long time.
That being said, I would love a Speed Queen if I had room. :x
@CTmom2018, you wrote:
On my SQ, although the tub fills for the various wash cycles, there is only one cycle that fills the tub for the rinse cycle. (That is also the only cycle that has an option of using warm or hot water for the wash cycle.) This saves water.
(I still don’t know how to quote someone)
Anyway, after a disastrous experience with a pair of Maytag Bravos, which I’ve detailed in a couple other threads, we bought SQ and haven’t looked back. We went with the top loader. As we live in CA and this was during our drought, the hardest part for me was the water consumption although the SQ does allow you to indicate the size of the load.
So, @CTmom2018, can you explain your comment above a bit more as the water consumption issue is important to me?
And my only complaint is that there’s no sound indicator on the washer when your load is done. There is one on the dryer and, yes, you can turn it off/adjust the volume.
ETA: just recently the softer dispenser, which sits at the top of the agitator, started coming off during the wash. I’ve yet to figure out why – don’t see a broken piece – so need to solve this one.
@bearcatfan - have you looked at the specs for SQ? I have a small laundry room and cannot fit those huge space-age looking front loaders. Most of the Maytag/LG “regular” machines are an inch wider and 2 inches deeper than my 30 year old Kenmores. But the Speed Queens are actually about the same size as my old ones. About 25" or so wide.
^^we too have a cabinet with bi-fold doors in a hallway for our washer and dryer and the SQ top loaders do fit. It was tight but, even if I had wanted a different set, many were simply too big for my space.
@collage1, you wrote:
First, how to quote. 
Type quote . Then copy and paste the text you wish to quote. Then write / quote .
Now to the question. All the cycles fill the tub for the washing portion of the cycle. But only the Heavy Duty/Permanent Press cycle fills the tub for the rinse portion as well. The other cycles spray water continuously while spinning the clothes to rinse them. We have a well, so water use matters to me also.
We still have the side by side top loading washer and dryer we bought over 3 decades ago, Maytag (the top of the line back then). We paid $1000 apiece but divided by the 30+ years of use and very little service required we have been very happy. They even gave us a savings bond as a promotion for buying our Maytags and S will be redeeming them for max value this year with interest, now that they’re 30 years old!
Our machines have been very reliable and we have no complaints. Have NOT heard good things about more recent Maytag machines from appliance mechanic or anyone.
Have only read good things about Speed Queen washers and dryers and think that will be what we get when these machines finally die (which the mechanic says may be a very long time from now).
There is another fairly recent thread on this.
First of all, disregard 20-30 years of same machines reports. They were built differently than current models. Also- they did not use the same guidelines for water usage. Time and energy use- using less water for a longer time is the current trend. A good one. Gentleness towards fabrics is also different now. Convenience in adding fabric softener, extra rinses, different spin speeds (much more effective- my mom needed a laundromat and used an extractor after washer spins, best spin speeds in front loaders).
Your first major decision is top or front loader style. Both have HE (high efficiency models). I favor front loaders- when looking I checked out practicalities. I am tall an did not like reaching so far down into large load capacity machines. I also researched types of materials to be washed. Items like large size comforters and bath rugs seemed to do best in the front loader style machines. Having the clothes rotate means none staying out of the water level. Both Samsung and LG had drain tubes to empty that water left in the bottom when I bought my highly rated LG that I love. I got pedestals because I am only getting older and dislike bending as much (tradeoff is that the tops are higher for counter usage, can’t have both). I also leave the soap et al dispenser open slightly (after emptying any water) as well as the door (magnet keeps it nearly shut).
Libraries usually have Consume Reports. I quit subscribing years ago since they do outdate and charge subscribers extra for online info. The recent repairs for different brands seems useful.
In the very old days dryer temps were set higher and current models will not be as likely to heat damage clothes ( shrink, perhaps, but my high setting doesn’t melt anything).
Computer tech has been wonderful in the world of clothes care.
I know the washer will fit behind my bifold doors. The depth of washers hasn’t changed.
But does the SQ dryer also fit??
Thanks for your reply. I ended up getting an LG Washer/dryer. So glad to hear that you like yours! The Speed Queen was very intriguing with great user reviews per this site. It was a last minute call to switch and buy the hi-tech front loader with all the bells and whistles. What it came down to was that my husband and I are planning on downsizing in 3 years. For the price that we are hoping to get for our house, potential buyers will expect a tricked out laundry room w new front loading machine, pedestals, etc. Im excited to try all the new features on the LG! Fingers crossed it won’t give me any problems.
We bought Maytag frontloader and dryer 17 years ago when we had one kid and were saving the environment and treating clothes gently and all that. I fixed them myself many times over the years (thanks Youtube!) But three kids later, the last time the washer acted up my wife demanded the Speed Queen Clothes Hammer 100 or whatever it was called: no computers, 30 minute cycle, the clothes are clean with a minimum of prep, etc. She’s been in heaven. The dryer is on notice.