I bought this machine in October 2000 and I absolutely love it. The efficiency, the controls, everything about it is top quality, including customer service. I was misled by the sales person who said that it came with a $100 rebate from Fisher & Paykel. I later found out that it was for a previous model and he gave me an outdated rebate form with a defunct address. I called Fisher & Paykel and they sent me out a check themselves!

The top loader is much preferable to front loaders to anyone with a marginally bad back like me. It is quiet and the spins cycle just blows my mind. When the clothes come out, they are practically dry. They require about 15-20 minutes in the dryer instead of an hour. Save on energy, saves the clothes.

One note: The initial wash cycle uses very little water. If your house is like mine, it takes the water heater some time to get the water up to temperature. Since this machine uses so little water in the first cycle, your water may not get warm enough if you just turn on the machine. So I have to run my tap for a few seconds to get the hot water primed before I start the load. It somewhat diminishes the eco-friendly characteristics of the machine, but it is the fault of my water heater, not the washing machine.

***UPDATE - AUGUST 29, 2001***

My parents goofed on me when I told them that I had bought a Fisher & Paykel. They said "Who? Where is it from???" Well, they recently moved to a new house and after listening to me rave about my machine, they bought one too. And the matching dryer. My mother, who is about as picky as they get, absolutely loves it. They are VERY happy with their new machines.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 750