After 20 years, my faithful Whirlpool finally gave up the ghost, so my former colleague-turned-Lowe's-appliance-salesman suggested the brand-new Maytag Atlantis MAV 9600.

My biggest complaint is that it leaves a lot of lint on clothes after it's finished washing. The booklet trumpets the fact that it doesn't have a lint filter (something about "power-washing" lint away) but I'd give anything for a lint filter to clean.

A smaller complaint is the silly, useless features, like a "finger faucet" that you don't need, since if you need to rinse off your fingers or clean your detergent cup, just do it under the running water as it fills the tub. And I'm afraid to use the built-in detergent dispenser, as I hear it leaks!

Apart from these failings, I do like the machine. It's very heavy, so no more worries about it "walking" around with an off-center load. It's got all the wash options you could ever want, and it spins clothes so dry you barely need the matching dryer (which I like a lot....love the little light inside the drum!) It's also quiet and both water and energy-efficient. It's made to be miserly with water, so I've found you have to compensate by upping the water level from what you're used to. It's also got a very charming, old-fashioned chime to let you know when the wash is done.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 600.00