Great post! I am anxiously waiting for my top loader to die so I can buy a front loader but I can't justify the cost yet
Of course, my sears top loader was $500 when we bought it - had it fixed twice in the first 2 years and ever since it bangs and clangs but just won't die.
My sister in law did a ton of research and she said the LG gets the best ratings. My grandma always swore by Maytag machines - had hers for 30+ years but I don't know much about the front loaders - they are what are always in laundromats though so they probably have the most history on making them.