I keep waffling on this, so I thought I'd ask here.
TD/DR:
Vintage washing machine died. Could repair for ~$200 or buy new one for $300. What to do?
We have a washing machine that was given to us when we bought our house. It belonged originally to DH's grandparents, and the inlaws had it sitting unused in their garage at least a year before they gave it to us. It is from the early to mid 1990s as far as the husband remembers. So at least 20 years and more likely over 25 years old. Had it over 13 years and it has done okay, but not spectacular. But hey, free washer.
It is a Kenmore 70 series "heavy duty" extra capacity washer.
Our household is 2 adults, and we do around 2 loads of laundry every 2 weeks (one warm/one cold wash). Water is cheap for us. We are very low water usage and the water cost savings of a newer model is not a factor as we'd be talking pennies a month.
Washer started having a high pitched squeal sometime in the last year during the spin cycles. It would screech briefly and then stop once it got going. This past week, I started a load, it got through the wash cycle then started spinning to drain in prep for the rinse cycle, let out a LOUD screech and the tub then was not moving by the time I ran in there to look. Turning it on to spin causes a humming sound (motor likely trying) but the tub no longer moves at all. Flipped it to drain out the water, hand wrung the clothes in the load and hung them to dry and started looking around about what to do.
Repair guys in my area that have stellar reputations have a minimum trip fee (some wave whole or part of the fee if you get it repaired with them). It is likely the motor coupler or clutch or both. Or the motor (but I do hear it trying). In any case, we'd be looking at a minimum of $100 and more likely closer to $200 to repair. And no, we aren't capable of doing this ourselves. Had too many DIY failures lately and the both of us have health issues that make it VERY difficult to deal with this crap anyway. And it's a minimum of $50 to even get someone out to diagnose it.
I can get a basic washer brand new all in including installation and new hoses/plug for under $300 because it's black Friday/week (I have until this Friday for the Home Depot sale).
I do not want any bells and whistles and I loathe the idea of a front load washer. I am looking at this one:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Amana-3-5-cu-ft-Top-Load-Washer-in-White-NTW4516FW/207204027 Reasons I hesitate:
1. It's more complicated since they now have all those sensors and circuit boards. No one thinks these things will last longer than 5-8 years and that's with repairs expected for the electronics/sensors.
2. #$#! water level sensors - WTF? I get that it's supposed to be more efficient, but I want to pick water levels sometimes and this limits you to "let the machine decide" and "fill that sucker to the top!" no in between.
3. Lid lock. Also WTF? I see you can override it but seriously... just another stupid thing to go out and it is VERY inconvenient if you want to throw something in after the load was started and locked in. I guess it prevents a random thief from breaking in while you're doing laundry and stealing your sock tho, right? That's why they end up disappearing and thank dog they finally figured it out and put a freaking lock on the washing machine... (yeah I know).
BUT the idea of just ordering it online, having them install it, and having a potentially better/efficient washing machine that I will not have to worry about breaking down again for (hopefully) years is VERY appealing even with the annoying lock and water level issues. I REALLY do not like surprises and it causes me serious (life disturbing) worry/anxiety.
So pay almost the cost of a brand new one (which seems stupid) to keep the mostly mechanical workhorse washer (which brings me back to "maybe not stupid"), or chuck it and get a new one that will likely work better but may crap out sooner than 20+ years. And am I being silly for being disgruntled about having to replace an appliance in under 20 years? I am afraid I sound like an old crank for grumping about having to consider buying a new fangled appliance that will "only" last 8 or 10 years...