This washer spins clothes impressively dry and handles king-size comforters without complaint, but clutch and motor failures cluster tightly in years two through four, often accompanied by control board errors that cost half the price of replacement to fix. At least one unit shook violently enough during spin that Maytag itself called it a safety hazard. The deep tub and simple controls work beautifully until the day they don't, and when that day comes, you'll be pricing new machines instead of repairs. Skip it unless you enjoy expensive surprises right after the warranty expires.
The TC5 is a commercial laundromat machine shrunk to fit your house, with a metal transmission, full tub of water, and an agitator that actually beats dirt out of clothes instead of gently tumbling them. Owners who can live with the jet-engine spin cycle report flawless performance for a decade or more, handling everything from baby clothes to muddy work gear without the mold, odor, or three-hour cycles that plague modern front-loaders. At $1,649 you're paying for longevity over features: no app, no steam, just a dial and decades of service. Skip it if you want quiet or eco-friendly; buy it if you're done replacing washers every five years and don't mind your laundry room sounding like a laundromat.