On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:21:23 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

sure your saving energy and water with front loaders but the added up
front costs will never be recouped on water and energy savings

Depends on the brand you buy: we went with the Frigidaire Gallery set
for just this reason. It was so much more affordable than the more
lovely and expensive Whirlpool Duets and their ilk (half the price!),
and both machines have run just fine in the 4+ years we've had them,
doing on average a load of laundry every day.