I'm not in the market for one at the moment (from my lips to God's ears, please) but I'd vote for a top loading machine. I agree with hopetoquilt...everything I've heard thus far implies that the front loaders are much more labor intensive. And if less water in my clothes washer is anything like what we've endured with our (relatively - @ 5yr) dishwasher, please save me! It's bad enough that the detergents have been changed so that they don't work as well anymore, but add to that less water; longer run times (can someone please explain how a longer run cycle uses LESS water?); etc., I'll go with the old standby...top load. With as many cycles/water heat combos as I can get.

My Samsung washer is a high efficiency model that is a top loader with no agitator. Once I figured out the laundry soap thing, I am pretty happy with it.

We just purchased a new Whirlpool top loader last month. I like the fact it has 2 rinses. I use the All laundry liquid detergent. No perfumes. I don't use the liquid fabric softener. I use dryer sheets. I get the Seventh Generation dye and perfume free. I've found I only have to use 1/4 of a sheet. I have also noticed with the second rinse I don't really even have to use a dryer sheet. I usually just use the 2 rinses on bath towels and whites. Took me a while to get used to it but so far so good.

Nearly every brand has the locking lid so you may want to make sure you have your cycles set the way you want.

Our Maytag Neptune W/D stacker just broke after 20+ years of use with only 1 service call. We thought it wasn't worth putting $500 into the repair of a 20yr old unit not knowing what the real problem was. After looking at lots of reviews and comparisons we bought an LG model 4070 W/D that can be stacked or separated. It was just delivered yesterday and so far I have washed only 10 loads of clothes, but it is working great. Very happy with the purchase. I prefer a front loader so that they can be stacked and I wash a lot of king sized quits which are very heavy so a big unit was important. They recommend you wipe down the door and rubber seal and leave the door open when finished with washer to prevent mold on the seal. We purchased at Home Depot due to the sale they had when we purchased. Have fun shopping, It's a major purchase, but actually fun to do laundry (at least until the newness wears off).

I have a front load whirlpool and dryer. It has a soak setting that works great. There are only 2 of us. Love front loads for saving water and for washing large items, ie, quilts.

I don't know how dirty your wash is but if you live on a farm or have extra dirty clothes from work you will NOT be happy with the new "energy efficient" washers that use less water. They do a lousy job. I refused to buy one when mine bit the dust and they finally sold me a "cheap" one that was not marked as being energy efficient and it works fine, but the saleslady told me in confidence that she bought one of the energy efficient ones and she has to wash her husbands work clothing twice to get them clean and pretreat spots to get them out even then.

I have the top loader and my mil has the front loader. She will need the bases for the front loader washer and dryer now that she has a house.
I would suggest that if you get a front loader you get the bases also it just raises it to the height needed for laundry as my mil found out (she didn't want to spend the $$ for each).

I have the Bravos series by Maytag (very energy efficient as well) and am very very happy with it (both Washer and dryer) it just depends on what you want and like. I bought mine for longevity and an glad I did !

my Samsung top loader has a locking lid but it also has a pause button so if you forgot to throw something in you can pause it and the lid will unlock and you can throw it in. I can also change the cycle too by pausing it.