We gave this machine a work out and we love it!!

When our old machine wore out, I knew I wanted to replace it with an energy efficient front loader. I checked what brands and models were available in our area,decided on a pricepoint, then came to this site and read reviews. Even though there were some negative reviews, we thought most of those focused on trivial points, so we went ahead and bought the LG WM2016C. We also checked the Energy Star site for how it was rated on water and energy use. At the store we were impressed by the built in generator that helps power the machine.

We have had this machine for a full 2 months and we love it. I decided to give our machine a full workout in the first month. I washed everything I could think of that would fit in it. This is a short list of what I washed:
car floor mats, carpets, pillows, hockey gear (except skates and helmet), heavy blankets, - everything did just fine, my favorite was a full load of stuffed animals, we watched them wash and thought we were watching a Pixar film!

We have 4 kids and do at least one load of laundry a day. I do less laundry than ever because the load size on this machine is so large. This machine easily holds 15 bath or beach sized towels.

I find the clothes get just as clean as with my old top loader. I started using a really green detergent (7th Generation), but ultimately changed to inexpensive ALL Free and Clear 2X, which states it is safe for HE, I use about 1 oz. of detergent per load. I also add a small amount of fabric softener. I like the dispenser that holds detergent, bleach and softener - so I don't have to remember to go back mid cycle.

The controls are not too difficult and our teenage son can use the machine - the start button looks like a play pause button on most common electronics.

Also - one friend asked if you can add clothes during the cycle, and you can! Just push the play/pause button to pause the cycle, which unlocks the door to be able to add more clothes, then push the button again.

The best thing about this machine is how much money it is saving us. We expected to save on water, but we're amazed at how much we saved on our electric bill. Our water usage has dropped by 30 gallons a day. Our electric usage dropped by 150 Kwh per day. This is great!

To address some of the common complaints:

We have not had any mold/mildew problems, but I do leave the door open. This seems like a common complaint with all front loaders due to the tight seal.

We do not have any noise or vibration problems, our machine is on a cement slab in a garage.

The washing cycle is longer - about 55 minutes. But my drying time is much less because the clothes spin out so dry. I also use the quick cycle if I am only washing a couple of things, or a lightly soiled load, and this cycle takes about 25 minutes.

We give this machine a high recommendation.