I'm gonna vouch for LG. I bought a set of HE side-loads in 2007-ish with George Bush's tax rebate check, from a scratch & dent place. The washer & dryer were brand new but beat up pretty good, the dryer looks like it rolled down a flight of stairs, but they sit in a basement corner closet out of sight, so who cares... Got the pair for $650 when at a time when they were selling for $1100 each.
That said, both have been GREAT, best washer & dryer I've ever owned. They're now 13 years old and still work as good as the day I bought them. Had a couple repairs made in that time:
When the dryer was about 9-10 years old, I replaced the heating element and a thermostat-- cost was $50 and took less than an hour to replace myself.
The drain pump on the washer went out a couple months ago (somewhat common I think). Part cost $25 and install took about 10 minutes, literally. Tip the washer over, unplug electrical connector and two hoses, replace pump. Access is through an opening in the bottom, don't even need to remove a single panel.
Very impressed with the quality of my LG machines and the ease of servicing them. I have a wife and four kids, so these machines get used a LOT.
