range question

I need some advice-I am in the process of closing on a new condo and my first agenda is to re-do the kitchen.

While it has always been a dream of mine to have a Viking range, since I am now in the position to go for it, an friend of mine suggested I look at AGA as well.

While I'm fascinated by the bright color's of the AGA line I wonder if anyone out there has tried both and what the advantage would be of one versus the other.

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[Mezzaluna]

I can't speak about AGA, but those who follow this board have heard me talk about my Viking range before. I bought it 4.5 years ago, so maybe the company made some changes since then. I have the 30" home range, with four gas burners and a gas convection oven. The burners are great, and I'd buy them again in a minute. The stove top is extremely easy to keep clean, as nearly all of it comes off and fits in the kitchen sink for washing.

But I don't like the oven that well. First, it's not self-cleaning (which I knew, but thought it would be easier to clean than it is), and only the side panels of the oven come out. The door does not come off for cleaning. It takes nearly 15 minutes to preheat to 400 degrees. I understand now that they make dual fuel units (electric oven, gas cooktop). But if I had it to do over, I'd either do that- or get the gas cooktop and dual electric, convection wall ovens. I suppose you should also think of what kind of cookware you are using on the burners, as their conductivity may be an issue.

Final bit of advice: be sure not to skimp on the exhaust system! I got the Viking hood and it moves air really well, I think.

[This message has been edited by Mezzaluna (edited 02-02-2001).]

Jonathan, if your condo is in an old building you might want to check the load factor on the floor. I think the AGA is really, really heavy. Is it made of enameled cast iron? Also because it is on all the time, will you need extra air-conditioning for the kitchen? Friends who bought their Viking before they made a non-restaurant version, had a problem with the amount of heat the thing threw into the kitchen. Even just the pilot lights.
But they are REALLY beautiful! I would love to have the simmer/slow cook function that AGA does perfectly, I understand. Let us know how your decision-making goes.
I'm getting ready to update my kitchen and looking at appliances too. I hear some not-so-good things about Sub-Zero fridges. Like high maintenance and lots of breakdowns. What are you finding out?

I love the look of the AGA ovens, but know nothing about them, keep posting any research!!.. I have a commercial Garland, and love it. It is true that even the pilots produce a huge amount of heat, but my plumber was able to rig it so that one of my pilots stays on and the other two have a switch to turn on the gas, and then I light with a match... greatly reducing the heat! You may want to check with you zoning codes, some area's actually have zoning on the kind of stove you can have!
I would avoid Sub-zero refrigerators... the do look great, but they are so shallow you will have a hard time fitting things into them... for example, a large cake! Also repair is frequent and expensive, my neighbor has one and hates it, and she doesn't have more that a bottle of mineral water in it!

[This message has been edited by OneSockChef (edited 02-02-2001).]

[Mezzaluna]

Ditto on the SubZero fridges. Our temple's kitchen maven bought one for the temple's kitchen, and the 12" deep shelves are darn near useless. When I asked her what possessed her to buy that model she said, "It's to keep people from pushing things to the back and forgetting about them." I guess manipulation by appliances is her thing. BTW, my Viking has no pilot lights- only electronic ingition. The 30" model was approved for home use where firewalls may not be present. (I bought it in 1996).