450 degrees in just a few minutes (could go higher, but that was more than I needed just testing it). I did take a quick look yesterday at the Kirkland model while picking up food and a grill utensils for Memorial day. Noted the folded metal corners, screws, etc. which made me more appreciative of the Virco quality in welded stainless steel (lid, lip, etc..) that they ground to a perfect edge and fit. One minor thing that I did not like were how easy the utensil hooks can swing out. I will look for a rubber gromet or something like that to slide over the end to keep them in place. Did I mention this unit is heavy? Not near the 450 lb that the Costco claimed, but Virco did not skimp on stainless steel. Double wall doors, lid that feels immense, and a minor detail, but I really like the stainless steel skirt at the bottom as it makes it look permanent vs. portable (even though it has locking casters), and how about that cover bsbbq?! Fully insulated with velcro ties. For those interested, Costco has a Hoffritz (hoffritz.com)6 pc. stainless-steel and black santoprene (like rubber) grill set that includes a large turner, tongs, biiiig fork tipped knife, grill brush, basting brush, and a 10 x 16" (I think) grid grill. Sorry to push Costco, but I checked Walmart while getting some other stuff, and just two pieces (with wood handles) were more, so I am glad I waited.

Converting to NG was quite easy. You will need to obtain a hose to hook up the grill to your gas line. I purchased mine at Home Depot. It is made by Charbroil, is a 12' long hose that attached directly to the grill on one end and has a quick disconnect fitting on the other end. The fitting has a female 3/8" pipe fitting on it, so if you have a standard 1/2" pipe stub, all you need is a reducer and some thread tape. I personally didn't use a regulator. Some people feel it is helpful in maintaining a certain pressure, but I haven't seen a need for one. I installed a gas pool heater a couple of years ago and didn't put one on there either, no problems with that. After all, I think that is one thing the gas meter does for all of your appliances anyway. The kit that you will get from Virco should contain all new valves with the orifices in them already. I am not sure why they do that, the valves seem the same and the orifices just screw in. You will also get a new "cage" for the side burner that mounts underneath it. The easiest way, for me at least, was to first remove the knobs from the front of the grill (after of course turning off, disconnecting, and removing the lp tank). Then, if you look under the edge of the control panel, you will need to undo the lp hose, the fitting for the side burner, and the fitting for the rear burner. Once you remove these, then disassemble the ignitors. This is done by simply unscrewing the buttons and removing the batteries, then unscrew the plastic nuts that hold the ignitor assemblies to the front panel, remove the assemblies from the rear of the panel and let hang. Now, you can remove the four screw (two on each end) of the front panel, and the panel will come off. With the panel off you can now replace the valves. You will need to disassemble the side burner to replace that orifice, it is pretty strait forward. The rear burner orifice needs to be replaced as well. Just remove the cover on the rear of the bbq (two screws). I Hope this helps, I am sure you will find it easy.

I owned one for three months and just sold it. I am going to buy the large Y0660 from Sams. The grill performed well, could peg the hood thermometer of 600F. The grates are very heavy stainless. But....the flame tamers are regular steel as is the rear IR panel. The rear panel didn't bother me but the flame tamer plates probably won't last long. The weakest part of the grill was the design of the drip pan. It is very difficult to use and often falls out of its track when sliding it in or our. It is a very poor design. If I kept the grill I was going to have it replaced with stainless steel from a local metal fabricator. The cost would have been about $100.00. Also, the hood was a folded design with spot welds but I will say that it never discolored on the outside for the 3 months that I owned it. To me, the Virco is far superior. I planned on buying that until I looked at the Y0660 at Sams. I am going to buy that one instead, even if it isn't ALL stainless. The grill and cart is so solid I will upgrade the few non-stainless parts when the time comes. It's basically a $5K grill for $1500.

I enjoy bantering with this guy and with the exception of compromising the value of this board with false info, he does provide recipes (from others, and in the wrong thread) and some good cleaning tips from time to time. What is truly sad if you think about it is that he is getting something really important to him through his fantasy and anonymity via the web. It hit me just last evening how much the character he portrays is the antithesis of his real life. We have an individual here who maybe lives with his Mom, or otherwise a loner or misfit who through this fabricated identity gets much need fullfillment from his pretend shoreside mansion, butler, Audi, SUV, recipes, etc. The reality is probably a delapidated home somewhere in the New Jersey or PA suburbs, a Volvo sedan with endless problems, and a grill (Members Mark) that in many ways was one of the nicest things he has ever owned (and it is a nice grill!). He got abusively frustrated when the possibility came up that there was a better value on the market (Virco). For those who did not see those posts before they disappeared, they were bizarre in the venom and profanity he lobbed at Virco and MM owners who would consider the possibility that the Virco was an excellent value. He made up reviews on a product you could tell he never looked at. We all know this is just a grill for heaven's sake, but he took it so much farther and so much more personally. A vendetta to disparage a grill? I don't mean to go so much into a profile here, but the grill really seemed to be an icon for the rest of his facade, and he felt he was vulnerable to losing something really important and precious if his purchase decision was compromised in any way. Well, I'll shut up now, but I feel a bit guilty now getting amusement out of someone who might have a real mental health problem. I hope I am wrong.