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Need the experts: Thermador package, SubZero Wolf ?

13 years ago

Building a new house and need to decide which route to go...

Thermador has a great rebate package (buy a 48" Range, 42" refrig, and get the hood and dishwasher free).

Wife like Wolf look. Wolf + SubZero are more expensive route (in the end about 4K more after the 1K rebate).

Thoughts?

We are thinking of 48" range instead of 36" with double oven.

thanks in advance for all the guidance and help

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Comments (8)

sportsrx
13 years ago
Ras

We went thru the same thought process but was not a fan of the on off simmer w thermadore

We are not at all experts but the best word of advice from a friend /chef was not to take the cheaper way out on a long term investment if we could manage it....that said if the "better" was cheaper then bonus

Good luck in your decision
corky1_2008 Harris
13 years ago
I have the thermadore range top and single oven and am very pleased with the results. I too was worried about the rumored on-off clicking, but so far have never had to have the burner that low. I think the only time the burner is on that low would be to keep something warm, I use slightly below medium to simmer my oatmeal in the morning. No clicking what so ever.
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cheri127
13 years ago
One thing to consider is that Thermador gets bad reviews for customer service. I didn't know this when we bought the Freedom Towers so was very surprised when I called about a broken plug (electrician stepped on it) and they not only couldn't answer my questions, but actually hung up on me. Since then I've read some very negative things about BSH.
lascatx
13 years ago
I have Thermador fridge, freezer and 2 DWs and Wolf rangetop and ovens. I checked out the Thermador rangetop and really had no problem with the burners. The clicking only comes into play if you are using the super low simmer, and I don't use that on the Wolf unless I am walking away from melting chocolate (otherwise the regular lowest setting is fine) or have something very delicate simmering and that's not my usual cooking style. Most people aren't going to use it very often to begin with. If you would, then you need to check one out and see if it would bother you for yourself.

I have called both companies and dealt with customer service -- Thermador only for a question or ordering replacement filters (they are actually cheaper form the company so once a year I order a couple). I've never encountered a problem or rudeness.

I have had my Wolf ovens replaced -- twice. I consider the new ones still in their testing period. Everyone says it is a rare Wolf that will have a problem and I figure that is about my luck. The folks at the company couldn't have been nicer or the service much better, so I really don't have a complaint with them. This oven preheats much faster than the one I originally had, so I've come out ahead on that.

I may not be any help, but I can't guide you away from either company. But I do love the Thermador fridges better than what SZ had at the time. If I had to have a one company package, that might have done it for me. ;-) Neither one is going to be a bad choice.
athensmomof3
13 years ago
I think SZ is offering a rebate now too contingent on buying the 48" range. It was set to expire but they extended it. Can't remember the details though!
ashebooks
13 years ago
SubZero has one of the highest repair ratings on Consumer Reports
aprince
13 years ago
"SubZero has one of the highest repair ratings on Consumer Reports"

Doesn't mean a thing. The longer the warranty, The longer the paper trail. Sub has a 12 year compressor warranty, Top notch customer service that bends over backwards for their customers, and a great reputation to boot.
andersons21
13 years ago
I asked my friends about their SZ. It has had 2 new compressors over 20 years. Many people own 3 different refrigerators in a 20+ year span, so that doesn't seem bad to me.

When the compressor died on our cheap Frigidaire, we didn't fix it. It already had broken plastics, I didn't like the shelf layout, etc. We kicked it to the curb. But Consumer Reports doesn't ask about appliances that broke. When I took the survey, I was only asked about what I HAD REPAIRED. So the results are biased in favor of cheap appliances, and against longer-lived, expensive ones.

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