Subzero: space tradeoff from an old 650 to a new 736TCI

13 years ago

Mostly for reasons of changing out the door (see my other post for the reason why) I have the opportunity to change from a 1999 subzero 650 (fridge on top, freezer drawer below) to a new 736TCI (fridge on top, 2 freezer drawers below.

From the math I've done, it looks like we'd end up with 16.6% to 14% less fridge space, but 30% to 40% more freezer space.

While it's a net gain, we're not really freezer people. We cook a lot of fresh produce, have lots of leftovers, lots of bottles of sauces and such. Our freezer is usually a little bit of meat, a little bit of frozen fruit, a bit of ice cream, a gallon or two of frozen homemade chili or chicken soup... oh yeah, and tons of leftover wedding cake. :-)

If it were only a loss of 15% of the fridge space, but the same number of drawers and such, I would really care -- I'd expect a hair less height on each shelf wouldn't matter. But it seems that the 6" tall wire basket -- the one we keep all our cheese and cold cuts in -- is what's missing. It's hard to wrap our heads around losing that space.

So... I turn to all of you for guidance and opinions? Am I being silly? Bring it on!

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Comments (7)

User
13 years ago
1. produce storage is not one of the 700 series' strong points - at least from a volume standpoint.

2. actually calculating the sq. inches of space of one vs. another is a bit silly to me. The 736 has plenty of fridge space for all but the largest family - and then multiple units are better anyway , in my opinion.

3.To me the deciding factor would be the interior shelf and drawer layout. I like that wire basket too.
plllog
13 years ago
I don't think they have the wire basket on the new over unders either. That's one thing that pushed me toward Miele. My folks have the basket drawer and I love it.

Is this a silly question? Can the basket drawer from your old fridge fit in the 736? Are the supports different?

Antss is right the square inches don't tell the whole story. Have you been able to go to a showroom and see the new one?

BTW, you do know, don't you, that the door doesn't open as far on the integrated one, right? That's another thing I like about Miele. The hinges push the door out and away from the box. It's not the same as the old SubZero stopless pivot that kept going until it banged into the counter, but it's as much as is needed.

If the limitation of the door opening doesn't bother you, have you considered having full overlay panels put on your old fridge? I don't know if a stainless door can be adapted for it, but the unit, itself could. The big problem, in my mind, is that then you only have ninety degrees opening, and you have to lift the drawers out at an angle for cleaning. PITA, no?

If your stainless doors will take magnets, you could also get skins, and attach them with strong magnets. I'm assuming that your doors don't project by saying that. Otherwise, I don't know how you'll be able to get an integrated door on a new fridge to be flush.
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Antss - I think you're mistaken, and it's your posting that's likely to confuse people. As I wrote earlier, the rough opening specification for BI-36U is 35-1/2 wide by 83-3/4" tall. That is exactly the same as the rough opening for the previous 650 model. If you're replacing a model 650 (or a 550, for that matter) wirh a new BI-36U/S Classic Stainless model, a framed panel model, or an overlay model, it will slide right into the same space that the old model was in. No alteration is necessary. Only the new Flush Inset models require slightly different clearances to allow the larger door fronts to swing unimpeded and to match up with the cabinet door fronts on surrounding cabinetry. If you're installing a new Flush Inset model, the rough opening is still 35-1/2" (between the mounting cleats) by 83-3/4". The difference is the way that allowance needs to be made for the refrigerator door panels, which are 37" wide, and thus wider than the appliance case. The door panels on a flush inset model requires 38" of space in front of the side mounting cleats and between the doors or drawer fronts on either side of the refrigerator. See the diagrams in the Sub-Zero instruction manual. The rough opening in the cabinet carcass (or between the cleats), however, remains unchanged from the rough opening specification on earlier models -- 35-1/2" x 83-3/4" with a minimum of 24" depth to the front of the mounting cleats on either side of the appliance. See pages 8 & 9 of the Sub Zero Installation Instructions at the link below. It's all clearly illustrated. Crazykitchen54 - If you're going with the Classic Stainless Steel model, the installation specification for the rough opening dimensions are exactly the same as the specification for older models. Here is a link that might be useful: Sub Zero BI-XX Installation Instructions
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daveliv
13 years ago
I made the same conclusion and went with the Subzero BI36U, which is basically the updated 650 for my new kitchen. I found that I fill the 650 fridge at Thanksgiving and didn't want to forego the extra cubic inches. I also think the top-mounted compressor is less likely to get fouled up with dust than the bottom-mounted compressors in the 700 series.
Peter Steinberg
Original Author
13 years ago
plllog, I don't know if my old wire basket shelf could fit in the new fridge. But if it didn't, I expect that the wire basket shelf from the all-fridge 700 series would fit no problem so I could always order one of those somehow.

And yes, I'm headed to a showroom myself later today.

As far as the door only opening 90 degrees, I saw that mentioned but didn't really focus on it until now. Wow. That does sound like a real pain and may be a complete show-stopper. That may push me towards swapping out the door for a full-overlay door that I scrounge up somewhere.

Daveliv, I like the point you make about the top compressor staying cleaner. Since we have a dog who spends a lot of time in the kitchen I expect it could make a big difference. Thanks!
plllog
13 years ago
Hm.... I wasn't at all clear. The 700 series integrated fridges open something like 110 degrees. It's the full overlay integrated door on the 600s that only opened 90 degrees. I don't remember the exact numbers on the integrated ones, but it's in the documentation on the website.
Peter Steinberg
Original Author
13 years ago
Huh. My old 650 opens a full 180 degrees. Odd that they would do away with a fridge that can be opened so wide.
jenny1963
13 years ago
So...what did you end up deciding, petestein1, and why??

Subzero: space tradeoff from an old 650 to a new 736TCI

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Subzero: space tradeoff from an old 650 to a new 736TCI

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