Viking Series 7 vs. Blue Star

12 years ago

Help! I cannot make a decision!

I am doing a complete kitchen renovation and need to make a choice for a 36" commercial/professional stainless range/oven.

I am a passionate cook who only uses the oven for a few major holidays per year (think Thanksgiving) when I have 15-20 people over. I am torn between the new Viking 7 Series and a Blue Star. The chef in me says get the Blue Star with its larger capacity oven and "workhorse" reputation. However, I am concerned with the heat emanating from the door and the temperature of the door itself since I the oven will be in a enclosed space and we usually have small children milling about.

The Viking 7 series seems promising with the 6 year warranty. With its more powerful burners, and a new manufacturer, it seems like a promising contender.

I have to purchase a new dishwasher, fridge, and hood, and the price of the Viking is about $2,000 more than the Blue Star package.

I plan to stay in my house another 15-20 years, so resale value is not my highest priority. Nor is the "impressing my neighbor" factor.

Any other suggestions for additional brands? Is there anything that I should be aware of?

I have been reading all the Garden Web blogs, which has touched on this topic, but mostly focused on the Viking 3 and 5 series. Thank you!

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Comments (6)

plllog
12 years ago
I don't understand. You mean you've been to the Appliances Forum? If you've checked there lately, you'll see that they will strongly warn you away from any Viking product. Their current service record is dismal and there are many many complaints about issues across their whole line requiring service, replacement and repair.

There have been some issues with some BlueStars, but in general the company does seem to respond sufficiently. Most people love them.

If I were you, I'd stick some ribbed silicone on the door to protect the kids, and get the BlueStar (though I think they're supposed to have fixed that issue, at least somewhat).

If safety is a tip top priority, and you can put in an adequate electric service, get induction and a separate, electric oven (can usually be mounted below the cooktop if it's the same maker). If you want the look of a range, you can have the cabinet they go in made to have a range look.

If you want to be a guinea pig for Viking, go ahead. You might get one that doesn't have problems and works right. It seems a shame to spend more money on such a risky prospect. Oh, and Viking dishwashers don't dry.
arley_gw
12 years ago
I've had a Capital Culinarian for a couple of years and love it. I got the 48" model (configuration is 6 burners and a grill), one small oven, one large oven with rotisserie. In general I am very pleased with it. If I were to do it over, though, here's what I'd do:

1.0 Forget the rotisserie. Yeah, it's cool to watch, but you have to clean the oven more frequently and now that there's a Sam's near me selling rotisserie chickens, it's hard to justify mucking up the oven.

2.0 Get a griddle instead of a grill. The Culinarian grill doesn't get as hot as my gas grill on the porch, and it's a PITA to clean.

3.0 My kitchen layout pretty much demanded a range, but if I had to do it over again and could fit it in this way, I'd get a couple of good wall ovens and a Culinarian cook top. Love the 23K BTU burners.
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User
12 years ago
After my experience with a Viking gas range, I would never own another Viking appliance. Both oven burners and ignitors had to be replaced "twice" in less than five years. Something wrong with having to put $800.00 out in service and repairs within a five year period.

Based on what you posted above, apparently they have improved on their warranty. Still wouldn't tempt me to buy another Viking.

~Ann
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
12 years ago
I was at a Viking showroom sometime ago.

I asked the salesman, " How durable are these appliances?"

Replied, "They last forever, because people who can afford them do not cook with them."

dcarch
User
12 years ago
WELL DAMN!!!! That was my problem. If only I hadn't cooked.

~Ann
arlocat
12 years ago
I purchased my Viking cook top, oven and microwave nine years ago.

The cook top lettering decals came off twice in about the first 18 months and the whole cook top needed to be replaced each time. Whole decals literally came off on my hand as I was cleaning it. A Google search showed that several other people had the same issue. I was told that I needed to be careful and not to use any stainless steel cleaners, etc. when cleaning the appliances. Since then I use nothing but a damp cloth and when grease is an issue I add a tiny bit of dish soap. After the last replacement the number decals have remained on the cook top. I do like the way the cook top functions.

The oven had problems right out of the gate and needed tweaking and then replacement. I was very careful while cleaning my oven so by the time the oven numbers started to come off it was too late to be covered by warranty. I inquired about purchasing new decals from Viking and was informed that wasn't an option. While some of the markings remain, others are made with a Sharpee. Very high-end and precise, don't you think? The oven tends to run hot so I need to keep an oven thermometer handy.

So far the microwave has been fine (although my old GE did a much better job with popcorn) but this last week the door has been balking when I try to open it. We'll see what happens next.

While Viking covered the cost of the replacements during the warranty phase, we had to pay the cost of labor. That was not an inconsequential expense. The second repair guy messed up the retractable vent behind the cook top and the oven guy messed up the protective metal cabinet shield that my contractor installed on my cabinets. I must say the appliances work well but I won't be buying Viking when I need to replace them.

Viking Series 7 vs. Blue Star

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plllog

arley_gw

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