I did splurge and have a Wolf Gas range along with Wolf double ovens. I'm still new to this kitchen, but so far I'm very happy with all 3. Yes, they're not cheap, but if you cook I think Wolf is a great choice.

We did have a wee bit of an issue with the wall ovens, and the service guy only had GOOD reviews on Wolf and SubZero's...and he services all major brands. His is only an opinion of course, but it was nice to hear. Good luck with your decision.

Don't have one so can't help with any personal experience. Can tell you that I was seriously considering the DF Wolf. Reason I choose not to buy it had more to do with current cooking/baking style. DH and I are seniors so only cook for 2. Most relatives way out of town so only few large family get togethers each year. We also eat out several times a week. I ended up purchasing a stove about $3000 less than the Wolf we were contemplating.

If you have a larger family, do lots of entertaining, lots of cooking/baking then a Wolf may be the one for you. I must say that I really loved it and in different circumstances would have bought it in a heartbeat. HTH.

Are you looking at open burners (AG) or sealed (dual fuel)?

I have a rangetop, so can't speak to oven performance or issues. I love the open burners and how small the simmer and low flames can be compared to sealed burners. I like the dual ring of flames to get the precise power I need. I love that each burner has identical high power (16,000 BTUs) and low, consistent simmer. A tiny adjustment of the knob make a difference in how vigorously or quietly something cooks, so I'm not over or undercooking...It's so wonderful. I haven't compared it to other gas cooking experience, because it's my first gas appliance. But I know I couldn't get the open burners of all the same power in any other brand. Capital and Monogram offer nice power on all burners, but they're sealed...And not necessarily that much cheaper? Anyway, I'd say that what I appreciate about my Wolf has nothing to do with fancy name, red knobs, fancy look, or marketing, and can't be found in a appliance of $2K less. It's not my favorite appliance when considering cleaning, but I have no regrets about its cooking performance.

Also, I had a range with the old grate design with rubber feet. When they wore down, Wolf immediately sent all new grates, as well as all new underpans, since they weren't 100% sure the new feet would fit in the old pans. (They did) But they didn't want me to have to be inconvenienced by waiting another 5 days if they didn't fit, so covered the bases and sent all new. The appliance stores I talked to (ones with good reputation and long history) and my trusted appliance repair person were all positively impressed with Wolf customer service and responsiveness. That means a lot to me for such an important appliance and major expenditure.

A lot of this depends on how and how much you cook and whether you want all burners with the same power. I visited an appliance store this weekend to look at washers, but was drawn to the Bertazzoni display and talked at length with the person cooking on the Bert. range, who also has had one at home for 2+ years. There is one 15,000 BTU burner for high power cooking, and he said that unlike many (just taking his word on this one), the Bertazzoni oven doesn't cycle, but constantly keeps a very even temp that performs wonderfully. If I was starting over, and getting a range instead of rangetop, even though it has sealed burners, I'd definitely consider these beauties.

Best wishes.

If you have to ask - buy something else. I'm sure the Bluestar fans will be telling you to buy the Bluestar, but there's 5-Star, Capital and others. If it's a "splurge" then it's too much money. We cooked on a GE range for 15 years with the largest burner being 11.5 BTU - and we're still alive and were able to eat as the food cooked despite the meager output.

We have a Wolf because we like the convection system better, oven lighting, rack system, and cooking modes. As for the burners - all of the hoopla about other products "out cooking" (whatever that means...we do the cooking, the burners are only tools) the Wolf has not been found to be lacking in our use. Water boils quickly, the wok works fine - but, then we're not potential Iron Chef contestants like so many others who can't seem to cook on anything but a star shaped open burner.

We do like the ultra-low simmer on all of the closed burners as we use that feature far more than a blowtorch max output - and the closed top is really easy to clean. If I really needed truly high output, I'd use the 30/50,000 BTU dual burner on my outdoor grill...

>>If it's a "splurge" then it's too much money.

Not necessairly true. Sometimes splurges are worth it. If you're going to splurge on one appliance in the kitchen, IMHO it ought to be the range. But I agree that there are other brands worth looking at: Bluestar, NXR, American, DCS, Capital to name a few.

I haven't moved in yet to start using my range but I bought an Electrolux Icon 48" dual fuel range. I love the look, the solidness of the range and the burners, the easy glide oven racks, the electric and convection ovens and having 1 small and 1 large oven.

I bought the range and hood from a retailer going out of business. They were floor models. The range had a small "bend" in the 4" back splash that I didn't even notice till we got it home. Electrolux immediately sent out a new one, no questions asked, even though I bought it second hand. They even offered to have someone come out and install it, for free.

If you shop the internet and Craigslist, you might find what you're looking for a lot cheaper. I saved over $6900 and still got a new range and hood.

I have had 3 gas ranges:
el cheapo Hotpoint (that probably cost $300 new)
midlevel GE (max output was somewhere near 11k or 12K BTU)
Viking open burner all gas range. (15K BUT on all 4 burners)

The GE was a HUGE improvement from the Hotpoint, which had practicality no heat output to cook with. I used that GE for many years. I upgraded the GE to a Viking with open burners a few years ago. I would say that the open burners are an upgrade from the sealed burners in terms of heat output but not enough to make that much difference. I have not had issues with low simmer on my open burners of Viking, but I don't do chocolate melting or delicate sauces.

I was never "equipment" limited on either ranges (GE and Viking. But I was limited by the poor performance of the Hotpoint.

I am with swines. If you have to ask and contemplate seriously, I would get something else and save money. If you are willing to make the splurge for emotional/esthetic reasons, then go for it. I am very honest to admit that I want my appliances to look good in addition to its functionality.

I am in the same boat regarding my range. I am redoing my kitchen and I am keeping my Viking gas range and not replacing it with an induction range, which I think is a better performer (from everything I read)... My current range has not limited me from making good meals. I will be saving about 6K to 7K by not replacing it with an induction range. I don't want to replace my great looking Cobalt blue Viking with a cheaper "unattractive" looking induction ranges. (Here is my vanity coming out in full force.)
When my current Viking dies, I will replace it with another Viking (or something else that LOOKS great) induction range. The spec may be an issue. Hopefully, something can just slide in! Will cross that bridge when I get there.

Thanks. Like Weissman, I tend to feel a splurge is justified (oxymoron I know) if it is one that will get heavy use. Some splurges down the line are worth it after sticker shock wears off. Others were just impulse buys. We do have an entire house project ahead of us though, so lots of potential splurges could come into play. But a kitchen really is the most heavily used room of the house.

We are considering the DCS as an alternative for now but still haven't ruled out the Wolf.

Thanks for all the input, really interesting to hear!

When we did this kit about 2 yrs ago I wanted a Wolf so badly, pure emotional and loved the red knobs. Unfortunately at that time the Wolf AG range had a major & unresolved problem so I ended up buying the DCS. I am very pleased. I especially love the center burner. I don't understand how they did it but all 5 burners can be used at once with sizable pans. I love the separate simmer ring on all the burners. I do not have the red knobs I wanted but I do have an excellent range.

Hi Janine
If you really want to torture yourself, go to the appliances forum! You will find PLENTY of opinions, pro and con, on every pro range under the sun! I speak from experience. I was all set to get the 36" wolf [open burners] gas range. I got so confused reading all those opinions. I have to say that, in general, wolf wins everyone's votes for reliability, customer service and solid construction. Cleaning is a bit of an issue for me (sealed burners appeal, and DF appeals because it's self-cleaning). But in the Boston area, dual fuel is about 3k more, and I don't think I can justify the price difference for those conveniences. I am also attracted to the infrared broiler feature in the all-gas unit. So, good luck in your choice. I think I'm going for the all-gas Wolf.

NXR has the same sealed 2-ring burners as the Wolf, made by the same manufacturer (German, I think) but costs only about $2K. Look for the threads on the Appliances forum.

We almost bought a Wolf but someone told me it heated the floor underneath so we change our mind and bought a GENERAL ELCTRIC MONOGRAM, Same industrial look with the blue inside. It is very sexy.

honestly i have to say i don't know how much the wolf ranges cost. never looked. i was more interested in getting the very best for my money. i wanted a rotisserie. i wanted six burners and a grill. i wanted self cleaning, i wanted MORE. more cost me UNDER $6K in a 48" capital range. you'll get great info on the appliance forum ...so much you'll feel as if your head will explode. my range is not up and running yet, but i like to visit her out in my garage. not only is she a workhorse but she's awfully 'purty too...

i've heard good things about wolf. my cousin has a set of wall ovens which have served her well for several years now. there are so many great choices so just take the time to really research. make sure you are happy with the features each provides. it's nice to have things you like to look at, but seriously this isn't a pair of shoes. good luck and let us know what you go with. i LOVE new appliances!

Dear Janine09,

There are several excellent pro-style ranges (Bluestar, Capital, DCS, GE Monogram, Viking) that I'm sure any serious cook would be more than happy cooking on. You'll find fans of each of these ranges on Gardenweb. In the end you'll have to balance your budget with your cooking needs and yes, even aesthetic decisions. We looked at them all and in the end bought the Wolf. We bought it in large part because of Wolf's solid reputation for customer service and consistent quality. (I prefer "no-drama" in my appliances.) Also, because we were buying a 30" the price differential with other brands was not as great as if we had been buying a 36" or 48". And frankly, we bought it because we could afford it, thanks to a very generous gift from my mom, who taught me everything I know about cooking. If I had been trying to balance a much tighter budget I surely would have tried to save a thousand dollars by buying another range.

I'll never know if I would have preferred one of the other brands more. But I couldn't be happier with the Wolf dual fuel (30"). The oven is a true baker's dream oven, the sealed burners provide precise control, going from a whisper of a simmer to a powerful searing high. I know I'll be happily cooking on it for years to come -- so although a luxury, it seems like a good investment to me.

I was lusting after the Wolf, too, but it just wasn't in my budget.

I seriously considered the GE Cafe (but did not want an electronic module that could fail) and Bertazzoni (the oven on the 30" was just waaay too small to really cook in.)

I looked into Americav, Blue Star, and Capital. At an appliance store I saw a NXR sitting next to the Capital, and was totally impressed. The burners were way nicer. (The capital's oven enamel was also flaking off, not a good sign!)

We have been very happy with our NXR. We got the straight handled DRGB3001 model (which has a sleeker look IMHO) for about $1800. It has 4x 15000BTU burners, with dual rings and a wonderful, super-low simmer on all 4. Closed burners, which I wanted. I believe that the burners (German) may be made by the same company that makes Wolf's, actually.

The NXRs are assembled in China out of American and European parts. The fit and finish is not quite as refined as the Wolf, Viking, etc. But for us, it was a great choice. We got a very handsome range, excellent cooking performance, at a fantastic price.

Sometimes you don't know until you've had something different. I had a five star cooktop, and was all set to buy another for this house. However, due to propane issues, I went with blue star. I knew I had issues with the simmer on the five star and stuff sticking in the middle of the pan, but I thought that was just gas simmering and what happened. Now with the blue star, I don't have sticking when simmering, even when it goes for a long time. Same pots and pans. I even accidentally left something simmering overnight, lol, and while there was some sticking/burning from that, it wasn't much. Very impressed with the blue star. BTW, it is 22k btu on 2 burners and heats a pot of water very quickly. Sometimes more money is more value. I am now stuck on blue star. Perhaps the wolf is the same way - more money is better. Can you try one out at a showroom?
Lisa

I have a bluestar rangetop. It fits the way I live very well:

- high powered burners so that for the first time in my life I can actually sear things
- grates come out and a wok fits down into them, and (again) for the first time in my life I can do real wok cooking
- the star burners deliver a very evenly distributed heat
- I cook all the time, and it's not an option to scrub the whole thing down every time I do, so I clean the stainless parts well and let the cast iron parts be, or I'll lift off the grate and sweep stuff down past the burner to collect on the large pull-out try underneath. When I have the inclination and the time I take all the black parts off, spray them with cleaner and let them set, scrubby-pad off anything significant, and then put them in the dishwasher.

My suggestion would be to think about how you like to cook, and how you like (or need) to clean, and what features support those. Open burner vs closed burner. Range of BTUs. Ease of daily cleaning. Then find the range that fits those.

I do have to say that whoever chose those knobs for the Wolf earned their pay. If I could switch out my black knobs for red ones I would.

I think this is like asking if a Porsche is worth it. You will get a very rare person who says "No", because the Porsche buyer is looking for that kind of performance. (They may actually be unhappy with Porsche specifically and move onto a BMW, but they would not be happy with a Ford Mustang GT)

So if you are asking if a Wolf is worth the money among high performance ranges, thats one thing (and I can't answer) but if you have been happy with a decent midrange cooker and don't already feel that you are missing something, then perhaps it is Not worth the money in your situation. If you already feel that something is lacking, perhaps it is.

I think very few people would turn down a luxury item if they could get it for the same price as the midrange choice, but they may never use it to capacity, in all reality.

Pamplist I love your Porche analogy. Perfect!

My sister has a Wolf. I have cooked on it and all I can
say is WOW. Of course she is an amazing cook and deserves
this range. I think the reason it is more expensive is
that there really is a difference. If you can afford it,
go for it. I don't think you will regret it.
And if after a month or so you discover you really detest
it, You can Craig's list it. Someone would gobble it up.

Well...assuming you'll actually use a high-performance cooking machine, compare the price of the Wolf with the other top ranges mentioned. Factor in customer service reputation, too. Then, one by one, check if the difference in price is worth the difference in features to you. By process of elimination, you'll find your range.

In most independent testing, all the high end stoves are significantly less reliable than the standard models. They just don't make enough of them to get all the bugs out of the production process.

So, if you just want a range that will operate reliably for years, any of the standard brands will work just fine.

If what you really want is a burner that can be seen from space, then pay the extra for the wolf or other high end option. Just remember that most of the extra money is going for style and not reliability/function. It really isn't much different than paying for the expensive stone counter, really pretty dining table or any other luxury good.

I've cooked on builder choices -- GE, Whirlpool, Jennair, both gas and electric. The only choice I had before this one was a Dacor 30" gas cooktop in a previous house and we both loved it. We thought we'd likely get Dacor again -- we liked the responsiveness of gas as well as the fact that water heated faster with more power than builder standards, but what discouraged us was wanting all the same size grates. We went with Wolf, which does have a smaller simmer burner in the rear corner where you are least likely to use very high heat, bat all the grates are the same.

I have cooked on all those others (including some models that were so poor they only lasted a year or so) as well as camp stoves and turkey fryer turned pasta cooker during our remodel. I can cook you a good meal and do dinner for a crowd with one burner, four or six and you may not know the difference. But it's a lot easier for me with more than 2 burners that work, responsive heat, control of the heat and a wide range of power. I melt chocolate on the same burner (without a double boiler) that I can sear on or simmer all day.

Is it essential to have a Wolf? No. Have I had any problems with it? No (have had issues with my ovens and Wolf has been great to deal with). Have I enjoyed the ease and control of using it? Yes, over and over again.

The designs lasted only a year or so -- the case of the solid disc burners in this kitchen when we bought it being the prime example. The cooktop was over 10 years old when we bought the house. Those discs were so slow to heat up, slower to cool down, a royal pain to cook on (worse than the cooktop that had only two tilted coil burners -- the smaller one of which didn't work on low -- and the grill didn't work at all). The sides of those discs were starting to rust through when we finally were able to get rid of it. We found out while looking at new appliances that the design was on the market less than 2 years. Apparently no one else loved those burners.

@lascatx - my mother has those solid disc burners. They are indeed AWFUL.

@billl - why the sneer at high-powered burners? Certainly, if you don't think you'd use the extra power then don't get one but there are a large number of people who have them and DO notice the difference.

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm in kinda the same position wrt Wolf. Is the DF worth it or would I be just as happy or happier with a Blue Star or other prosumer product?

Kate - where, in heaven's name, did you get that model of Capital for under $6K???? My interested was piqued when you mentioned the rotisserie & the lowest price I can find online is $7.5K.

Is the small side oven usable for doing casseroles? I need two ovens that I can have at different temperatures, but only one of them needs to be full sized w/ convection, broiling, etc.

PM me if you would prefer.

Thanks - Jo Ann

We purchased a 48" dual fuel range along with a Miele wall steam oven. We LOVE the steam oven. In retrospect, we would do the Wolf 48" cooktop then two wall ovens. The ovens take a very long time to heat up and we do 99% of our cooking in the Miele. The ovens are just ovens to us... nothing to jump up and down about. However, we LOVE our double griddle. Get that!

...late to the party however, for those who are looking to purchase a used Wolf? DO IT! I found a 30" gas range and this unit is built like a tank, and performs like one!! BIG, Audacious, All Business, and Beautiful!!! Production date is 1989 out of Compton CA. I have no problem with temp registering on all topside burners as well as the Oven. It's a workhorse and a conversation piece. It's obvious; I've been lucky to have such a good experience with this stove. So my recommend is: Get one if the opportunity presents itself!!!!!!!!

When making such a choice, I had to remember where my kitchen was: It's in a tract-housing subdivision where no one has a Wolf! Real estate tip: You don't want to over-improve your house for the setting it is in. We got a GE Profile instead, which fits in the neighborhood well & cooks, too. One day, if I move to a Wolf-worthy subdivision, I may contemplate it again...

I’ve been in love with the Wolf look for a long time and finally decided to go with the 30’’ LP (liquid propane) unit as we were putting in a new kitchen. The looks and burners I love, but having an oven that barks at us all the time is just not something we appreciate at all. During prolonged oven use every time it lights and extinguishes to keep the proper temperature, it does it with a LOUD woofff that gets everybody’s attention, even the cat... To top it off the maintenance man, sent by Wolf, said it was normal and did not even stick around to check the symptoms. I am really not impressed. How does your oven function??? Anything similar to my barking unit????

My natural gas Wolf does make a loud whoosh when it initially ignites, but I don't recall it doing that during the cooking cycle. Do you think it could have something to do with the propane supply?

I‘m not sure propane supply would be an issue, then again the tech rep who came over never mentionned that possibility. How old is your unit? The guy said Wolf had gone to circular burner about 2 years ago. I’m now trying to find Wolf owners in my area to possibly have a look at a full oven cycle on 2 or 3 different ranges before I get back to Wolf...

My range is about 7 years old. I bought just as Wolf was making the transition to the closed burners. I sought out one of the last models with the open burners because I really wanted that feature rather than the closed burners.

Would you happen to know if your oven burner is circular or straight?

It's not worth it..I've had more problems when cleaning it..the flame won't come back on afterwards..AND it's always CLICKING!!

Your burner shouldn’t keep clicking. If it does and it is clean, you probably have a bad igniter switch/module that needs to be replaced.