Thermador 48" dual fuel--should I accept this gift?

[llauralight]

I have been offered a 48" dual fuel Thermador 4 burner range with the only cost to me being delivery, installation, a new electrical outlet, and possibly re-routing gas lines an inch or two. It is about 1 year old with some electrical problems and presently in for repairs (being paid for by the present owner who already has a new all-gas Thermador). I cook on an eight-year old 36" Hotpoint gas range which works beautifully, and has had one repair which cost about 200 dollars. Oh! My husband says the Thermador weighs about 620 pounds, thus the floor might need reinforcing.  We use our range every day, sometimes for fairly complicated cooking. We feed a family of 4 plus whomever walks in the door about 15 meals a week, primarily from our garden, plus baked goods (We are not skinny). I am content with our present stove, prefer the responsive quality of a gas stove, and have not used an electric oven since childhood. I am a former professional baker/caterer and am excited by the idea of the sexy looking range,  but distressed by the idea that I might replace a great workhorse for a beautiful imposter. Does anyone have experience with this range? Its monetary cost is about 24 times the cost of my present stove, even if not to me. Is is worth it?

 

[kuan]

Nah, you shouldn't.  Just give it to me.  /img/vbsmilies/smilies/thumb.gif

 

[leeniek]

good one Kuan!

 

[llauralight]

Thanks! That makes me feel better. I fretted over this all night, no kidding. This particular range was owned by the engineer who designed it for Thermador. He had been testing it, and is now in the midst of a divorce. He sold his house and the new owners were not particularly appreciative so he kept his range, and traded it to a friend of mine for a motorcycle a few months ago. The electrician apparently installed it in said friend's house incorrectly and fried the power board, so it is at the engineer's house waiting to go to dealer repair. There was no warranty, etc. so my friend could not sell it back, but they are still fixing it at no cost. My ex-husband is trading art work for the repaired stove, and I am the only person he knows who really cooks. Now that I know it is a one of a kind, I am not so scared that I couldn't find any information on Consumer Reports etc. Smiles

 

[leeniek]

I cooked on a dual fuel Thermador at the cafe and honestly I was less than impressed with the oven.  The rangetop was amazing but honestly I much preferred my gas oven that I have at home to the electric one at the cafe.  This range that you might be getting does sound a like a one of a kind and as long as it is properly installed you will enjoy it, I think.

 

[llauralight]

Oh no! I bake more than anything. I  am going to look at the range today and try to make a decision. I have never used a dual fuel anything. I find an electric stove top frighteningly frustrating. Hope it works out. If I get it, I will not discard my present stove until I know I like the new one. 

 

[mezzaluna]

Moving this to the Equipment forum.....

 

[mikelm]

Nah, Laura...

Have him give you the motorcycle instead. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/lol.gif

Mike

 

[llauralight]

Hey! I did decide to get the motorcycle instead. Not really, but the replacement parts will cost about 1500-2000 dollars and I would rather have something with a warrantee if it costs that much just to fix. No warrantee in this case, so I am spending the money on used Le Creuset cookware and new Ikea cabinets. I already tiled the wall that wasn't fully tiled behind the stove with Italian hand made tile anticipating the new stove before I found this out, took out a cabinet, and removed part of the floor so I have to go ahead with a partial renovation. We shall see.