I am very surprised the Vikings are rated as less reliable than average. We have owned 2 viking gas cooktops, 36" model. The first in our CA home was used for 8 years and then we moved to NJ

We had the exact same cooktop specified in our kitchen and  its been 4 years now and we ahve never had a service issue. We think they are very reliable adn great to cook on.

We are looking at the 36" all gas range. What do you like the least about your Viking range. What do you like best?

Thanks,

Lynnda

Lynnda,

I have been cooking for almost 25 years. I prefer gas so let me say that up front. We also don't have a range we have the cooktop, 6 burners. If you want the exact model # I'll have my wife get it. She is incredibly well organized. We have a double oven from Kitchen Aid, electric.

Love the control and easy clean up of the Viking even though it doesn't have sealed burners. You can be at high heat for sauteing or boiling water,etc. and also be melting butter and not scorch it. The low flame control is very nice when making a roux (?) which is usually the base for my vegetables soups.

The six burners and the spider grates make it easy to move things around if you are trying ot get things done in a hurry. When we entertain and its a big party say 30 to 40 people we sometimes do the vegetables in real time just before serving, the mains will be in the oven. For some reason people like to watch my wife and I cook. Its a little nerve racking but ultimately fun.

My wife's biggest dislike, and its minor, is that after clean up she sometimes has to get a lighter to get 1 or 2 of the burners to ignite. For some reason the electronic ignition does not get them going.

No service calls in 8 to 10 years of ownership of 2 of the same model Vikings.

Hope this helps, steve

Steve,

That was a great help. Of course all the reports show Viking with the highest repair rating. My husband has always wanted a Viking range so there you have it, that's why we are buying it. Well, of course he doesn't cook...Why did you go with the wall electric oven? I'm not really  a baker, much more for the saute' and cooktop cooking. Do you have any other Viking appliances? We are looking a the "whole" Viking kithcen and I'm not thrilled with the fridge, it's an Amana with a big sticker price because it has the Viking logo on it.

Thanks for your help.

Lynnda

Lynnda,

If we could get together the 4 of us would become friends, I'm sure. My wife is the engineer and technical one, I've got the liberal arts degree.

We picked a Viking because we needed to replace a 42 inch cooktop in our old house in Oakland, CA.  The house was built in 1922 and the cooktop was installed by a previous owner. 

The sales guy's demo sold us. He took a paper napkin and lowered the flame to sim and low. The napkin was fine. At med it ignited and burned. As I said previously, I have only known gas, my wife did not have a strong preference. Because we always had about 20 people for Thanksgiving we wanted 6 burners and the spider grates make it easy to move things around. Also liked the fact that all the burners are equal in terms of heat output. So if you had to, you could have 6 pots on high.

The electric oven was because CR says they cook faster, have a self clean cycle.

Viking kitchen. Wife is a fan of Best in Class buying. So we have Kithcen Aid oven, Bosch dishwasher, GE frig and microwave. All are black except the Viking which I would call stainless. I would say save your $$ and get someting like a granite countertop.

Hope this helps. PS my email address is simply steve_re@yahoo.com. As a mid 40 yr. old this logging after getting a link to click on in my inbox seems hard, especially with the pop ups on page contains secure and non secure items....

Steve,

Great advice!  Buy best in class, not all the same brand. It has served me well over the years.

Angelo Mannino

CRO Moderator

Angelo,

 

thanks for the kind words.  As long as there is a magazine like CR to test and offer results I cna't imagine buying anything based on brand or to achieve a look. All the manufacturers know what is hot, trendy and make models that at least don't clash if not look like they go together.

Steve

Dear Steve

We also are interested in Viking -- the new speed oven, professional wall oven and warming drawer.  However, at the regional demo distributor in Connecticut their gas cooktop was malfunctioning.  It kept clicking as if the ignition setting was on.  Our consultant could not fix it and she said it was a worn ring.  So, as to the cooktop, we can report an experience that would appear to support CU's report.  By the way, our Viking rep also said she thought the Wolf cooktop was very well designed with its double ring and we prefer it because we are ancient decrepids who like the fact that the Wolf dials light up when the burners are on -- making it less likely we will burn down our home.

Brian

Brian,

What can I say?. Ours has not had this problem. I am surprised a demo unit isn't better maintained.

Steve

how is the kitchen aid wall oven?

Hi Lynnda,


 This is a very old discussion but I wanted to know what type of cooktop you ended up purchasing and if you have had any problems??

Thanks

We did a major kitchen remodel and were penciled in for a combo Viking 36 inch dual fuel range with a 24 inch companion range for wok cooking.  This was expensive, took up 50 inches of counter and there was no dickering allowed on the price.

We discovered the DCS (now Fischer Paykel owned) line much better filled our needs at a much lower price.  The gas top delivers 17,500 BTU's for effective stir-fry and has a fantastic low simmer setting.  It has a sealed easy clean top.  The five burner configuration gives a wider more useful griddle which is set at the end so it's next to counter, not between burners.  The dual convection ovens are electric and self cleaning.  So far no problems at half the price. 

We went back to our appliance store to request the DCS and the salesman sheepishly admitted that most of the employees have DCS cooktops in their own kitchens.  He thought we wanted the Viking "look."  If function and value outweigh the bragging rights of a Viking, Wolf, or Dacor, then DCS is a worthy consideration.  Ours has been terrific.  We worked our way through college cooking in restuarants and love an efficient pro-style set up when we host.

We have had a 30" Viking gas range for 18 years. I would estimate that the infrared broiler has worked for four of those years.The entire broiler was replaced at considerable expense at age 5 and failed again three years later, We just decided to try to repair it again, but it needs another infrared screen and a new gas valve. However, neither part is available.
The oven still bakes well and has only gone through three igniters. The range top igniters have never failed, but the burners need to bit lit with a match if the oven is on!

Would we buy another Viking? NO!!!

I'm not sure how much more Wolf's are, but from a materials quality perspective, they are much better put together and seem like a higher quality product. Again, i'm not sure if Wolf is a direct competitor to Viking or if it's a step higher. The thing that gets me is that if you look under the bullnose where the knobs are on a viking, you will see the wiring and shoddy overlaps of stainless steel.

We have had a Viking drop in range and have had nothing but problems.  I will never buy Viking again.  Once they got our money no one seemed to care anymore.  The "certified technician" they sent out to fix the double ovens didn't know how to get the screws out and couldn't pull out the ovens on his own.  The cooktop will keep clicking on one of the burners even after is is lit and cooking.  Viking said it was probably wet.  I told them no, I didn't clean there in the last few days.  We've also had problems with our Viking dishwasher but not the trash compactor.

Sounds like the 30 inch stand alone Viking we had.  Constant clicking of the igniters, didn't always light without a match, and the "technicians" replaced many parts, never agreeing with each other about what was wrong.  Never again.

My oldt O'keefe & Merritt (Town & Country model) was capped off by the Gas utility company becase of gas leaks. Beautiful stove with 6 burners two ovens and 3 broilers, I don't know if I should have have it completely restored (which can be done albeit expensive and will take about one year to complete,  I was told). We are thinking about maybe buying a new range, we have been looking at Viking, Electrolux, thermador and GE, with 2 ovens.We are very confused which one to choose. Some reviews are positive, some negative, on all these brands. It is important to get one which works well and is reliable since it involves a great expense. Any suggestion???

R.I.A. California

 

 

Hi, Read your request for info. on a rang. We bought a DCS 48" duel fuel and had 3 years of constant repaires ( to the cook top) to the point of going to the BBB and threatening court before they finally said they would give us a new range.They can't even fix their own product.So, now I'm looking for another brand too. Have you found anything out about others?

I am in exactly the same camp. I'm buying a new house and my adamant desires are to have a good dual fuel stove and front loading washer and dryer, despite the fact that the appliances chosen are quite nice. I had a Viking. It needed repair under warranty; I found it hard to clean, but I loved it. Now I'm considering the GE Cafe but am wary of the negative feedback. I've been accustomed to the fan noise from my GE double wall ovens. Can anyone tell me if it's worse than that?