Viking & subzero (appliances, custom home, refrigerator)

[Valerie-Lydie]

I was told that Viking and Subzero appliances for the kitchen and the laundry were the best to equip our new house... (?)

[jsimms3]

Well they are the most expensive, and they look nice and can match your kitchen, however, having grown up with these appliances and having a realtor for a mom (this is down in fl), they are not the best. We switched to the much cheaper and less "pretty looking" GE and a couple other things, and they function a lot better and have better form. The sub-zero fridge is absolutely horrible on space and areas for storage, and breaks sometimes. The Viking appliances have their own problems, I'm assuming you are talking about appliances such as a gas stove etc.

I recommend you bite the bullet and save money and do not buy either brand.

[Valerie-Lydie]

thank you, you are helping me saving money

[VJP]

You really need to check out some comparison shopping websites...is epinions still around? I haven't heard of too many positive of subzero fridges once four to six years in. Repairs are costly......and personally the GE appliances I have had haven't had a repair issue in their aging. Yes, an exception but still..

[Valerie-Lydie]

jsimms...said it. When visiting most of the new or recent properties, they all had viking and subzero appliances and it was said that they were the best. Now, the house we are going to purchase have none of them and they all need to be replaced. For this reason, I was wondering if it was indeed real that these top noch appliances really deserve their reputation. I am glad I asked because it does not seem to be the case.

[lastminutemom]

Thermador makes really great ovens and cooktops and Bosch makes awesome dishwashers. Both are expensive and you really need to research if they are any better than say top of the line GE, Maytags etc.

They are also a bit harder to get repaired.

[Valerie-Lydie]

Thanks last minute mom

[On-da-Beach]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

Thermador makes really great ovens and cooktops and Bosch makes awesome dishwashers. Both are expensive and you really need to research if they are any better than say top of the line GE, Maytags etc.

They are also a bit harder to get repaired.

Absolutely true! I had a Bosch d/w and it was the best.

DO NOT buy any GE junk! There is no top of the line GE equipment worth having. GE is trash. I've been in the electrical industry for over 30 years and professionals all know about GE. Builders install a lot of that junk in new homes because GE provides a good package price. The builder doesn't care if it falls apart after closing since it will be someone else's problem. It's not just their appliances either!

[IntownHomes247]

If you sign up for an online subscription to Consumer Reports you can see rankings for appliances (as well as just about every other kind of product) provided by the non-profit Consumers Union (which doesn't accept funding from manufacturers).

Find Product Reviews and Ratings from Consumer Reports

Then you'll have objective opinions based on testing of a wide variety of brands and models rather than simply anecdotal evidence from a handful of individuals as to which appliances are "best."

[rvbrad]

My recommendation is this:

Bosch Dishwasher
Kitchen Aide Refrigerator (if cabinet-mounted)
Wolf Gas Range/Oven
Thermador Wall Ovens
Electrolux Cooktops

I've had an abundance of appliances and have a snooty set of in-laws that have custom homes. Sub Zero really does have a poor product for the money. I've had a GE Monogram matching set of appliances with poor experiences for the dishwasher and refrigerator. The oven and range were problem free. I have a Bosch dishwasher now (second one) and will never own anything else, ever. I have access to that new Electrolux induction hybrid cooktop (as seen on TV) in a neighbor's pool house - it is absolutely awesome.

Another brand to avoid - Jenn Air. I can go on forever about a Jenn Air retractable vent hood. POS!!!