Viking Range 10/21/11
Consumer Reports puts all kitchen ranges through the same series of tests, whether they cost hundreds of dollars or thousands. Testers found a problem with this 30-inch pro-style Viking, which goes for five-thousand dollars. “It shorted out and stopped working when we ran the self-cleaning feature. One of the connectors actually melted.” Consumer Reports tested a second range. It didn’t short out, but again there was a problem.
4128178Dan DiClerico, “You can see this connector here has turned brown, and it’s partially melted.” As a result, Consumer Reports has designated this range a Don’t Buy: Performance Problem. It’s Viking model number VGSC-5304-BSS. Consumer Reports has tested other 30-inch pro-style ranges. People like their big knobs and heavy construction. But they cost thousands of dollars, and of the 13 now rated, none has earned a high enough score to be recommended. And many of the 30-inch pro-style ranges don’t have as much oven capacity as regular 30-inch stoves. Dan DiClerico, “So rather than spending thousands of dollars on a pro-style range, you can get better performance for far less from a conventional stove.” For example, Consumer Reports recommends this 800-dollar LG, model number LRG-3091. It has a bigger oven than most standard-sized pro-style ranges. It can simmer tomato sauce to perfection. And it does a great job baking cookies. .”
