Which Weber should I get?

[snapshotmd]

Hi everyone!

Right now I’m trying to decide whether I should get the Genesis Silver C, the Home Depot Ducane that’s going for $899, or the Summit Gold B4. Up until now, my budget would only allow for the Genesis, but some money fell into my lap. :D I’m looking for something that would be able to accommodate about 15 people about 1 or 2 times a year. Most of the time I would only be cooking for my family of 3; perhaps 4 next year. :rolleyes: I would also like to use a rotisserie to cook with. :mouthwate

Here’s what I’m thinking;

Genesis Silver C;
I’m not sure if is big enough to cook for a party of 15 people successfully. It’s got horizontal burners, so that if I cook with a spit, I’ll have at least one burner parallel to it. However, I’m used to using vertical burners and not sure how this would effect my normal cooking. Also, I’ve heard that the Genesis has a problem searing meat properly; that is, with the hood open, temps won’t go over 300 deg F.

Ducane @ Home Depot;
Probably everything I want in a grill. It’s got a built in rotisserie with IR back burner, and vertical burners. It’s backed by Weber, but I’m a little worried if I could get spare parts 10 years down the road. It seems this is a one time deal with HD and the grill may be discontinued next year. With only a relatively few grills to support, Weber may stop making parts for these grills. Also, this Ducane isn’t even a category on the official website. The website only has aluminum and this one is SS. What I’m getting at is it would be difficult to get accessories for this grill.

Summit Gold B4;
I’m confident this grill has the space to cook for 15 people. But I’m not sure how well it will do in cooking rotisserie since the whole thing has vertical burners. I’m also concerned this grill would be overkill for a family of 4, and a party of about 15 once or twice a year. I’m also confident that parts will be available after 10 years and accessories are available all over.

So that’s my story. Which one should I get? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
snaps

[Rollo T]

I would not worry too much about the vertical burners....I cook on a 6 burner (vertical) grill and with the two outsides on Med., the first two inside on Low, and the middle two OFF, it cooks fantastic. I actually like it better and gives you more temp. control than three horizontal. Hope this helps.

Rollo T. :cool:

[ccgegg]

I almost posted something very similar earlier today (minus the Ducane due to same concerns as you), but wanted to wait until I see the Webers in person tonight.

My dilemma is.... Genesis Gold B vs Summit Gold A4. (well, I'm still sort of contemplating the Summit Gold C4 too... and the Platinum versions of these grills because my wife wants me to look good while grilling :-)

The Summit 4 has 504 sq in of primary cooking surface vs Genesis' 424. While that might seem like a big diff, I'm not so sure it is. We're talking 25x20" vs 25x17". (these aren't actual measurements-- I'll get those tonight. Too bad grill specs can't just say what the freakin size is.... a 504 sq in grill could be 6" wide by 84" long :-) At least Weber gives you the sq in of each surface area without much digging. So is the Summit "overkill" for a family of 4?.... Probably not. At least that's how I'm thinking. And I'm trying to justify the slightly bigger size because we also entertain a similar size and frequency as you. I also think the Summit has a better stainless grate, but I'll see for myself tonight.

So is the Summit Gold A4 worth $400 more than the Genesis Gold B?
It gets me:
-- Total cooking area of 700 vs 611 (primary: 504 v 424 // warming rack: 88 v 75 // warming basket: 108 v 112)
-- BTUs of 44k vs 36k, but I think both are sufficient
-- 4 burners running vertical vs 3 horizontal
-- Electronic Crossover ignition vs standard Crossover (anyone know if this is much better? last longer?)
-- A "welded" stainless steel grate vs a stainless steel grate (I'll see in person tonight)
-- "Heavy-duty" stainless steel Flavorizer bars vs stainless steel Flavorizer bars
-- Stainless steel inserts on the work surfaces vs the Thermoset
-- Summit Platinum gets me the smoker box w/dedicated burner (I think I'll use and appreciate the space) and the side burner (which I may or may not use if I have it)
-- As silly as this sounds, I'm not a grilling genius, so I like the handy "cheat sheet" printed on the Genesis line.

Am I missing any other differences?

[snapshotmd]

OK... so I walk across the street to Sears while I was waiting for my oil change and looked at their grills. Their grills are pretty decent and had my eye on a SS 882 sq.in. 60K BTU Kenmore with 4 burners, plus side. Very impressive!!! The main cooking area measured 600 sq.in. of solid SS rod grid. The whole thing is built with 304 SS and feels pretty solid. The cart looks like it's held together with rivets. I consider that in between screwed and welded, probably a healthy compromise, I guess. The cabinet doors had a back to them; not just sheet metal bent at the ends. The burners have a lifetime warranty, but the rest of the grill has Sears' general warranty which is a year. I'd have to buy additional coverage. For a 5-yr plan, it would be a little over $100, and I guess they're renewable. Anyway, the Sears warranty is "fix it or replace it" and I think that's pretty decent.

I drive over to Home Depot to look at the Weber Summit Gold D6. This included the stamped stainless grid which probably won't sear right and I've noted that the welds on the cart are only on the corners/joints. The other thing is the cabinet doors were sheet stainless bent at the ends with out a back and the hinge was spring wire that you bend to attach/detach the doors. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. I took a look at the burners and I was impressed. These were SS tube burners, but every 2 burners had a cross member that has a row of holes thru the top. I can now see Weber's ingenuity on using the BTU/sq. inch effectively.

Tonite's conclusion is; Kenmore seems to pack alot of punch with a quality built grill backed by their warranty, if you choose to buy the protection. For $1000, I could get this grill and buy 15 years worth of warranty and if it falls apart, I'll get it repaired or replaced by Sears; or at least I think it works this way.

With Weber, I know that they will be there, but for what I'm getting I think I'm paying a lot more for that guarantee.

snaps

[Dano]

Wow, the burners have a lifetime warranty? I knew the stainless does. I have to research that because I was pretty much planning to buy new burners arter a few hard years of grilling....

BTW, I agree on everything you said about Sears backing the unit. I mentioned that my Spice Rack was bent upon delivery. They had a new unit shipped immediately without question.

Dan - East San Diego

[ccgegg]

Kenmore, huh? I haven't looked there yet. June 2004 Consumer Reports rates that grill as "average" for evenness of cooking, but it scored "excellent" for grilling chicken and fish at low temps and construction & ease of use. The Weber Summit Gold A scored higher overall, esp in the evenness category.

I went to a local Weber dealer tonight who supposedly had floor displays of all the Webers. Waste of gas-- had the Genesis Platinum, an old '04 Summit Silver C (similar to '05 Summit Gold line) and a Genesis Silver B with special stainless grate & flavorizer upgrade. But I was pleased to spend an hour educating the guy who runs this grill-only store.... and that's not saying a whole lot considering I don't know everything about these grills.

Back to my dilemma.... Is the Summit Gold A4 worth $400 more than the Genesis Gold B?
It gets me:
-- Total cooking area of 700 vs 611 (primary: 504 v 424 // warming rack: 88 v 75 // warming basket: 108 v 112)
>>> Mass confusion here. Summit Gold C4 lists a primary cooking area of 504. Unless the '05 has a different smoker box setup than the '04, this sq inch # is WRONG because it uses the exact same 2 grates as the Genesis Silver+ grills. See, the smoker box on the Summit C4 consumes the left 3-4 inches, leaving actual grate dimensions of 24 x 17.5.... do the math and that's 424 (same as Genesis). So what grates does the Summit A&B4 use? Well, I haven't seen one on display nor even a photo with an open lid, so hopefully a proud owner can shed some light. Does the Summit A4 have wider grates to fill the space used by the smoker box on the C4? Or is it a small 3-4" wide grate to fill that space? (by the way, I called Weber on this tonight and the rep also didn't know) Another minor issue is that the ss grates on the '04 Summit Silver C slid around awfully easy compared to the Genesis line. The finish where the grills rest was the shiny black on the Summit versus the rough finish on the Genesis.

-- BTUs of 44k vs 36k, but I think both are sufficient

-- 4 burners running vertical vs 3 horizontal
>>> Makes little diff to me. Actually, seems that the front knob area on the Summit stick out a little far.

-- Electronic Crossover ignition vs standard Crossover (anyone know if this is much better? last longer?)
>>> Both have a 3 year warranty, so is electronic really better?

-- A "welded" stainless steel grate vs a stainless steel grate (I'll see in person tonight)
>>> More mass confusion. What does Weber mean by "welded" in their product specs? Is the ss grate on the '05 Summit A4 better than the one on the Genesis Gold? The '04 Summit Silver C on display had identical grates to the '05 Genesis Gold/Platinum. Does Weber only have 2 different ss grates?... the lighter ones on the Genesis Gold and the 3/8" ss rod grates sold on the Summit Platinum?

-- "Heavy-duty" stainless steel Flavorizer bars vs stainless steel Flavorizer bars
>>> OK, now the Summit did have a thicker ss flavorizer bar than the Genesis Gold... likely more durable. However, I didn't care for how the Summit's were connected (2 sets instead of individual bars). I would think the single ones would be less cumbersome to clean.

-- Stainless steel inserts on the work surfaces vs the Thermoset
>>> Made no diff to me. SS would probably scratch easier.

-- Summit Platinum gets me the smoker box w/dedicated burner (I think I'll use and appreciate the space) and the side burner (which I may or may not use if I have it)
>>> Smoker box sounds nice on paper, but then you think "ok, gotta clean this baby" and I start thinking tin foil pouch in lieu of $100 upgrade. (actually, $200 because I don't really need the side burner either)

So tell me if this sounds logical......
Genesis Silver B costs $499.
I can get the "upgraded" one for $529, which includes:
Stainless steel grates (same as Genesis Gold)
Stainless steel flavorizer bars (same as Genesis Gold)
Extra swing-up tray on right (same as Genesis Gold)
Black knobs and lid handle (no big deal)

So what does the $599 Genesis Gold B have on top of that? Seems to me just the stainless steel insulated hood.... not really worth $70, is it? (esp when both have 25 yr warranty)

Another option is to buy the Genesis Silver B for $499 and upgrade to the high-end 3/8" welded ss rod grates sold on the Summit Platinum (and incidentally on Amazon for $80 each), then buy a set of 5 ss Flavorizer bars for $38.
$499 + $160 + $38 = $697 for a grill with the same 424 sq in primary cooking area as the '04 Summit Silver C (and maybe the '05 Summit Gold A4)..... same high-end ss cooking grid as the '05 Summit Platinum C4..... and same ss flavorizer bars as the Genesis Gold & Platinum. What do you think of this a la carte grill? Are the 3/8" ss grates that much better than the standard ss grates? And I suppose I could wait to spend the $38 on the 5 pack of ss Flavorizers until I truly need them (porcelain-coated start rusting)

[snapshotmd]

Kenmore, huh? I haven't looked there yet. June 2004 Consumer Reports rates that grill as "average" for evenness of cooking, but it scored "excellent" for grilling chicken and fish at low temps and construction & ease of use. The Weber Summit Gold A scored higher overall, esp in the evenness category.

(snaps) >Thanks for doing that research. I found out that this is a chinese manufactured grill and leads me to believe that spare parts would be hard to come by. However, that means if backed by Sears, I could get a brand new grill. :) Also, "experts" from another forum are saying that the SS on these grills are thinner than what's used on Webers. The thing is, this was one of my criteria while looking at the Kenmore, and I couldn't tell the difference from the Weber. Actually, I felt that the Kenmore was more solid than the Weber.<

I went to a local Weber dealer tonight who supposedly had floor displays of all the Webers. Waste of gas-- had the Genesis Platinum, an old '04 Summit Silver C (similar to '05 Summit Gold line) and a Genesis Silver B with special stainless grate & flavorizer upgrade. But I was pleased to spend an hour educating the guy who runs this grill-only store.... and that's not saying a whole lot considering I don't know everything about these grills.

(snaps)> That's pretty funny! Just shows how being confused could make you a resident expert. :D <

Back to my dilemma.... Is the Summit Gold A4 worth $400 more than the Genesis Gold B?
It gets me:
-- Total cooking area of 700 vs 611 (primary: 504 v 424 // warming rack: 88 v 75 // warming basket: 108 v 112)
>>> Mass confusion here. Summit Gold C4 lists a primary cooking area of 504. Unless the '05 has a different smoker box setup than the '04, this sq inch # is WRONG because it uses the exact same 2 grates as the Genesis Silver+ grills. See, the smoker box on the Summit C4 consumes the left 3-4 inches, leaving actual grate dimensions of 24 x 17.5.... do the math and that's 424 (same as Genesis). So what grates does the Summit A&B4 use? Well, I haven't seen one on display nor even a photo with an open lid, so hopefully a proud owner can shed some light. Does the Summit A4 have wider grates to fill the space used by the smoker box on the C4? Or is it a small 3-4" wide grate to fill that space? (by the way, I called Weber on this tonight and the rep also didn't know) Another minor issue is that the ss grates on the '04 Summit Silver C slid around awfully easy compared to the Genesis line. The finish where the grills rest was the shiny black on the Summit versus the rough finish on the Genesis.

(snaps)> Egg, you bring up some really good points. I really should remember to bring a tape measure and do an actual on these grills. I measured the Kenmore to be almost exactly 600sq.in., but it's advertised as being 628 sq.in. So I guess it's just plain ole marketing to make things look more attractive. It could be that the Summit C4 is 3-4 inches wider to accommodate the smoker. That is, the main cooking area does not account for the smoker?<

-- BTUs of 44k vs 36k, but I think both are sufficient

-- 4 burners running vertical vs 3 horizontal
>>> Makes little diff to me. Actually, seems that the front knob area on the Summit stick out a little far.

(snaps)>I've notice that as well. The front end overhangs the cabinets a little much to be comfortable to use the cabinet space. Ergonomics could have been better.<

-- Electronic Crossover ignition vs standard Crossover (anyone know if this is much better? last longer?)
>>> Both have a 3 year warranty, so is electronic really better?

(snaps)> I don't know, but the electronic is certainly more impressive. The crossover seems archaic, however, maybe its retained in this model for a reason. So maybe crossover is better?<

-- A "welded" stainless steel grate vs a stainless steel grate (I'll see in person tonight)
>>> More mass confusion. What does Weber mean by "welded" in their product specs? Is the ss grate on the '05 Summit A4 better than the one on the Genesis Gold? The '04 Summit Silver C on display had identical grates to the '05 Genesis Gold/Platinum. Does Weber only have 2 different ss grates?... the lighter ones on the Genesis Gold and the 3/8" ss rod grates sold on the Summit Platinum?

(snaps)>The welded ones are the solid SS grates. The "stamped" SS grates are the hollowed out ones. The welded grates normally are offered on the Summit grills and aren't really intended for the Genesis, although they can be used on them.<

-- "Heavy-duty" stainless steel Flavorizer bars vs stainless steel Flavorizer bars
>>> OK, now the Summit did have a thicker ss flavorizer bar than the Genesis Gold... likely more durable. However, I didn't care for how the Summit's were connected (2 sets instead of individual bars). I would think the single ones would be less cumbersome to clean.

(snaps)>The Summit burners paired off and are joined together by a cross-member that also acts as an "auxillary burner" That's why the Summit flavorizer bars are joined together to act as a drip guard for this feature. I think that this feature shows Weber's ingenuity in utilizing the BTU/in efficiently.<

-- Stainless steel inserts on the work surfaces vs the Thermoset
>>> Made no diff to me. SS would probably scratch easier.

(snaps)> But, you could also put a hot pan on the SS insert without worring about melting something<

-- Summit Platinum gets me the smoker box w/dedicated burner (I think I'll use and appreciate the space) and the side burner (which I may or may not use if I have it)
>>> Smoker box sounds nice on paper, but then you think "ok, gotta clean this baby" and I start thinking tin foil pouch in lieu of $100 upgrade. (actually, $200 because I don't really need the side burner either)

(snaps)> I agree with your logic. I'm not sure how much I'm going to smoke, but if I'm gonna, I'd rather it being as effortless as possible.<

So tell me if this sounds logical......
Genesis Silver B costs $499.
I can get the "upgraded" one for $529, which includes:
Stainless steel grates (same as Genesis Gold)
Stainless steel flavorizer bars (same as Genesis Gold)
Extra swing-up tray on right (same as Genesis Gold)
Black knobs and lid handle (no big deal)

(snaps)> You have to becareful. They could mean the stamped SS grid and the thin SS flavorizer bars. The Extra swing-up tray may be worth it. If this deal includes the solid SS welded grates, that would be a whopper of a deal since these cost $90... each!

So what does the $599 Genesis Gold B have on top of that? Seems to me just the stainless steel insulated hood.... not really worth $70, is it? (esp when both have 25 yr warranty)

Another option is to buy the Genesis Silver B for $499 and upgrade to the high-end 3/8" welded ss rod grates sold on the Summit Platinum (and incidentally on Amazon for $80 each), then buy a set of 5 ss Flavorizer bars for $38.
$499 + $160 + $38 = $697 for a grill with the same 424 sq in primary cooking area as the '04 Summit Silver C (and maybe the '05 Summit Gold A4)..... same high-end ss cooking grid as the '05 Summit Platinum C4..... and same ss flavorizer bars as the Genesis Gold & Platinum. What do you think of this a la carte grill? Are the 3/8" ss grates that much better than the standard ss grates? And I suppose I could wait to spend the $38 on the 5 pack of ss Flavorizers until I truly need them (porcelain-coated start rusting)

(snaps)> Sure, if you're gonna replace the internals, you might as well get the best. If you're gonna get a Weber Genesis, why don't you buy from Home Depot? They come with the PCI grates which is way better than the stamped stainless, and when those wear out get the welded SS grids. Most people actually like the PCI grids.

I've replied in the main body of quote in blue.

snaps

[ccgegg]

Thanks snaps. I've added comments in red........

(snaps) >"experts" from another forum
(ccgegg) What other forum(s) do you check? I'm always interested in opinions.

Back to my dilemma.... Is the Summit Gold A4 worth $400 more than the Genesis Gold B?
It gets me:
-- Total cooking area of 700 vs 611 (primary: 504 v 424 // warming rack: 88 v 75 // warming basket: 108 v 112)
>>> Mass confusion here. Summit Gold C4 lists a primary cooking area of 504. Unless the '05 has a different smoker box setup than the '04, this sq inch # is WRONG because it uses the exact same 2 grates as the Genesis Silver+ grills. See, the smoker box on the Summit C4 consumes the left 3-4 inches, leaving actual grate dimensions of 24 x 17.5.... do the math and that's 424 (same as Genesis). So what grates does the Summit A&B4 use? Well, I haven't seen one on display nor even a photo with an open lid, so hopefully a proud owner can shed some light. Does the Summit A4 have wider grates to fill the space used by the smoker box on the C4? Or is it a small 3-4" wide grate to fill that space? (by the way, I called Weber on this tonight and the rep also didn't know) Another minor issue is that the ss grates on the '04 Summit Silver C slid around awfully easy compared to the Genesis line. The finish where the grills rest was the shiny black on the Summit versus the rough finish on the Genesis.

(snaps)> Egg, you bring up some really good points. I really should remember to bring a tape measure and do an actual on these grills. I measured the Kenmore to be almost exactly 600sq.in., but it's advertised as being 628 sq.in. So I guess it's just plain ole marketing to make things look more attractive. It could be that the Summit C4 is 3-4 inches wider to accommodate the smoker. That is, the main cooking area does not account for the smoker?<
(ccgegg) It's hard to follow what I'm trying to say with all the Weber grill names. I measured the Summit with smoker box (C4) cooking grates and they are IDENTICAL in size to the Genesis Silver, Gold and Platinum..... each of the 2 grates is 12" wide by 17 1/2" deep. I even held them next to each other. So yes, the Summit grill box is wider than the Genesis to accomodate the smoker box, but I don't consider the smoker box to be "primary cooking area". If you look at the specs for the Summit A4 vs B4 vs C4, they all show a primary cooking area of 504. But in reality, the C4 is only 424 (same as Genesis). What I'm trying to find out is what the primary cooking area of the A4 and B4 is... and the dimensions & material type of each grate.

-- A "welded" stainless steel grate vs a stainless steel grate (I'll see in person tonight)
>>> More mass confusion. What does Weber mean by "welded" in their product specs? Is the ss grate on the '05 Summit A4 better than the one on the Genesis Gold? The '04 Summit Silver C on display had identical grates to the '05 Genesis Gold/Platinum. Does Weber only have 2 different ss grates?... the lighter ones on the Genesis Gold and the 3/8" ss rod grates sold on the Summit Platinum?

(snaps)>The welded ones are the solid SS grates. The "stamped" SS grates are the hollowed out ones. The welded grates normally are offered on the Summit grills and aren't really intended for the Genesis, although they can be used on them.<
(ccgegg) If you look at the grill specs on weber.com, you'll find....
For the Genesis Gold, "stainless steel" (stamped, I believe)
For the Summit Gold, "welded stainless steel" (they say "welded", but I think they're the same stamped ones as the Genesis Gold)
For the Summit Platinum, "3/8-inch diameter stainless steel rod" (high-end ones)
What do you mean when you say "welded grates aren't really intended for the Genesis"?..... A true functionality reason, or more like 'why do you have $12K in accessories on your Dodge Neon'?

So tell me if this sounds logical......
Genesis Silver B costs $499.
I can get the "upgraded" one for $529, which includes:
Stainless steel grates (same as Genesis Gold)
Stainless steel flavorizer bars (same as Genesis Gold)
Extra swing-up tray on right (same as Genesis Gold)
Black knobs and lid handle (no big deal)

(snaps)> You have to becareful. They could mean the stamped SS grid and the thin SS flavorizer bars. The Extra swing-up tray may be worth it. If this deal includes the solid SS welded grates, that would be a whopper of a deal since these cost $90... each!
(ccgegg) Oh, I'm sure it's the stamped SS grate and thin SS flavorizers. But to me, those are better than the porcelain (not a fan of porcelain). Also, the warranty on the SS grate is 7 yrs vs the porcelain's 3 yrs. And the warranty on the SS flavorizers is 5 yrs vs the porcelain's 1 year.

Another option is to buy the Genesis Silver B for $499 and upgrade to the high-end 3/8" welded ss rod grates sold on the Summit Platinum (and incidentally on Amazon for $80 each), then buy a set of 5 ss Flavorizer bars for $38.
$499 + $160 + $38 = $697 for a grill with the same 424 sq in primary cooking area as the '04 Summit Silver C (and maybe the '05 Summit Gold A4)..... same high-end ss cooking grid as the '05 Summit Platinum C4..... and same ss flavorizer bars as the Genesis Gold & Platinum. What do you think of this a la carte grill? Are the 3/8" ss grates that much better than the standard ss grates? And I suppose I could wait to spend the $38 on the 5 pack of ss Flavorizers until I truly need them (porcelain-coated start rusting)

(snaps)> Sure, if you're gonna replace the internals, you might as well get the best. If you're gonna get a Weber Genesis, why don't you buy from Home Depot? They come with the PCI grates which is way better than the stamped stainless, and when those wear out get the welded SS grids. Most people actually like the PCI grids.
(ccgegg) Do you think the PCI is better than the stamped SS? I've read opinions favoring both. What advantage(s) do the PCI have? At this time, I'm leaning toward the Genesis Silver with premium ss grate/flavorizer upgrade. Seems well worth the $30... esp given the extra 4 yrs on the warranty on these 2 items.

[snapshotmd]

Egg,
In regards to the grid, the stamped SS is a basic alternative to the porcelain coated wire grate and because it doesn't contain any mass it won't sear as well as PCI. While I share your enthusiasm about porcelain coatings, cast iron is one of the best, if not THE best, materials to sear a steak. One of my plans is to use the PCI till it chips, and then find a naked cast iron grate to use. As for my comment about the welded 3/8" SS grates, it has nothing to do with function, just economics.

So I went back to Sears took a good look at the grill I mentioned earlier. I noticed this time that the shelves were mounted directly to the firebox, and since the firebox walls were sheet metal, it flexed when I put some weight on the shelf. Most other grills are designed with the firebox as an insert to the cart, not as one entire unit.

So I’m back to considering the Weber Summit Gold B4.

snaps

[ccgegg]

Snaps,
My info shows the Summit Gold B4 comes with the basic SS grate, not PCI. Or maybe they offer an alternative in your neck of the woods? The 3/8 dia ss rod grate is only sold with Summit Platinums (or for $80 each on Amazon).

At least with the B4, you're getting the full 504 sq in primary cooking area (as opposed to the C4 which loses 80 of that to the smoker box). It was explained to me tonight that the B4 uses one 12" wide grate and then two 8" wide grates. So if you're thinking of changing to raw cast iron down the road, you may want to consider if you'll be able to find grates to fit the primary cooking area (which I believe measures 28x17.5")

[snapshotmd]

Egg,
There are places to get cast iron grates, they won't be Weber, but I don't really care. Besides, if the heavy duty SS grates come with the Platinum B4, then I could get them direct at a later date.

snaps

[ccgegg]

Picked up my Genesis Silver B with ss grates at 3:30 today and had filets cooking by 5:00. What a treat to use a grill that doesn't require constant babysitting. Thanks to everyone for the advice.

[snapshotmd]

Egg,

Congrats!
My Summit is due to arrive on Thursday. I can't wait!

snaps

[snapshotmd]

Well, it’s here! It got to Baltimore on Wed and made an appointment to have it delivered to my house on Fri. I had to pressure wash my deck before putting the Summit on and I didn’t start assembling the grill until Sat nite.

Assembly was a breeze; it only took about 30-40 minutes to finish. I ran an oil soaked paper towel on the grates to remove all the crap left over from manufacturing, and it also seasoned them.

On Sun afternoon, I wheeled it from the garage to the back of the house and had to lift it onto the deck. This thing is freaking heavy! Note to myself: If I ever get another grill like this, I’m moving the parts to the intended spot and build it there. I put a propane tank on, checked for leaks and turned all 4 burners on high to preheat, while turning on the side burner momentarily to see if it works. The temp reached 600*F within 10 minutes. I lifted the hood to check out what was going on and the flavorizer bars were glowing red. I kinda panicked and turned the burners down. I hope that’s normal. Made me wonder how hot can this thing get and will it hurt itself with the lid down?

Anyway, I tossed a couple of frozen sirloin burgers on for 3 minutes and they were well done, but juicy. “Normally”, with my old grill they would be pink in the middle. There was a very momentary flare up when flipping the burgers but it was only for a split second. I’m gonna try some other things tonite… I’m not sure but something.

I'm thrilled with my grill. The only thing is if I had to do it again, I would've spent the extra $200 and gotten the Platinum version. In the long run it would've been less expensive with the SS 3/8" grates and SS frame. The grates would've been $200 to begin with and currently, because of the grid dimensions, 17.5x14, you have to get them direct from Weber. Oh well. I didn't research well enough, but I'm still loving life.

snaps

[sharky]

It sounds like you are having a great time already!

Don't sweat the small stuff about not getting the Platinum. You will still be able to cook and enjoy your food. I say get your digital camera out and take some pics of this bad boy in action!

[TomKattt]

If you want to save some money, the Genesis will suit your needs well enough. You do have to close the lid to get hot enough to sear, but it does do a good job that way. I like the Home Depot PCI grates on my Genesis.

I have seen the Ducane at Home Depot. It's unclear to me if it's Chinese made or US, but it looks like a nice unit for the price. Weber support should be good. I have not cooked on one, so I can't comment on pperformance.

The Summit has a reputation for being an outstanding grill. If you don't mind spending the bucks, it's hard to go wrong with it.