Sacrilege in the C&B forum...

[Lefta Dissenter]

but, of course, forgiveness is good for the soul...

I have a Viking range - 36" dual fuel freestanding (with single oven, four burners, and grill) about 6 years old. I really don't cook and bake very often, partially because of some health issues. I grew up with (...gasp...) an electric range, and that's all I ever used until 3 years ago, when I bought this house.

I just find that when I clean my kitchen, I sort of miss having my old glasstop stove that cleaned up to a sparkle with a wipe and a swab. :( People tell me that I'm nuts, which I may well be, but I'm thinking of trying to sell my range on craigslist, or try to trade it in, and get a new electric range to replace it. I have no idea what this would sell for, and I don't know what it would cost to get a decent replacement.

Any clue as to how I should try to price this range? More importantly, any suggestions for a 36" wide electric range that would be a nice replacement? I don't want to put a cheapy thing in this lovely kitchen, and when I do cook or bake, I would like my range to actually work well. But I also don't have extra money to put into this, so I'm hoping to sell the Viking for as much as I would need to spend for a new electric.

Any ideas? :shrug: Does everyone hate me now, because I actually want to give up my gas range? :cry:

Thanks so much for any help!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. ::: gasp ::::

::::: choke, wheeze, hack, gulp, choke, choke, choke ::::

No.

With my dying breath - don't feel bad, I wasn't in such great shape anyway - I implore you to hold on to that range. If necessary, I'll send you cash every month so as to have someone come in to clean it.

You don't want to do this. You're having what we in the South call "a spell." It's the summer, it's warm, strange bugs abound, and you're feeling a bit out of sorts.

Don't do it.

Come here and drive people such as I nuts with your plans. That's got to be good, if only for entertainment value.

But, really, that Viking is something that should be left in a will to a loved one, not put on craigslist.

PLEASE DON'T DO IT!

<thud>

[Lefta Dissenter]

8. ...ooh...

Until the <thud> I thought I could rationalize your response away...

... but a <thud>?

Now I'll forever have to live with the guilt of having made you collapse into a writhing heap on the floor. :cry:

(but since you're busy on the floor, how 'bout if I pm you with my address and you can start those monthly checks coming - you won't be using that money anyway...) :evilgrin:

[hippywife]

2. If you don't cook all that much

and especially don't bake much, I don't see why you shouldn't have what you're most comfortable using. But if I had a Viking in this situation, I sure would learn to adapt to it.

:hi:

[Warpy]

4. No kidding, plus that Viking range will add to the value of the house

Kitchens sell houses and replacing that gorgeous thing with a crummy electric stove (even if it's easy to clean) will lower the value of the house.

I agree, if you don't cook that often, get an electric skillet.

[The empressof all]

3. If you don't cook much get an electric skillet and keep the stove

I actually have a glass top and enjoy how easy it is to clean....But for that few times a year I do cook a real meal I'd be in heaven with any gas stove. If you're just heating and eating like I do I more often than not use my electric pressure cooker or Wolf Gang Puck Grill rather than the stove anyway.

[Tesha]

5. Have you considerd...

Viking makes covers for both the grill and the burners,
stainless steel or chopping board style.
Or... you could have a cover made just for you...


This would made keeping the surface clean easier and give you that flat surface I think you're looking for, without having to go through the hassle of getting rid of a really big selling point for the house in the future. Use your electric fry pan, plug in tea kettle, and crock pot and you're all set!

[Lefta Dissenter]

9. No, I haven't considered those covers

but that's a great suggestion, as are the electric skillet suggestions. I'll check into them. I suppose just because they say "Viking" on them, they charge

http://bp1.blogger.com/_REJOHAdg1N0/SChu9BUDhwI/AAAAAAAAAO8/27rFGzndn7Q/s320/arm+leg+dave+james.jpg

And I realize that you're all correct about the selling point for the house... though I can't see leaving here for another ten years at least...

[Phentex]

6. I'd sell it and get what you need...

life is for the living and a stove needs to be used. I'm guessing you can get good money for it and replace it with something you will love to use.

I would not hate you in the least!

:hi:

[Lefta Dissenter]

10. .

awwww, thanks :grouphug:

(actually, reading the other posts, I guess :hug: is more accurate)

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Well, some guy is selling a 6 burner Viking 36 for...

6 grand on the local Craigslist. It's a store selling a floor model, with warranty, and I'm not sure what their original retail was. A dual fuel 4 burner Viking 36 like you got is around 8 grand new.

Dunno if Craigslist is the best way to sell it, but if you're really not going to use it much, might as well let someone who appreciates it have it. Recent wanderings through local appliance stores looking for a new stove myself showed nice electrics for a couple of grand at most, so this should pay for your new stove and a set of good pots with a lot of change thrown in.

Do consider a cooktop and separate oven-- not having to bend down to get stuff out from under the stove is a small luxury not to be trifled with.

[Lefta Dissenter]

11. hmmmmm...

I like the separate cooktop and oven idea, particularly since my health issues include early bone loss, and my back is in rough shape.

I wonder if any of the local appliance places would at least give me a trade-in price, so I could get an idea for pricing, if I decide to sell. (I think I hear another <thud> from up-thread :()

[Tesha]

12. Another thought...

Can you actually buy a 36" smooth-top electric range?

I haven't looked recently, but it seems to me that they're
all 30" models. (You can buy just a smoothtop cooktop
that's 36", but that doesn't solve your problem.)

By the way, if the Viking sells for a good price, consider
induction cooking; depending on what pots and pans you
use, you may like it better than a regular electric smooth-
top.)

Also, make sure that you have enough electrical capacity
installed to support whatever you end up buying. Given
the current "dual-fuel" range, it's probably no problem
but be sure to check rather than make assumptions.

But I'd still keep the Viking ;-).

Tesha

[TankLV]

14. Yes - I put one in my apartment in Honolulu

Is DAKOR still around? I don't think it was because the Dakor was overpriced.

Or was it a "Kitchen Aid" - it was in the early 80's when I put it in and last saw it around 1996 when I moved to Vegas...

Kitchen Aid and Hotpoint are essentially the same brands - one is more for commercial use...

It was GREAT - my Mom LOVED it - all computer controlled - self cleaning LARGE ASS oven...and when not in use - EXTRA COUNTERTOP SPACE!!!

Now I have a gas range - I love it too - instant on and off heat - and with "Easy Off" new non-smell cleaner - I just spray it on and leave it for the morning while I do other chores, then come back and a light wipe and it all comes off clean real easy...

[ginnyinWI]

13. Gas v.s. Electric

I don't know anything about Viking stoves, first of all. I've had ordinary gas and electric stoves, and I like the electric ones a lot better.

The old-fashioned electric stoves with the wide coils were worse than gas. Slower to heat, particularly. But today's electric coils, whether exposed or smooth-top are faster. They can heat a tea kettle of water in no time at all. I have one of these and I wouldn't go back to gas. When I visit my kids and use their gas stoves I can't believe how long you have to wait for something to heat up.

Just my personal experience, FWIW.