Looks like replacement parts are no longer available for my 18 year old oven...
So unless the repair guy can pull off a miracle, I will need a new oven soon. Brand or type recommendations - as well as warnings - would be most welcome.
I currently have a Gaggenau, and its been fine for 18 years. Service responsiveness has been impeccable. I'd buy another in a heartbeat, but:
- I don't know how long we will be able to stay in Switzerland. I should be realistic before investing in top range appliances, as they really do not add anything to home resale value.
- If we were to stay in this house longer I'd like to renovate the kitchen, so buying at the better end of the range is dependent on being able to move a built-in oven to a new layout.
Supply chain problems continue, a new Gaggenau will take between four to six months to be delivered. I assume most brands are facing the same problem. Bonus points if any of you know of a retailer with stock on hand.
The short term alternative to all the above is to buy the cheapest thing readily deliverable that fits into the space, and save major decisions - and investments - for later.
BTW- I do not want a steamer oven, just a bog standard oven for baking, roasting, and broiling.
So with that in mind: What brands do you recommend? Are there any you are not happy with? Any other issues I need to consider?
Locals like V-Zug - it's seen as a benchmark here so if you are selling your place then that's a plus point.
Their service/spares place is in Zug so you can get spares quickly and easily.
Gaggenau are part of the Siemens/Bosch setup and do share some common parts so if you loved the Gaggenau but don't want to spend so much then consider Siemens.
We've had V-Zug and Siemens and there wasn't a lot between them to be honest.
Self-cleaning ovens costs more but makes life easier.
Look at the reviews and get one which cooks evenly if you like baking.
Lastly, never, ever pay full price - you don't need to!
I like to buy standard sized built-in appliances and just go for any model that looks decent since all I do is set the temperature and timer. Anything goes wrong, it can easily be taken out and replaced - no need to organise maintenance etc.
The current model I have has zero electronic controls - just a dial to select mode and a temperature dial. This way, no non-essential electronics to go wrong.
Both Electrolux and V-Zug have show-rooms that you can visit and that have various models on display.
I am exactly in the same space (appliances are 15 years old in the apartment I'm buying and I will replace the oven and the stove).
Electrolux I visited, V-Zug ist next week.
As for Electrolux - it seems that the nice ones are also on the pricey side, so it's probably not much difference to V-Zug anymore - but we'll see how much discount I get via the local Küchenbauer .
The short term alternative sounds like the best option to me.
Have a look at various suppliers and see what models are available now. Check several sites to double check availability as they are sneaky and say it is in stock and then tell you they’re having trouble getting it from the suppliers and can’t give a delivery date.
Check out manufacturers websites as they give a good indication of which models are available.
We have been happy with our Siemens ovens which we’ve had for about ten years now.
I don't know about Meloncollie but I use the timers/clock etc daily. I'd like more controls - one that cooked at a certain temperature for a set time and then for another temperature for another set time.
I've never had the electronics go wrong in an oven.
I've had:
Element blown - Siemens. Peanuts to replace (DIY)
Glass front broken - V-Zug. Costly to buy replacement but fitted DIY.
Had to replace the oven last year and went with a Miele. It's a fairly basic model - delivery was quick too! Over the years I've had experience with so many different ovens and I really preferred the Miele. I have a separate Miele steamer so I wasn't looking for a combi oven or an oven with a drawer. The Miele finish is one of the easiest to clean( the self cleaning feature is great too!)
A long time ago I had a Gaggenau oven and it was super. The door opened sideways and I really liked that. Now my cooktops are Gaggenau, one side is gas, the other glass ceramic. When we had a service call on the gas side, the technician showed me the price of an induction model to replace the other side. only a Gaggenau will fit properly it seems without modifying the counter, which is granite. For now we manage though induction would be nice..
Is your oven a Euro norm size? (60 cm). If it is 55cm then your options will be limited.
You can look on netto shop or top preise to compare prices. But if you want delivery and installation those sites won't help you. For this you need an appliance shop.
I went with V-Zug for the reasons Tom suggested. I have 2 ovens and really like my steam oven which has a whole range of other cooking methods, including a Regeneration feature which is excellent for me as I often need to re-heat meals for my sons. I have bought from here https://elektrohertig.ch/home.html on two occasions and been very happy with the installation service. Possibly an option for you. Appliances are usually/always offered at around a 30% discount, so it makes a huge difference. I recently had a new V-Zug hotplate and an Electrolux extractor fan installed for less than the cost of a replacement of the controls to my old Electrolux hotplate. Might make an additional cost on installing in your area worthwhile.
It really depends on how many features you actually use. I have had a good run with Bosch laundry appliances and Siemens kitchen appliances (both are virtually interchangeable as they are made in the same factory) so depends on price. Nettoshop has been pretty reliable for supply but CALL before ordering as their website stock is not always up to date.
Turns out an ersatz heating element suitable to replace the one in my ancient oven was found in the bowels of the spare parts repository. I got lucky this time -this was the only one of these spare parts still available. So I now have a functioning oven again - and a bit more time to make further decisions.
Gotta hand it to Gaggenau's service department - they really did pull out the stops on this one.
So now I know I am on borrowed time with my all 18 year old appliances. Best get cracking with stay/go, remodel/sell decisions.
Thanks for all your advice, suggestions, and comments folks!