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Original poster

range cooker dilemma

40 replies

FireGirl27 · 15/09/2012 13:29

Looking for 90cm stainless steel dual fuel range cooker. Torn between rangemaster or stoves options (£1200-1400) and a discounted Britannia or SMEG (down from £2k to £1500). Sales people pushing better quality of Britannia but there are some negative reviews out there! I want a great hob and ovens for baking and pizzas. Any recommendations or warnings what to stay away from? Thanks!

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 15/09/2012 13:46

I have a 90cm SMEG. The oven isn't great, it doesn't cook very evenly at all.

tomme · 15/09/2012 13:49

I'm after exactly the same and really don't know where to start, the don't seem to be many reviews out there. Friends have a smeg range and really wouldn't recommend it, they've had to have it fixed twice in the last year, apparently smeg don't make them another company does and then they just get smeg branding.

BrianButterfield · 15/09/2012 13:49

I have a Rangemaster (Classic Deluxe) and I love it - also, when I bought it, 4 different people I know told me they have one and they love it! Stoves are not the quality they used to be - the controls felt flimsy to me.

Original poster
FireGirl27 · 15/09/2012 13:50

Thanks for that. How old is your cooker? Sales pitch is that they now come with a 5yr guarantee because they now have a better product. Hard to judge the reviews because lots of people post them within a very short time of getting their oven (sometimes before they've even used them!!)

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Original poster
FireGirl27 · 15/09/2012 13:53

Thanks BB - how long have you had your rangemaster?

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eatyourveg · 15/09/2012 13:54

bought my stoves 7 years ago - love it.

trixymalixy · 15/09/2012 14:00

I've had my SMEG range for 10 years now. I've not had to have it fixed ever (touch wood). It's ok, the hob is ok. If the oven cooked more evenly it would be fine.

BrianButterfield · 15/09/2012 19:45

About a year or so? It's certainly been well-used since I got it. I've seen ranges that are 2-3 times the price and I just can't see how they're 2-3 times better; the Rangemaster is very well-built and does everything I want it to do.

Plomino · 16/09/2012 17:26

I have a Britannia and I love it . Do a LOT of baking in it , and so far , having had it a year , it hasn't failed me yet . Have used all the functions including the rotisserie for crispy duck ! The functions do take a bit of getting used to, but so far , am very very impressed . Its used constantly as there are 8 of us in the family , so we needed something hardy. So far , I'm that impressed I'm actually paying someone to clean it this week !

ivykaty44 · 16/09/2012 17:29

I have the same oven that is in a rangemaster - it is fab and now 22 years on, great for pizza

Paradisefound · 16/09/2012 18:31

I bought a rangemaster professional plus 90cm (which best buy) when we had our kitchen fitted earlier this year. It's dual fuel and I would highly recommend it. Homebase price matched cheapest price available online, we ordered just after Xmas and got a real bargain. Lots of co's will price match so shop around, we also got the hood half price... Be cheeky!!

tibni · 16/09/2012 19:29

I have the rangemaster toledo and love it.

ggirl · 16/09/2012 19:36

have a britannia and wouldn't buy it again
door came off after a few yrs
dh managed to fix it
it's a fucker to clean (brished stainless steel0

oven works fine though and love the 6 gas hobs

Original poster
FireGirl27 · 16/09/2012 20:09

Thanks Plomino and ggirl. I'm looking at the most basic level britannia - the E line. What model is yours? Just wondering if some of the negative reviews are for this model and it's the expensive ones that are getting the rave reviews!

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Ginshizz · 16/09/2012 20:13

I have a Rangemaster Elan and love it. Had it for three yrs and it's fab - great pizza oven!

ggirl · 16/09/2012 20:18

is this one but quite old 7 yrs I think

Original poster
FireGirl27 · 16/09/2012 20:37

Paradisefound - thanks will check homebase too. There is some variation on the oven handles - some have nice solid metal ones, others feel more flimsy. Does the professional plus have proper metal ones, or plastic/chrome effect? I've seen quite a few, so hard to remember them all now! Thanks.

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Original poster
FireGirl27 · 16/09/2012 20:43

Oh yes, and one reviewer mentioned the control knobs melting - again, are they plastic rather than metal?

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Baffledandbewildered · 17/09/2012 01:16

Had a Britannia never again , range master great now have laconche amazing!! It's a nightmare choosing though good luck

Plomino · 17/09/2012 10:56

Mine's a basic e line , and I love him . He was new from a discount warehouse , so got it relatively cheap . It's the 4th range I've had, having had a Leisure one , a Belling , a Rangemaster (cheaper to replace than to fix ) and so far, so good . I do think they're a bit like Marmite though , and it took a bit of trial and error working my way through the functions to find out which one works best for,each dish .

That said, have also found the quick preheat function makes a lovely sponge when I forgot to switch it to the fan oven!

Plomino · 17/09/2012 10:57

Oh and mine has plastic knobs , they're still intact thus far !

Original poster
FireGirl27 · 17/09/2012 14:24

Thanks Plomino! Can you remember the discount warehouse where you bought yours? I'm being offered an ex-display for £1500 (E Line 900 in stainless steel) Normally around £2k I think. No griddle or other accessories though!

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Plomino · 17/09/2012 20:52

I got mine from economy cookers in kings Lynn , which is not far from me , with all the accessories and stuff for £1600 . They are on eBay a lot, but sell direct from the warehouse as well . Also do very good deals on the other white goods , if you're happy to wait and see what they have, as they usually take end of line stuff from other retailers. Am currently waiting for a BIG Lg washing machine to arrive !

Original poster
FireGirl27 · 17/09/2012 22:50

Thanks Plomino. Did you by any chance consider a Fisher & Paykel? They are well reviewed and seem reasonably priced.

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Plomino · 17/09/2012 23:20

I didn't , not for the cooker , but I do covet their double fridge freezer ! As soon as I win the lottery, it's mine ...