Refrigerator shopping

[HoleshotHolset]

I found a stainless crapper...



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Matt

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Looks like it belongs in a prison cell...

 

[Mike Ellis]

I have been looking at the fridges too, our is beginning to act up. Our fridge is 22 years old, it is a Kenmore top-freezer unit that came with the new trailer house my wife and I got when we married in '82. Never a problem until the last couple of months. Could probably fix it but the wife says after 22 years she wants a NEW one. Women - barely get something broken in and they want to replace it with the new style :-laf :-laf



Consumer Reports reviewed fridges in the February 2004 issue. Sub-Zero did not fare well in their reliability survey, 25% of owners reported repairs and serious problems, typically fridges of all sorts are much more reliable than this. Compare with Whirlpool or Kenmore for example that had less than 5% of owners reporting problems with top/bottom freezer units. The average for all brands was about 10-12%, so 25% is a significant deviation from the mean - must be some quality/design issues lurking. I didn't realize until I read the review that many of the high-end built-in units come unfinished, for $5000 you'd think they could provide a set of different finish panels.



I still have the article, here are the 3 top-rated models in each of the categories in case anybody else is shopping



Top Freezer:

1. GE Profile PTS22LBN, $980

2. Kenmore (Sears) 7398, $820 (CR Best Buy)

3. Kenmore (Sears) 7325



Bottom Freezer:

1. Amana ARB2217, $1250

2. LG LRDC2273, $1350

3. Maytag Plus MBB2254GE, $1000 (CR Best Buy)



Side-by-Sides

1. Kenmore (Sears) 5365, $1400

2. Kenmore (Sears) 5468, $1650

3. GE GSS25JFP, $1000 (CR Best Buy)



Built-In and Cabinet-Depth Bottom-Freezers

1. Sub-Zero 650/F, $4450

2. Amana ARB8057C, $1900 (Cabinet depth)

3. GE Monogram ZIC360NM, $4000



Built-In and Cabinet-Depth Side-by-Sides

1. Viking DFSB423, $5300

2. GE Monogram ZISW420DM, $5200

3. Jenn-Air JS42FWD, $6000

 

[HoleshotHolset]

EXCELLENT info, Mike!



The results of the comparison are a bit odd... if the Sub-Zero's are problematic... why did it make #1 on the list of built-in/cabinet depth bottom freezers?



I've always been cautious of Consumer Reports... they claim that over the years - they have never been compensated to give a favorable review for a product.



I really liked the Amana bottom freezer models that I saw... seems like CR likes 'em a little bit, too.



I'm not down with GE's fridges... I may as well buy an LG seeing as they make all the fridges for GE anyhow...



I didn't see Kitchen Aid listed... hrmm, and I thought they made good stuff.



I'm learning more and more about these things as the days go on... thanks, folks.



Matt

 

[Todd G]

The Amana bottom freezer models (22 cu ft) are very deep. As in "OMG that sticks WAY out into my kitchen". They are only 34" wide and like 36" deep.

 

[MKoth]

Just looked at a Sub-Zero for the first time today... Wow. . I would buy it just to be the only guy on the block to have one, or city, or county, or well, you get the point.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I think Amana makes a cabinet-depth model or two...



When I was drooling all over the brandy-new Sub-Zero's at the store... the salesman took one of the plastic door shelves out and stood on it. I couldn't believe the abuse that little piece of plastic took. Good old fashioned Wisconsin craftsmanship!



I've been 'eyeballing' the Summit CP171SS - it's a bottom mounted freezer/fridge combo, dual compressors, 12ft³, stainless steel finish on all exterior surfaces. It's a little on the small side, but looks to be pretty well built.



Matt