Interesting.

Mrs Ratfire - not sure which continent you're on, but in N America, if one buys a used or "reconditioned" Aga, it can be hard to convince any service tech to touch it with a 10' barge pole: assuming, of course, you can FIND a service tech within 500 miles....

I agree, Agas make some of the best and most loveable ranges on the planet. I grew up with them, and I love them dearly.

But, their service record generally stinks, and I suspect that's why there are Agas (TC, hot, etc) appearing at various - shall we say - "interesting" - dealers, some of slightly less than favourable reputations, where you have to buy very expensive memberships while signing your life away....

By the way - instead of using Gardenweb's search engine to search Gardenweb, try using a google search (that's how I found this discussion!)

I have never heard of an AGA Cooker before - I am more the Whirlpool type - but I did find this interesting tidbit on Wikipedia that may explain why they aren't so popular:

AGAs have recently been criticised for their high energy consumption and inefficiency.[4] A small, two-oven AGA running on gas will use approximately 425 kWh per week (22,100 kWh per year; perhaps half that if switched off during the summer months). The average standard gas oven and hob uses 580 kWh during a year, only 2.62% of the AGA's consumption.[5]

AGA's own figures for expected energy consumption for their two-oven AGA support this criticism,[6] suggesting a weekly consumption of 40 litres of kerosene or diesel, 60 litres of propane gas, 425 kWh of natural gas or 220 kWh for the electric models. This would indicate that the smallest two-oven gas AGA providing simple cooking functions (i.e. no water heating or central heating) consumes almost as much gas in a week as a standard gas oven/hob does in nine months.

It would be interesting to know how many of these are in daily use in the U.S.

oregspsnow - last time I checked, the running stats are available on Aga's UK website, fyi.

I've added the link to one page - you can find others on their website.

Here is a link that might be useful: AGA UK - some stats

We have a 6 burner Aga range with traditional ovens. It is very difficult to work with. I subtract 50 degrees from whatever the recipe calls for and things still burn or bake inconsistently. The element in one of the ovens burned out on Thanksgiving day,making that oven no longer usable and it is IMPOSSIBLE to find a service person to fix them. It is gorgeous, but don't do it!

I loved cooking on the Aga once I understood how it worked. It was by far the best range (cooker), I have ever used and it produced some amazing food.

But, I have to agree, my experience with their repair service was awful. The Aga stopped working a few days after we moved in in late October. Aga, couldn't send a service person out to fix it until late January! Nor, would they authorize anyone else to work on it. We waited three months! We spent the holidays cooking for our family of six on our BBQ grill, and two portable camp burners and a small microwave that the landlord brought in while we waited for service. We lived in England at the time, about an hour's drive from the Aga facilities and in an area of the country were Aga's are very common in the homes, yet Aga didn't have enough service people.

After it was fixed, we had no further issues with it. We actually briefly considered putting one in here in the US. But, wee decided against it, for several reasons, the cost of the gas to run it, the heat it puts off would be difficult with our hot summers (we found it difficult even during the English summer) and the even more limited service people in our area.

I recently bought a house with a 36" AGA legacy and I can say that I've never used anything in my life that seems to have been designed to be complicated solely for the purpose of being complicated. Some things burn, some things are undercooked, the main oven takes FOREVER to heat up, the swing out shelf is pointless and just gets in the way,the broiler section is too small so you can't finish something you started on the stove under the broiler. Overall I've never been more disappointed with something that is allegedly a high quality piece of equipment that I was originally excited to use. I love to cook and since I've used the AGA I'm happiest when I order out.

I own a 4-oven classic electric AGA and I am a very satisfied with the results I get. The biggest downside is when you want to move it costs a few thousand dollars to have it dismantled (1 day) and rebuilt (2 days). I love being able to rotate food from oven to oven to speed up or slow down the cooking process. All four ovens are used on a daily basis (the warming oven about 150 degrees; the simmering oven about 250 degrees; the baking oven about 350 degrees; the roasting oven about 450 degrees) and I find the food doesn't burn and doesn't dry out. I love being able to put pots and pans directly on the floor of the oven as there is no other oven I know of that can brown the bottom of pizza and pies and cookies quite the way an AGA can and cooking pots of veggies inside the oven saves on heat escaping through the open hobs. Yes, it does cost a bit more for the hydro (we hope to hook it up to a solar panel at some point) but I find we enjoy the food so much cooked in the AGA that we save money by not eating out so much. It also saves us money on our home heating costs in the winter and we turn it off in the summer and use the regular stove. We also save money by buying very cheap roasts and let them simmer all day in the simmering oven and they end up so tender and juicy. I make a lot of soup and can bring a pot of bones up to a boil on the boiling plate then let it all simmer overnight or even a full day to get all the nutrients out of the bones and into the broth. My husband is convinced I'm a super cook but I know one of the secrets of my success is the quality of heat the AGA radiates.

Does anyone own a total control Aga? Does that address the energy usage issues and heat during summer months?

We underwent a kitchen renovation last fall and put in an AGA TC-3 and Hot Cupboard. While it looks amazing and I do love cooking on the TC-3 . . . the Hot Cupboard has never once worked. It will not reach a temperature past roughly 175 degrees. We have had multiple service calls and phone calls with the AGA Marvel customer service department. AGA Marvel is still unwilling to completely replace the unit. We are going on 6 months now with a brand new, insanely expensive piece of non-functional kitchen art. Ridiculous. Buyer beware. For US residents, if you purchase an AGA and have any issues whatsoever, they may never be resolved to your satisfaction. The AGA Marvel customer service department consistency blames the UK but does not deliver any results. Very frustrating.

AGA Middlebury service is the WORST . I had a service for years who unfortunately passed on. Now I can’t find anyone and my AGA hadsnt worked in a year- AGA could care less and will not assist. AGA ARE YIU LISTENING??? AGA needs to take care of their clients after investing in a stove at such a high price point.

How long does the AGA oven take to preheat? I read somewhere it takes 40 minutes?

I have an AGA six burner. Marvel took over AGA and the service is abominable. I have had broken ovens for two years and cannot get anyone to fix them. Almost everyone listed on their repair site has never heard of the brand so I have no idea how they are listed there. I escalate and escalate with customer service but they do literally nothing. It’s sad because I loved it when it worked but now it’s an extremely pricy doorstop

We have 6/4 AGA, i used to love it.But...the dealer assured me that it will serve me a lifetime.

it was 2007.it was as good as gold for 15 years.

Now it is 2023, the baking owen is not working properly, we need to replace certain parts.

What I found out? The service is non-existant, the model discontinued, the parts are not there.

15 years is not a lifetime.The initial price of $15000 is $1000 per year.

And, I was told by another dealer that I simply have to buy a new one.

I beg to differ...

"Now it is 2023, the baking oven is not working properly, we need to replace certain parts."

What's the model? What parts? Check for the model and part number.