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jane_o

why wolf range over dacor? (36')

19 years ago

We've been planning to get a Dacor ERD36 dual-fuel range, but I notice that when people post asking about that vs. the Wolf 36" dual-fuel, there seem to be recommendations to get the wolf if you can afford it. I'm wondering why?

From my point of view, the Dacor has some advantages over the Wolf, namely the uneven sizes of the grates, with the 2 center ones slightly larger than the edge ones (this is an advantage to me because I like to make pancakes on a 2-burner griddle, and I'd have more space with a couple of extra inches), and Dacor doesn't have a hard-to-clean crumb-catching spot in front of the porcelain plate the way the DF Wolfs do. The advantage I see of the Wolf is that all of the burners go up high and have simmer mode, whereas not all of the burners on the Dacor do. But I suspect the Dacor burners will be alright, so I'm thinking the Dacor advantages outweigh the disadvantages for me. What am I missing in my thinking?

thanks!

Comments (11)

  • 19 years ago

    The most important factor is that you pick whichever appliance is the best fit for YOU. Different things are important to different people.

  • 19 years ago

    Sure, but some of the things that make Wolfs better for many people on GW might matter to me, too, if I knew what they were! (I just mean that I'm wondering if there are factors I haven't thought of.)

  • 19 years ago

    After our (not-so good) experiences with a Jade range, we liked all the good things we were hearing about Wolf performance AND service.

  • 19 years ago

    Jane-o,

    I feel the same way. I have put down a deposit on a Dacor ER36D and will need it in about 4-6 weeks when the cabinets are done (they are starting them next week I hope). But I am always questioning whether I should change to a Viking or Wolf range, but I have nowhere to actually try them out and compare to eachother. As a result, we picked the Dacor because DH like the look. At the store, they keep telling us that they regularly sell the Dacor and that people are happy with it. The store owner has the older Dacor and loves it (it had that infrared burner inside or something like that and he loves it for making meats).

    But I anxiously await other comments.

  • 19 years ago

    Why I am selecting a wolf AG range: I am tired of using a range with different burner (elect equil of BTU's). You always have to think what goes where in which pan and when, i.e. boil/simmer.
    I am on propane and have learned the BTU loss varies greatly with different ranges. Wolf is one that has no loss as it is factory set up either way. There are others that come factory ready for propane. Oh and the looks in my case too. You have to pick what works best for you.
    Open/vs closed burners concerned me, the wolf AG open is like getting the best of both. Straight up flame of open which I want vs sideways of closed. It has the tightest drip pan so clean up similiar to closed most of the time.
    All this said I wouldn't try to change anyones mind, these issues may not be important others.

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks eandhl - that helps me understand!

  • 19 years ago

    Dacor is a better product than Wolf, they have making product far longer than Wolf (sub-zero) even when Wolf owned the company before selling to Snub Zero they did not make a dual fuel range.

  • 19 years ago

    Now that Sub Zero and Wolf are under the same corporate umbrella Wolf has increased it's visibility in the market place. It was a good product before but combined with Sub Zero's advertising, product placement and name recognition it now occupies a prominent niche in appliance retail. I think Dacor is better known on the West Coast where it's corporate headquarters are located. It's possible that you're getting more feedback about Wolf because more people have a Wolf product.

    I have Dacor in my kitchen - the Epicure cooktop and the new Discovery Millenia wall ovens. I looked at Wolf but chose Dacor because I liked certain features. I don't have dual fuel so I can't comment on the relative merits of either brand.

  • 19 years ago

    I personally find Dacor's customer service to be seriously lacking. I have had their products in my own kitchen before, and thought they performed well, but had a client (I'm a designer) with a terrible experience. She paid for the beautiful new Millenia oven and only after 9 months and 3 replacements did she receive one that worked and had no defect. The products are good, but it was ridiculous how bad the customer service experience was. It was also silly that only my involvement as the designer brought any kind of resolution. I didn't sell the product, just fought on my client's behalf. Numerous phone calls over months were made. The cs staff is very skilled at commiserating and sounding concerned, but bad at offering any real resolution. I think other threads on this board would back that statement up. They finally do the right thing, but it takes a lot of buzzing in their ears. I'm no longer recommending their products to clients.

  • 19 years ago

    All customer service is lacking and you leave out what the circumstances were, there are 2 sides to all complaints and as much as I hate to say it, the manufacturer is not always the bad guy. Poor installation runs rampant in this industry, the consumer pays the installer and he gets to walk away and blame the manufacturer.

  • 18 years ago

    somewhat after the fact, but have had 2 dacor and both have and are a disaster range model ER36D an extended warranty is suggested even tho it is expensive it is cheaper than what i have have experienced. secondly, dacor has been unable to resolve the current defective burners.