Buying advice for a Genesis


 
Pete Z

Pete Z

TVWBB Super Fan
I've never owned a gas grill, but I'm seriously considering buying one of the new Weber Genesis grills. I'd love to have some feedback on few of the features before I buy.

I think that I would prefer stainless steel grates and flavorizer bars, so it looks like I would need to look at the Genesis S-series. I'll have to decide if stainless steel is really $220 better than the PCI (amazon pricing) grates and non-stainless shroud found in the E-series.

My biggest question is regarding the difference between the S-320 and the S-330. As far as I can tell, the biggest improvement on the S-330 over the S-320 is the addition of the searing station burner. Is the sear station nice or is it more of a gimmick? It is only around $60 more to go up to the S-330, so I'm not sure why I would get the S-320 unless the sear station is worthless.

Any thoughts? Thanks.
 
I personally have the SS model and love it. That being said, I bought it for a really good price new off of Craigslist.

If there's a $220 retail price difference then you're better off buying the E-Series and purchasing the SS grate ($64.99) and SS flav. bars ($69.99) separately once the porcelain ones start wearing out.

The 2 different porcelain & SS shroud options come with the same 25 year warranty.
 
I don't think the SS rods are that cheap. I think that's the price of the stamped SS grates. My understand is the stamped ss grates are great but I can say from personal experience that the rods are just amazing.

I'm not sure if it would save you any money but I'd consider buying the aftermarket parts from the ebay guy if you wanted to go with the cheaper Genesis. I am not a huge fan of SS shrouded grills so that would probably be the route I would go. I have no good input to give you on the sear station other than I find the concept interesting.

I guess my best piece of advice is to get exactly what you want because this grill is going to last forever. That's the best/worst thing about my Genesis silver C. It's 6 years old and in as good a shape as the day we got it. Now that the grates and flavor bars are replaced with the really nice SS from the ebay guy, I can't see us ever legitimately "needing" to replace for a very very long time.

You won't have this "problem" with some of the other brands.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Justin W:
I don't think the SS rods are that cheap. I think that's the price of the stamped SS grates. My understand is the stamped ss grates are great but I can say from personal experience that the rods are just amazing. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are these SS Grates different to the ones you would get with the S-Series: http://www.homedepot.com/Outdo...0051&catalogId=10053
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mike Purnell:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Justin W:
I don't think the SS rods are that cheap. I think that's the price of the stamped SS grates. My understand is the stamped ss grates are great but I can say from personal experience that the rods are just amazing. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are these SS Grates different to the ones you would get with the S-Series: http://www.homedepot.com/Outdo...0051&catalogId=10053 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

They are different from the ones I personally have seen on the new Genesis but it's possible that the one's I saw were unique.

The grates I saw are round solid tubes of stainless steel. Like this.
http://www.amazon.com/Weber-St...ooking/dp/B00004U9VK
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Justin W:
...I am not a huge fan of SS shrouded grills so that would probably be the route I would go. ... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm with you on the SS look - I prefer the green and copper colors over the SS shroud.

I'm not sure what I was looking at, but the price difference is actually around $150. I must be math-challenged.
icon_rolleyes.gif
Even so, it makes sense to start with the PCI grates and then order the SS ones later if I don't like the PCI or if they wear out. I'd still end up with two sets of grates (PCI + SS) for the price difference of starting out with just the SS.
 
In between the S-330 and the E-330 is the EP-330. Available from certain Weber dealers the EP-330 is the E-330 with Stainless Steel grids. The EP-330 costs less than the S-330.

This goes the same for the X-320 model, without the sear station.

I was looking at the EP-330 natural gas model. It only comes in black.

Ace Weber
 
I have the 2010 Genesis so I can only speak for the line and not the new models. In the longer run, you'll be better off getting the EP models (with SS grates and flametamers) and adding PCI if you want those. If you get PCI first, the WILL wear out in 5 - 6 years at most and the SS parts price is much higher than the integrated purchase. I don't know why anyone would want full SS, but to each his own.

As far as the sear burner, what I've read (and that is a LOT), suggests that the 330 model is well worth the price. If you want some first hand reports, go to the BBQ Source under Grills & Smokers - Weber, and search for "330" -- there's lots of discussion there. One good current thread is this: http://www.bbqsource-forums.co...x.php?showtopic=8388 .

Rich
 
Thank you. I think that the EP is exactly what I was looking for. I'm glad that I asked because I wouldn't have known about it otherwise.

I also like the red color - I didn't see that on the Amazon E-series models.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pete Z:
Thank you. I think that the EP is exactly what I was looking for. I'm glad that I asked because I wouldn't have known about it otherwise.

I also like the red color - I didn't see that on the Amazon E-series models. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Your best bet is to go to a local ACE or TruValue Hardware store that stocks them and look them over for yourself. The design for 2011 is much improved including a lined hood, modified heat dispersal and changes to the grease management to minimize grease fires.

Some with say that the front to back running burners are an improvement (personal preference -- I don't) and the sear burner certainly is.

And they just plain look good.

Rich
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RichPB (richlife):
...
Some with say that the front to back running burners are an improvement (personal preference -- I don't) ...
Rich </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I wish they could have moved the knobs to the front (creating more shelf space on the right) but left the East/West burner configuration.

That sounds hearing myself say that because I thought the left to right burners were so weird at first...now I really like them.
 
Yeah, I agree with every word, Justin. But I think the complexity of tube routing/starter action would have added significantly to the cost.

Too bad for us.

Rich
 
Pete, Sorry if I missed it in another thread, but did you ever get that Genesis xx-330?

I have just sold my E-310 in favor of the new EP-330 and I want to recant every doubt I ever had about the new design. This is a wonderful grill and worth anyone's consideration.

Today I added some other info and a pointer to a lengthy discussion at this thread.

http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/...0039023/m/1221005536

Rich
 
Getting back to the grates Mike,Justin is right I have the Amazon style on my SS310 heavy 5/16 steel rods I believe if not they are 1/4 inch. make great grill marks easy to clean up and should last till 15 years after I am gone. Now on this other point Justin is right again I thought I would like the front to back arangment of the burners but I am very pleased with the unit I have I would how ever love a retrof kit to move the knobs out front for the extra side space. I will keep the grill I have as it is the greatest one I have ever owned.
Kevin
 
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