Sub Zero Regfridgerator?

[HardDrive]

Wife and I are looking at a Sub Zero 736tc, 36" fridge. It should run us around $5500. This is a built in, dual compressor model.

http://www.subzero.com/IntegratedRefrigeration/736TCRefrigerator

Any good/bad to say about Subzero? I have heard mixed reviews. Some folks have had them for years and they work perfectly, others have had problem after problem. I find it hard to believe that Sub Zero is just getting by on reputation, but.....

Any alternative suggestions? The wife is a vegetarian, so we need as much produce storage as possible.

[red-beard]

I expect the probelms were the installation, ie improperly ventilated, than the unit. My parents had a subzero which was designed to blend in to the cabinets. The problem they found was that it didn't have enough capacity.

$5K seems expensive for a refrigerator to me. I have a very nice GE Profile Arctica which I think was about $2200.

[Dan J]

We have one we bought in 00. Works well we had one small problem when it was
still under warranty. The repair guy mis diagnosed it so it took 2 visits. If you poke around (while cleaning the condensers etc) it seems to be built better then most appliances IMHO

[Don Plumley]

Two compressors, mounted above the unit - best Fridge ever and worth every penny.

[911Rob]

Best there is imo, fwiw.

[Tidybuoy]

Ok, this is a little off topic but kind of related.

I had some friends that had a new house built with a Sub-Zero fridge. Janice told me "Our new fiidge is Sub-Zero". At the time (many years ago) I had never heard of Sub-Zero so I assumed this was a new slang term for "cool". I even used the phrase a couple of times before I saw the brand label inside the fridge one day.

It was so sub-zero.....

[Dottore]

We like ours. Trouble free. Great product. Ours is about 10 years old.

I have heard stories though about people with newer units having lots of problems.

Don't know what happened there. Maybe they're made in China now.

A brilliant brand in my view is Liebherr from Germany. Check them out if you can. Great product.

[look 171]

We still install them all the time. They alll seem to hold up fine. I have install the little less expensive ones (they are trying to make money at the lower end of the market like Benz) and I think they are not worth the money. Other wise you should be fine. The older ones are built better but use more energy. they all try to get on with energy star bull *****.

[azasadny]

I'm a vegetarian and our GE Profile refrigerator (was $2k 4 years ago) works great! Water and ice thru the door, too!

[Hads930]

I am with Red Beard. Have a GE Profile and would buy another without hesitation. My in-laws are on their 2nd Sub Z in their home, because theirs is counter depth the capacity is less than stellar and if they have not added features, you can't get crushed ice from the door dispenser, drive my father in law nuts that he gets it from my fridge for about half the price. They also have a number of drawer freezer units and a fridge on their boat that have not faired well. They Sub Z rep has them pull them off and bring them to the shop to do any warranty repairs as they are only covered on land.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by look 171

We still install them all the time. They alll seem to hold up fine. I have install the little less expensive ones (they are trying to make money at the lower end of the market like Benz) and I think they are not worth the money. Other wise you should be fine. The older ones are built better but use more energy. they all try to get on with energy star bull *****.

My son worked for an appliances installer /repair service back when I was lookin for a fridge. His boss told me to stay away from the Sub Z's. He said they were one of his biggest repair problems. Pretty much said they are overated POS's.

Guess everyone has a different opinion on things.

[Danimal16]

Had one with the ex in the old house. Small, very expensive to repair. Over 5 years, three major repairs. The oak fronts were heavy and the darn hinges had to be replaced. Like others have posted, you pay for the extras. Seems to be more of a status symbol than an efficient tool. Never again.

[Eric Coffey]

On the nice ones, one thing you have to remember is to let the door's sealing mechanism do it's thing before opening the door again (you should be able to hear when it stops). Constantly cycling the doors and/or re-opening right after closing will shorten the life of the sealing mechanism.

[jbryant]

I have one in my house. It was installed in 1989 and has only had the seal around the door replaced about 4 years ago. I just blow out the motor area once a year and it works great.
Much better than any other Fridge I have used as far as keeping things fresh longer, good temp control, etc.

Jim

[89911]

My ex brother in law sold high end appliances, so I am familiar with the line. Sub Zero use to be the "it" appliance to have in you upscale home. It also came in bigger sizes then conventional ones. Back then, the only option you had was Sears Kenmore or Frigidaire. Since then, everyone and anyone has come out with newer high end units in any size imaginable. Sub Zero may still be king, but there is plenty of competition out there.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

On the nice ones, one thing you have to remember is to let the door's sealing mechanism do it's thing before opening the door again (you should be able to hear when it stops). Constantly cycling the doors and/or re-opening right after closing will shorten the life of the sealing mechanism.

Can you explain the "sealing mechanism?"

[Ronbo]

We've had our Sub-Zero since '91. It's been trouble free, and I've cleaned out around the compressor area annually. It is starting to accumulate ice in the refrigerator section in the back. It's not bad so I haven't checked into this yet, but it is concerning. Overall no complaints.

[dipso]

Originally Posted by Dottore

A brilliant brand in my view is Liebherr from Germany. Check them out if you can. Great product.

We have a liebherr. Great fridge.

[billybek]

Sub Zero makes a great product...
There is no d in refrigerator.....
I have bought pails of Chevron refrigeration oil and apparently Chevron misspells refrigeration too....

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by billybek

Sub Zero makes a great product...
There is no d in refrigerator.....
I have bought pails of Chevron refrigeration oil and apparently Chevron misspells refrigeration too....

LOL. I was wondering how long it was going to take for someone to comment. Once you post a thread, you can go back and change the title, but it won't change it in the thread list. Your humiliation is preserved for all to see.