About every three years I have had to replace my gas grill. We’ve been paying about $300 each time at Lowe’s. My wife recommends this time we just shell out the extra money and invest in a Weber. She figures it will last long enough to justify the $900 or up cost. Any grillers here have recommendations? And if it’s worth the investment, what features should I look for?
We bought our Weber grill in 1996. Last spring, or maybe two years ago, I had to refurbish it, with new flavorizer bars, new grates, and a new gas hose/regulator. So, 15 years at least (most of those in Michigan, on our patio).
Prior to that, we’ve replaced the grates at least once or twice, because the cast iron or enameled steel rusted too much. This time we got stainless steel grates. I had to get a new propane tank too, since the old one was too old.
IMO no gas grill is worth the price. Gotta be charcoal!
Weber is worth the money. You get what you pay for with grills, and Weber is one of the best.
harmonica, don’t start that shit (he said with a ton of hypocrisy.) 
had mine since 1998, replaced flavor bars x2 and grates x2… definitely worth the money
Yeah, Webers are tanks. And $900 isn’t really that much for a grill, especially if you keep it for a while; there’s some crazy expensive grills out there. I just have one of the three burner, knobs-on-the-side Webers, enameled iron body and lid, doors under to hide utensils and the bottle. I like it plenty. One with the knobs in front would be nice because IMO you can isolate the hot and less-hot parts of the cooking surface, but I do fine with mine. I wouldn’t bother with a side burner, its frill that most people make little use of. All-stainless construction is also a silly frill in my book, but that’s just me. Stainless grates are nice, but iron is also fine in my book.
Oh, and I’m on my second Weber in 15 years; the old one still worked and I gave it away to someone who still uses it, I just wanted the one with the doors for looks & storage.
Moved Cafe Society --> IMHO.
Let’s put it this way: if I ever get to the point where I’m no longer allured by the romance and, well, fun of starting an outdoor fire, the Weber gas grills are the first ones I would consider. I only own Webers (kettle and Weber Smokey Mountain smoker) and I abuse the shit out of them (leave them out in the rain, don’t cover them, etc.) and they work like champs. I’ve worked on the Genesis propane grill at my friend’s house and it was fantastic and easy to work with. Temperature control was a breeze, even spread of heat, no hot spots, etc. I’ve worked on some terrible, terrible gas grills in my life that require constant attention due to bad temperature controls and uneven heating. The Weber had none of those problems.
Thanks for the feedback. My wife and I grill enough to make me think it’s worth it. OK, I’m getting a Weber.