New propane grill

[alexs2006]

So I’m in the market for a new grill. My last one was a nexgrill and it lasted 8-10 years. I keep my grills out of the weather. My question is, will an $800 Webber or nepolean do more than a $300 nexgrill? If so, what? I’m on the fence. I will use it at most twice a week on average.

 

[Outlier]

In for info.

 

[rbstern]

The better grills do last longer.

I went through a bunch of Nexgrills and other store brands over the decades. When we built our house in 2018, I bought a Weber Spirit 200. The Spirit series is Weber's China-made line.

It is a superior product to Nexgrill, Outdoor Gourmet, Expert, KitchenAid, etc., in the following ways:

- Instructions and assembly are a top notch experience. The manual is well written and illustrated. Parts line up. Fasteners are good quality. You experience the added quality when you assemble it.

- Generally better, more thoughtful design. Small touches like how the drip tray is handled, the built-in propane gage (basically a spring scale) works well, the shelves are really sturdy, the door latches smoothly and consistently.
- Cook box is durable; alumium, I think. Second best grill I ever had (30 years ago) was a Coleman, which had an aluminum box.
- The Weber ignitor still works after 7 years. Always lights on the first few clicks. Have changed the AA battery once.
- Knobs for temp control are smooth and precise, and haven't been affected by age and use.
- There's nothing fiddly about the entire thing. Solidy design and build.

I've replaced the heat tents once, and will probably do so again within a year. Those are consumable parts. I don't use the grates, because I have GrillGrates (excellent upgrade for any grill), but the factory grates are heavy, heavy duty.

This grill has been out in the weather, uncovered, since I bought it. It is used frequently. Sometimes three or four times a week. I clean it once a year in the spring. Unless I do some TLC, it's going to wear out within a few more years. But worth every penny, in my opinion.

I have nothing against cheap grills. If you are diligent about maintenance, they cook food and can last a reasonable amount of time relative to the cost. My first Weber made a believer out of me. My mom had a Weber kettle grill that I used a number of times over the years. Similarly excellent product, really well made. Weber products are worth the price premium.