Ducane 31742101 Affinity 4100 48,000-BTU Natural-Gas Grill

Comment: I was so tempted to buy a similarly priced grill from Lowes that had a whole bunch more features, but after spending some time in the grilling forums, I decided what I really needed was a basic grill that will last. After thinking about it, the 3 year grill I was replacing basically deteriorated to the point of no return. I'd have to replace all of the components to keep it going. The old grill also did not provide even heat. After much research, I decided on the Ducane because it had good, long lasting parts and was made and backed by Weber. It is a basic grill and I'm glad I chose it. It heats up quickly and evenly and provides a nice, big surface to grill on. The side tables are also good sized. Assembly was simpler and easier, with fewer parts, than previous grills I have owned. And, even though it is made in China, the level of quality is noticebly high. There are no stainless steel surfaces, by the way, which may not be apparent in photos. The surface is a speckled gray paint, which, I believe is easier to keep clean. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because of an apparent design issue that makes it sometimes difficult to light all the burners. You light each one individually with an electronic starter. When starting from a cold grill, I usually have no problem lighten one after another, but if you wait too long, or try to restart a hot grill, it is almost impossible to light using the electronic starter. Ducane/Weber apparently acknowledges this issue because inside the door is a tool used to hold matches to reach to a burner (the instructions cover this, too). Seems like they could have come up with a more reliable method, but I'll just have to live with it. By the way, I called Weber about this issue. I got through pretty quick and talked with a US based rep who had knowledge to share on the subject and immediately offered to send me a complete, new ignition system. Which I got but haven't installed. Nice of them, but then again, maybe just trying to avoid complaints. Overall, this is a solid, no frills grilling tool made with beefier parts and high quality materials that can handle a large load, has good heat adjustments and cooks pretty evenly across the entire surface. I am expecting it to last many years.

Follow up, 8/4/10: After using this numerous times I want to comment on how well it distributes heat evenly across the entire grilling area. This is a definite improvement over my previous grills and improves cooking capacity (being able to place food in the furthest corners) and time. I am also impressed with its ability to control the heat just right.