List Price: $2,900.00
Sale Price: $2,609.10
Today's Bonus: 10% Off
I bought this grill in Dec. 2007. Previously I owned the original TEC that had ceramic burners which lasted 10 years at my old house and is probably still going. The current model has stainless steel infrared burners. A special glass panel sits over each burnera "glass radiant emitter". In late 2009 both panels cracked in half. Retail replacement cost = $135 each. A complaint via my dealer to the manager of TEC customer service got me replacements for $58 each, and the info that the panels would only last 2-3years. Now, 20 months later the panels cracked in half again. TEC now sells them for $96 each and says they will last only 18 months at most. Please note: I follow the use instructions precisely.
I also now notice the small square screens on the burners are coming apart also. I hestitate to even ask the cost of replacement burners and installation
I find these ongoing replacement costs due to a poor design to be quite disappointing for a grill that over $3,000 including the post and base
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I just checked the date on my old TEC Sterling 2 burner all stainless steel model. It is now 15 years old. We love it. It is perfect for searing the best steaks in the world. I checked the TEC web site and understand the new Sterling models have more advanced technology so they are also capable of cooking at low temperatures. Mine, of course, is the old ceramic burner model and it cooks hot to amazingly hot.I am looking forward to getting one of the new models. But I certainly won't get rid of my old one. The stainless steel looks like new even after lack of regular cleaning.
Their tech support has been great. They sent me new grates at no charge. I'm surprised another reviewer had to pay so much for new grates?? I was told when mine broke that the new ones are made out of higher grade stainless steel. So they should hold up well for a very long time. I do keep it covered since the old ceramic type burners are more delicate then the new ones.
These are expensive grills, but in my opinion they are worth it if you want your food cooked the way you would find in a high end restaurant. I'm lazy so I still do most of my cooking outside even in winter. No pots and pans to wash :)
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This is my review of my second TEC grill, the Sterling IIFR. I also own a TEC Patio II that I've had for 11 years and I am quite proficient at using it for everything. I did pick up the S2FR used 6 years old (and I can tell you it has never been cleaned or covered). I can compare the two as I do have them sitting side-by-side.First the Patio II it has ceramic burners and about half of the body is painted (mine is black). The cooking chamber is stainless, the lid is stainless, and the grids are stainless. Like I said, I have had this grill for 11 years now and was cooking on it up to about 3 weeks ago when I bought the S2. This grill sits on my deck (in HOT GA sun) under the TEC cover. The only issue that I ever had with this grill was the ceramic burners did crack a few yeas ago TEC did send me new ones under warranty (remember this was at about 8 years of use). They were still working, but, I noticed the cracks when I was doing my yearly cleaning and thought I might as well change them. I won't say that this grill still looks brand new, but, it does look like a grill about 2 years old no rust, just kinda old fashioned looking. The cooking grids are about the only bad part they are stainless, but they have rusted and would probably need to be replaced. They do still work fine, but just don't look too good. The fact that this grill is still running great is what drove me to get the newer model that, and the great support that TEC gave with this one. I mean, really, 8 years old and they sent me new burners???
So when a S2FR showed up for sale, I picked it up intending to pass down the Patio II to either a family member or neighbor -
The big difference here is that the S2 is all stainless and has a glass plate between the burner and the grids (the Patio II was open between the burner and grids). This grill was pretty dirty when I got it I don't think it was ever cleaned and the grids were about stuck to the glass. The inside stainless (around the burners) were full of burnt on gunk and the drip tray below the burners was, well, full of who knows what.
The nice part the grids and glass panels (original, btw) removed easily. Along with that, there is now a fully removable set of ss panels that surround the grids and burners they come right out for cleaning. So, here's where it gets really nice, I bought a can of Zep bbq cleaner at HD and sprayed down the gunky parts, let it sit for a few minutes, used a little sponge with a nylon scouring pad, and this cleaned up like a grill that looks new I mean really, really clean! On the Patio II I would have to line the ss with tinfoil and replace it each year reason was that it was difficult to get your hand down inside to clean it the S2 has all removable panels making this no longer an issue great idea! Glass panels and grids also cleaned right up not new looking, but clean looking.
Cooking on the two seems about the same temp wise. The real difference is that with the glass panels there isn't any flareup. My local Costco sells a flank steak with a lime cilantro marinade on it (with an extra cup of the stuff). It really wet with a very oily feel to it. I figured this would be a great test for the new grill. I really doused this steak up I mean way past dripping with this marinade. The S2 was on high for about 15 minutes and the grids were over 900 (measured with a IR thermometer gun) gun only goes to 900 and it went to flashing dashes (LOL). I threw the steak on and the marinade went up in a cloud of smoke as it hit the glass, it just smoked up NO flames!! The Patio II I wouldn't even attempt it it would have either went up in flames or I would have ruined the exposed burners. I also cooked up some peppers on this turned down to low and it grilled them nice and soft, with great grill marks. It certainly does cook low as it says on the TEC website.
Cleaning on the S2 is also great turn it on high for 15 minutes with the top closed and everything inside is now a soft white ash like a self cleaning oven. I just use a damp paper towel when it's cooled down to wipe out the ash. On the Patio II you couldn't close the lid on high because of the ceramic burners the S2 with it's ss burners can withstand the heat.
Will you burn some meat when you get one of these sure it's part of the learning curve. But, if you want the most outstanding grilled meats then it is well worth learning to use it. And then it's just a matter of following the directions in the manual.
When researching, before I even bought the S2, I searched around for any issues that anyone was having and (other than the other review on here) couldn't find anything.
If you want a grill that will last a long, long time (as evidenced with my Patio II), I would not hesitate to spend the extra on one of these. And my S2 after 6 years of abuse still looks and runs great -and still with it's original glass panels.
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