Customer Reviews

Weber 2003 Model 3290001 Genesis Gold C Propane Gas Grill

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Right out of the box, I could see the Gold C series grill was the right choice. To start with, Weber packaging is the very best I have seen, everything is padded and secured in the utmost care. Make sure you have another person to help remove this out of the box...it is large and heavy(this is a good thing).

The stainless steel is of the highest quality and looks great! The grill was a breeze to put together (8 bolts altogether, they even include the wrench)

Now for the best part...cooking! No lava rocks needed here, this baby is stainless steel all around: burners, flavorizer bars and grates are all stainless! My first cooking expedition... a modest ribeye, but the Weber showed it's colors! The sear marks were awesome and the steak was done to perfection.
The burners on this remind me of a top of the line Viking stove(nice even blue flames), they run the full length of the grill and each(3) are controlled separately.

I looked at this grill at [a local retailer], but Amazon.com was lower in price....
If you like to grill and want something to last, check out this Weber...they have an excellent warranty to ensure your investment.

----5 month Update------
I have had this grill for five months now, are you wondering how I feel about the grill after using it at least 3-5 times a week? Well, I must tell you...this is the BEST grill for the money! The stainless still looks brand new and it cooks better than any grill I have ever used or seen.

I have cooked: filet mignons, porterhouses, t-bones, strips, ribeyes, chicken, vegetables...the list goes on; and every time it shines through. Excellent heating, this machines get seriously hot in minutes and can maintain: high, medium and low heat evenly.

If you're looking for a grill that really does deliver in this price range...this is it!

I expect this grill to last for many years; take a second and break the cost of this grill out over 7-10 years. What a great bargain...excellent food and reliabilty.

Weber Gold C Stainless steel grill is the perfect grill for backyard chefs everywhere. The Stainless steel looks great (and like it should cost more than it actually does). Grill performance is second to none: even heating, extremely large cooking surface, warming racks and plenty of counter space. You can easily handle a cookout for 2 or 20. There is no comparison to some of the lesser quality grills I have owned. You notice the difference in the Weber quality immediately, which translates into improved cooking results. Assembly took 10 minutes. I would buy it again.

I bought this one from Amazon to replace my old Sunbeam. What a surprise - I am really pleased with the performance. Gone are the days of burnt food. The grill heats up to over 500 F within minutes. Even chicken with lot of fat doesn't catch fire. Excellent design. Setup was a breeze but needs two person. Don't buy the grill cover, I found an exellent one at local home depot (unknown brand) for far less chaper than Weber cover. Overall excellent product.

I've always believed that you get what you pay for.So when my Thermos (Char-Broil) grill was on it's last legs it was either replace everything or get a new one.

When I bought the Thermos grill, I was new to grilling and it was all I could afford at the time. Had I known then, what I know now, I never would've wasted my money. The Lava Rocks only lasted one season, clean up was a very dirty, time-consuming experience, and it showed signs of rust 6 months after I bought it. I kept the grill in an enclosed garage, not outside, and it started rusting that quick??

I started researching new grills on the net. I read many customer reviews here, at epinions.com, and at the Consumer reports website. I compared several different models, and makes, of grills. For the money, the ease of use, and warranty,the grill that always came out on top was the Weber Genesis Gold. After reading a few reviews about shipping, and assembly, I decided to purchase one from a local retailer.

I've had the grill for a week now and I love it. Although it does burn hot, the manufacturer said that this is normal during the "break-in" period. I've compensated by turning all three burners to the lowest "High" setting.

I cannot believe how different the steaks taste and a big part is due to Weber's "Flavorizer Bars." I'm talking restaurant quality steaks everytime. I cannot believe the difference between my old grill and The Genesis Gold. This grill will pay for itself because we'll be cooking at home more often instead of going out to eat.

Other neat features include: Larger grill grates which make it harder for food, and debris, to fall into the burners. A sturdy side burner that is very similar to an indoor stove burner, Two fold up working surfaces which give the cook more room to work. A thermometer in the hood that is removable and doubles as a meat thermometer. Three burners that allow for direct, and indirect, cooking; And a gas guage so you always know how much propane is left in the bottle. No more running out of fuel while cooking, you always know how much gas you have left in the bottle.

I only have two minor complaints. First of all, the Manufacturer, and the local retailer we bought it from, both say very easy assembly. The retailer assembled my grill for me and I'm glad they did. It took the man 30 minutes to put it together and he knew exactly what he was doing. It probably would've taken me a good 2.5 hours.

Secondly, I like to use wood chips, in a smoking box, while I grill. Weber makes a smoker box, that replaces one of the grates, but it is rather pricey. In addition, I've gone to all the local retailers, and checked Amazon, no one stocks this part.

All-in-all, The Weber Genesis Gold C is well worth the money! If you have the means, I highly suggest picking one up!! You'll probably never want to eat out again!

1) The stainless steel lid looks like new after one year outside.
2) The drip pan under the flavorizer bars slides out and cleans very easily.
3) I got thick cast iron grills at Home Depot for the Weber and HIGHLY recommend them. They really hold the heat and create great grill marks. They are also easy to brush clean.
4) I have the natural gas model and it has always started on the first try.

This is not the most inexpensive bbq out there, but the quality and value are really there.

This grill is my first attempt at buying a "keeper" type grill that I can develop a long term cook/appliance relationship with. My last three grills were all disposable Charbroils, at about $120 each, give or take, and although I paid $479 for this grill (delivered, from Amazon, and on sale) I know already that the quality of the product will make the next ten years cooking results much more consistent and satisfactory.
I had planned on getting a stainless steel grill from BJ's or SAMS wholesale club, because the amount of stainless steel you get for the price is impressive, and I was ill-informed enough to look at BTU's as the most important factor (aside from material) and the owners of these are quite vocal at pointing out how great they are.
The Weber is actually engineered to be an efficient appliance, and to produce consistent results every time. Don't be fooled by the seemingly low 36,000 BTU rating, when comparing to other large grills in this price range. I had reservations myself, but after the first use, those were quickly put to rest. The lid is a tight fit to the grill, and with the 3 burners on high it easily exceeds 550 degrees in 10 minutes. The actual temperature is what counts, and this grill has no problems with high temperatures. In fact, it's a major advantage that using only 36,000 BTU's the Weber easily exceeds 550 degrees, where you often read about Virco and Members Mark grill users boasting about who uses more BTU's to the tune of 56,000 - 60,000 BTU output, which is kind of like a Hummer owner boasting about getting 10 miles per gallon. Attainable temperature is what counts, and this Weber is designed efficiently, so you get substantially longer grilling time before needing to refill/change the tank. Of course some just need the biggest everything, with the biggest numbers, and the bigger the better, and I'm sure they have their reasons... And Weber also makes a line to satisfy that crowd under the "Summit" line.

As far as the layout and features of the Genesis Gold C, what I like is the famous direct/indirect-convection cooking choices allowed by the three burners laid out lengthwise, left to right, that Weber is known for. Also, the way they setup the stainless steel burners and flavorizer bars yields a nice balance for flavor, without flareups. The cooking grates are welded stainless steel, which is a nice compromise between durability and convenience, though still not perfect. Some like cast iron for it's ability to hold heat and give nice sear marks, but it requires constant upkeep. Then there's porcelain coated, which is low maintenance, but less durable, and over time can become pitted. Stainless holds heat well enough for my needs, but my faith in the welds is not yet 100%. The ultimate would be cast stainless (I've read about it, but I didn't find it for the Weber yet) but for now I will see how the welded stainless holds up.
I used the side burner once (The Gold B is the same grill without the side burner, which would be fine, but in the end the C was cheaper than the B, go figure) and it's well built, although even on it's lowest setting I found it was quite hot. The fold away shelves are a very nice touch, and make up for the questionable placement of the burner knobs on what would be bonus workspace.
The cutouts for holding tools fit Weber brand tools nicely, go figure. I think that was a little inconsiderate on their part, as hooks would accommodate any tools, but these are very brand specific. If you're going to dictate which tools fit the holder, give us the tools! Marketing scams... blech!
The dual purpose thermometer is great, although I ordered a digital timer/thermometer to allow monitoring larger cuts without constantly opening to check.
Assembly was a breeze. I tackled it solo, and had it done in 30 minutes, but most people would be advised to have a helper for placing the main grill on the legs, as it's awkward to handle and hard to see where things are going. Not as heavy as it looks though.
Another factor that drew me to Weber were the number of satisfied lifetime users this company has. Loyalty to a brand does not come easy, especially at the higher pricetag that Weber usually demands. I had already ordered this grill at $599, and then was able to get the price adjusted when it went on sale for $479, so that was just a fantastic bonus for me. I could take a chance with a brand that looks great in the store, and even when you get it home, but that doesn't mean it will still be around or worth owning in 5 years. I know Weber isn't going anywhere, and their longevity to date is proven.

Great Grill - worth every penny. It is very different than an economy grill. Quick, easy - and this is built to last.

*** Warning - do NOT purchase rotissarie / basket set up - ...save the aggravation of a poorly designed, cheaply made item...

After several weeks of frequent use, I feel this grill is well worth the difference in price over cheaper brands. So far I've grilled steaks, lamb chops and burgers, cooked salmon in foil, barbequed chicken parts and ribs and rotisseried a whole chicken. The motorized basket rotisserie works great. Rotisserie cleanup takes some time, however.
The burners allow precise temperature control and put out as much heat as I think I would ever need. Medium heat setting is sufficient for steaks. I cooked salmon over reduced heat and grilled steaks over higher heat simultaneously; both turned out perfectly. There's no problem with flareups if excess fat is trimmed off. The Flavorizer Bars remain clean with no grease buildup.
The three burners with individual controls allow energy efficient cooking for two or a group. Indirect heat is easy with one or two burners shut off. Despite having twice the cooking area and more heat available, the Weber seems to use significantly less gas than the Sunbeam (tm) grill it replaced. The old grill needed new burners annually and new grates and igniter every other year. With its high quality stainless steel burners and other parts, it appears that the Weber will last for many years, with regular use and require no replacement of parts.
I doubt I'll use the side burner much if at all. I bought the C model only because the dealer didn't have a Gold B model in stock and sold me the C for the price of a Gold B...
I shopped quite a few high end grills before deciding on a Weber. I think the Genesis Gold grills compare favorably with brands in the $1,000 and up range.

My grill arrived today, and I was cooking perfect steaks in an hour. Very, very easy assembly, and this thing is built to last. This replaces a high-end grill from Char-Broil which disintigrated in 3 years, and I can tell the Weber will keep cooking for many, many more years. Plus, after "test driving" grills from a number of manufacturers, the Weber is the only one to deliver consistantly great results.

Amazon.com's free shipping makes this an incredible value, and the delivery company took the carton right to my patio, solving logistics problems from buying locally for those of us without pickup trucks.

In short, I can't recommend this Weber more highly, and I look forward to years of great grilling!

Certainly a great grill! I use it and its absolutely fabulous baby. Only problem with any grill is that the ignitor fails and burners have problems. Took a while before I had any problems. Sure wish they'd make grills with inside parts as good as the grills look on the outside. I'm not saying don't buy this. It is top of line. I am asking how come my stove in the house can last forever but I end up replacing my outside grill every 3 years, give or take????? Incidentally, my grills are never in the weather but I do use year round.