Weber Summit S-650 Natural Gas Stainless Steel Outdoor Grill - 1880001

After years of dutiful service, I was finally forced to retire my old Broilmaster. (BTW, my wife somewhat challenges the use of the word "forced") As a proud Weber kettle owner for many years (Both the Performer and a Weber 757001 22 1/2-Inch One-Touch Gold Charcoal Grill, Green), I have long had my sights on an all Weber fleet. I have cooked on Weber gas grills before. It was never a question of quality, but the overall look of the Summit line. Simply put, I hated the wheels. There was just something about that beautiful piece of stainless that appeared to be riding on the deck of a lawn mower. I toyed with getting a drop in, but decided against it. When the 2007 Summit line was previewed, I knew this was the year. The lawn mower wheels were gone. Within an hour of the grill's arrival at my house, it was assembled. In fact, it probably would have gone faster if I had not stopped every few minutes to photograph my progress. This is a Weber, so I know that this is really a once in a twenty year event. I wanted to relive it. The construction of the 650 is incredibly solid. The first thing you will notice is that the entire unit is welded together. On your next walk through Lowe's or The Home Depot, notice how many of the grills are simply bolted together. Because the 650 is basically built when it arrives, I unpacked it and assembled the burners, bars, grates, side table, side burner and grease catcher. It used a whopping total of 7 screws...none of them structural. The instructions, in typical Weber fashion, were easy to follow. Upon moving the grill into position, I was surprised at how easy it moved. I really have no plans to drive it around the backyard when not in use, but it was nice to know that the low-profile wheels were there for more than show. The included ten foot gas line and quick disconnect valve were also a nice touch. Although these features might be more suited for the "stow and go" griller, I found them a nice touch. With the specified six burners and 60,000 BTU's of heat, I was anxious for my maiden lighting. The knobs on the unit are nicely emblazoned with the Weber kettle symbol and were responsive to my touch. The automatic light system fired up on cue and quickly lit the burners. Although the ignition did take me a little bit of getting used to at first, I blame that on my novice experience with the grill. In under 10 minutes, I was pumping out 750 degrees. Impressive. I had a bone-in Rib Eye ready to roll and was highly pleased with the results. I know that I will have some great grill moments this summer. The 650 comes with the rotisserie, smoker box and a side burner. Although I typically smoke and use the rotisserie on the kettles, I know that I will experiment with those features here. The 650 also comes with the Weber 3062101 Grill Out Handle Light that mount on the lid's handle, but I have yet to install them. Although my Dad swears by his, I typically have enough illumination in my grilling area. That, and I just think they take away from the looks of the grill. To me, everything about the 650 screams quality. From the heavy deliberate movement of the lid to the beautiful lines of the grill body, I doubt there is little Weber could have done to improve this. Knowing that Weber is behind the grill is reason enough. I have had nothing put great experience with Weber customer service in the past and know that if I ever do have a problem, it will be taken care of. This summer, the 650 will set the stage for many amazing meals and will act as the backdrop for many more incredible nights.