Kenwood Chef - do I/don't I?

Pitlanepiglet

Kadeeae wrote: »

Done! Reserved to collect at Argos . . . . . TODAY! :T

Thanks for all the help and information everybody, will no doubt have questions once I've got it here and out of the box.

So, so excited! :rotfl:

Thanks again.

Well done you :T which model did you go for in the end, the normal or the Major?

I can highly recommend the mincer and the high speed slicer if you still have some of your pennies hanging around :rotfl:

I'd have loved a KitchenAid, but the price difference was more than I could manage.

TKM

you might not like this but this kitchenaid is half price ,only £149 ,from Amazon.....http://www.amazon.co.uk/KitchenAid-Classic-Stand-Mixer-White/dp/B000744SZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1222529095&sr=8-1

Pitlanepiglet

TKM wrote: »

you might not like this but this kitchenaid is half price ,only £149 ,from Amazon.....http://www.amazon.co.uk/KitchenAid-Classic-Stand-Mixer-White/dp/B000744SZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1222529095&sr=8-1

T'is OK I spent ages looking at that one! It's a Classic which a lower wattage and a smaller bowl (with no splash guard) than the "normal" Artisan model. It's not widely available in the UK but it is in the US and I found some US reviews that said it struggled with bread dough as the motor wasn't up to it. It might be fine but I couldn't afford to take the chance so I went with the model that I could "touch and feel" and more importantly take back to Costco if it's problematic!

Kadeeae

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

Well done you :T which model did you go for in the end, the normal or the Major?

I can highly recommend the mincer and the high speed slicer if you still have some of your pennies hanging around :rotfl:

I'd have loved a KitchenAid, but the price difference was more than I could manage.

I did look at the KitchenAid ages and ages ago, so just had another look on Amazon. There at least, they are £10 more than what I paid for the Kenwood and with only a 300 watt motor

I got the Chef Titanium (KM010) - no major for me. I just couldn't justify the added cost for only 100watts and a larger bowl that would probably have been too difficult to handle for me. It is unboxed now and absolutely gorgeous! I believe we will be very happy together, hopefully for many years to come. lol

I do have just a few pennies left over , but BH has reminded me that Xmas isn't so far off and should I make a list - it will get checked twice and I could possibly find an attachment or two "under the tree". I say, save my pennies, make do with what came with the Chef and let someone else pay for the added goodies. I was wondering about the slicer so it will be the first on the list.

Bunny200

I REALLY want a Chef but can't justify the price, although I do a fair bit of baking and bread making I'm too tight to pay for it. Do you think a second hand one is a good bet or false economy? Theres one advertised locally, - good condition lots of attachments for £50. What do you think, not with a bargepole or snap their hands off?

I'm always a bit dubious about buying second hand but can't afford one full price!

Pitlanepiglet

I'd be tempted to snap their hands off at that price. The ones on ebay with just the three beaters (K beater, whisk and dough hook) go for £40 plus and you've got to be lucky to find one local to you to avoid postage.

From my research the 701/701A models are the oldest and the attachments for these (mincers etc.) only fit the 7 series models. The attachments sell on ebay and are often not very cheap and it worried me that I might invest in the attachments and then the mixer might die leaving me with the attachments and having to replace everything (although the attachments could be sold on).

I *think* and perhaps someone can confirm that the attachements for the later 9 series fit current models of the Chef so it seemed to me that if buying second hand the best bet would be to get a 9 series and add mincers/food choppers from ebay and then even if the mixer went kaput the attachments would be usable on a new model (I might be wrong though about the compatibility). I looked for ages and couldn't find one that was well priced so bit the bullet and bought a new one with mincer and high speed slicer. It really is fab, the guilt has (mainly) worn off and I love my Kenwood!

Look http://www.electricshopping.com/shop/kenwood/kenwood-store/mixers-food-processors/kenwood-chef-major/kenwood-chef-machines/kenwood-km336-chef-classic/index.html they have the entry level model for £135, I bought my attachments from here and their service was great.

Bunny200

Thanks for that, I've found an A701 on ebay for a cheap price which is soon to end. I'm the highest bidder and at the price I don't mind it being an experiment, if it last 6-12 months it will give me an idea of how much I would use it and if it then gave up I would be better informed to decide whether to pay top dollar for an all-singing and dancing model. Thanks for the info re, series 7 & series 9 attachments, I think I shall tread carefully about buying any other attachments in the short term and see how I get on.

Auction ends soon and I can't wait..... I keep hitting refresh to check I'm still winning! How sad?!:rotfl:

Bunny200

Doh, got outbid:mad: went for £28 + £20 p&p which for got too rich for my blood. Have contacted local seller but no response yet. Never mind, I'll keep looking, thanks for advice, trouble is now I'm convinced I want one!!:o

Pitlanepiglet

Bad luck Bunny, I found that they all went for that sort of money. Fingers crossed the local one comes off for you.

dolly_day_dream

I managed to buy my replacement one (I cried when my old one burnt out) from a charity shop for £20. My DD - after being told by me that they never turn up at car boot sales - persuaded a seller to bring it to our home to prove that it worked and got a much newer one with lots of attachments for £30 - she must be one of the only uni students to turn up with a Kenwood Chef but she knows just how much they are used. I use it on weekly basis now it is just me left at home - when I had a houseful it was on a daily basis.
It is possible to buy them second hand - just keep an eye out. TBH I prefer the older ones cos they are sooo solid.