The latest AGA saga

[jocelyn plummer]

Any one seen the new AGA Total Control---- looks interestingly (expensive).

 

[Flyfisher]

I've not seen it but I've read somewhere that it can be controlled from an iPhone. Really!

But I stopped reading when the price was said to be about £9,000. :shock:

 

[LadyArowana]

I've not seen it but I've read somewhere that it can be controlled from an iPhone. Really!

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...-brings-an-early-end-to-aga-saga-2285512.html

I can understand the reason why you would want the thing to heat up more quickly than the "traditional" version, but why you would need to do that by remote from an i.Phone is beyond me. If it only takes 8 to 22 mins with the new system it hardly makes sense. Does anyone really rush through the front door and need to start cooking with such despatch that they can't wait 20 mins ? If you're in that much of a hurry then surely it's Mr Microwave that wins the "how to heat it" discussion. Isn't it just an admission that if you want to cook things ( particularly big things, like a decent turkey ) then a couple of fan assisted electric ovens and a gas or induction hob sees you sorted in a way that a big old hunk of metal doesn't?

I realise that the above may be viewed as nothing short of heresy, and I have been told that I will grow to love my Aga, but that will have to wait till I live in the house for longer than 6 months and have some actual kitchen equipment to test it with.

 

[worms]

Possibly it is aimed at the weekend-house-in-the-country market, where I guess being able to decide at the last minute if you are going or not and still being able to come in to a warm kitchen is worth the money?

 

[LadyArowana]

Possibly it is aimed at the weekend-house-in-the-country market, where I guess being able to decide at the last minute if you are going or not and still being able to come in to a warm kitchen is worth the money?

I like that reasoning. It doesn't make me want one, but it makes wonderful justification for popping into the house, turning things on manually and going around the corner to a nice bistro.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

It seems to me that one might as well simply have the 6/4 or the hybrid. I thought that the AIMS system introduced 5 years ago seemed to answer the problems of high running costs. From my quick glance at the Total Control specs it seems to resemble the Everhot, which is a far less expensive piece of kit.

 

[Flyfisher]

Possibly it is aimed at the weekend-house-in-the-country market, where I guess being able to decide at the last minute if you are going or not and still being able to come in to a warm kitchen is worth the money?

Possibly. Though domestic staff is surely the ideal arrangement. Not only would you not even need to know where the kitchen was or how it was equipped but the entire house would then be 'controllable' via an iPhone.

 

[LadyArowana]

Though domestic staff is surely the ideal arrangement.

Not necessarily, soon to be ex Mrs Scwarzenegger should have switched on her own Aga.

 

[Flyfisher]

Well, that's the female persepective. :wink:

 

[Feltwell]

I loved the write-up in my local newspaper (bear in mind that Aga is based very near to me).

Aga ovens fitted with off-switch

Aga has unveiled its first ever oven with an off-switch in a move the firm hopes will open up new markets at home and abroad.

I bet the Aga publicity department loved that one........all that R&D cost and publicity and the local rag says "they've bunged a switch on it".

I always wonder how many Country Life readers think that their Aga is quintessentially English and so traditional, probably Victorian in origin or earlier - and don't realise that they are actually Swedish and from the 1930's. A sort of early Ikea..... :wink:

 

[robgil]

If you need to heat the kitchen in your week end retreat remotely buy a remote for your central heating , expecting the cooker to do the job of your central heating is very wasteful in this day and age , isn't that the whole reason for this change?
I think this is a brilliant step for AGA and one that they should have taken a long time ago.
It would persuade me to buy one, if I had a spare 9k + install costs lying around.

 

[Feltwell]

There's no way I'd want anything in my kitchen in summer that has to be left on all the time producing heat. I don't like very hot weather as it is, so having to go into a kitchen being made even hotter by a "traditonal" Aga or similar range really doesn't appeal. For others of course this is not a problem.

I'm sure that Aga think this change is a very bold move, but frankly it seems like common sense. The old type is still there for those who love it after all, so they shouldn't alienate any of their existing customer base, who I know are often very loyal. The new version must also take away some of the "fear factor" for those who want something that operates more like a "normal" cooker.

Despite my dig about the Aga's relatively recent origins, I have to admit they do look lovely and undeniably suit an older property much better than a modern "range style" cooker, which is what we've got - it came with the house.

 

[worms]

soon to be ex Mrs Scwarzenegger should have switched on her own Aga.

Is that a euphemism? Cue Penners...

 

[jocelyn plummer]

You don't have to be a Country Life reader to love and/or own an AGA!!!!!!!

 

[Feltwell]

Of course not - no one's saying you do. Just poking fun at the stereotype!

I've just bought a BMW. It doesn't mean that I have to drive like a @&*^%$ now.

 

[LadyArowana]

Of course not - no one's saying you do. Just poking fun at the stereotype!

I've just bought a BMW. It doesn't mean that I have to drive like a @&*^%$ now.

Congrats on the new wheels. That driving requirement was passed on to a certain type of Audi owner wasn't it?

 

[robgil]

Only partly I'm afraid , the add with the beemer drivers in the fountain? If they were volvo drivers they would have parked beside the fountain , BMW driver has to illegally drive all over the fountain then park ontop of it. :lol:
I am sure Feltwell will be able to keep it under control.

 

[Flyfisher]

I understand that the that first line in a BMW Owners Manual reads "Congratulations on the purchase of your new BMW, which comes with complete ownership of the road as standard" - or so I've been told, having never owned one myself.

 

[Feltwell]

From my experience I think the Volvo driver would probably hit the fountain!

Congrats on the new wheels. That driving requirement was passed on to a certain type of Audi owner wasn't it?

Erm, yes, I've not long got rid of one of those...

I understand that the that first line in a BMW Owners Manual reads "Congratulations on the purchase of your new BMW, which comes with complete ownership of the road as standard" - or so I've been told, having never owned one myself.

I'm busy practicing driving up the outside lane of M6 at 90mph, 6" off the bumper of the car in front, flashing my headlights...... :wink:

BMW's are as common as muck these days - the 3 series outsells the Ford Mondeo, it's every sales rep's wheels of choice. I've no idea why - the cheap BMW's are horrible, we had a 318 at my last place of work as a pool car. Looked flash, but all show and no go - rock hard suspension, hard and narrow seats, and an engine with about as much power as an elastic band. Not much space in it either. I'm sure the higher spec 3 series are nice enough, but at the cheap end a new-ish Mondeo is a much nicer car.

I like "nice" cars, but the age of cars doesn't bother me in the slightest, so long as they are in good condition and I like them. The reason I got the Beemer, which is a 9 year old 5 series, is it's a nice big, comfy, quick car - as I've got a long commute to my new work - but it's got an LPG conversion fitted to it, which makes the running costs much more bearable. It will only do about 28mpg at best but with LPG at around 70p a litre it's bearable. I'm not going to pretend that it's an especially environmentally friendly choice, but the emissions with the LPG are much less than if I ran it in it's original form as a 3 litre petrol car.

Of course, all my friends are taking the mickey and telling me that I have to act & drive like a complete arrogant kn*& now I've bought a BMW. The less kind ones are saying they won't notice the difference..... :lol:

 

[LadyArowana]

I understand that the that first line in a BMW Owners Manual reads "Congratulations on the purchase of your new BMW, which comes with complete ownership of the road as standard" - or so I've been told, having never owned one myself.

Not on the vesion I saw, although it comes from the US site where anything like that would probably be expunged by their legal team!

650i Owner's Manual for Vehicle
Thank you for choosing a BMW.
The more familiar you are with your vehicle, the better control you
will have on the road. We therefore strongly suggest:
Read this Owner's Manual before starting off in your new BMW.
Also use the Integrated Owner's Manual in your vehicle. It contains
important information on vehicle operation that will help you
make full use of the technical features available in your BMW. The
manual also contains information designed to enhance operating
reliability and road safety, and to contribute to maintaining the
value of your BMW.
Any updates made after the editorial deadline for the printed or
integrated Owner's Manual are located in the appendix of the
printed quick reference for the vehicle.
Supplementary information can be found in the additional brochures
in the onboard literature.
We wish you a safe and enjoyable drive.
BMW AG