old gas cooker vs new

[FlyingDragon]

As they say, Long time listerner first time caller. Hi all.
I’ve used this site over the years for various information and advice, questions which most of the time have been ansered but this time I need some definitive personal advice please.
So, I have a free standing gas cooker, a Rangemaster 55 Leisure. I believe Rangemaster no longer own Leisure?
This cooker has been in service for us for over 20 years and I was just a kid. Although used daily, theres not a single hard chip or scratch on it, of course some wear tear on the plastic parts like handles etc.
Many years ago the grill stopped working, last few years the oven requires to be set on 9 (max) for average 6-7 heat level. All but one of the top gas burners work correctly. They are very stiff to turn, don’t electrically ignite and the flame is not strong as once was.
Now, mhy father never had the gas serviced (asking around, friends and families, so many never seem to), hence why it’s in the state it is.
I also know gas is not be touched by myself and only a Gas Safe engineer, one who is capable to repair/service such items sop won’t ask related questions.
My question: is it even possible to repair such a cooker given its age? If so, given the issues,would the parts/labour/testing cost outweigh buying new.
Cliche, but reading so much about new cookers (gas or electric), they don’t seem to hold a candle to this one, all seem to made with planned obsolescence in mind. So many out there with either one issue or another with so many within a few years of use; we use it daily!

Also, the few decent to okay ones I’ve seen, have moved away from a gas grill, becoming electric, thankfull gas main oven still optional. Is the electric oven better?
So the main question, if repair is too expensive or near impossible, what brand still stands true in 2025. I’ve looked at stoves/belling, hotpoint, bosch, aeg, flavel and rangemaster. It may sound silly, but even just feeling the gas nobs, the design, hollow plastic feel and turning them, so many feel cheap from the get go. From what I’ve found on these forums, more so with electric models, all have some kind of issue.

My budget was around 600ish, as I was looking at the belling. Stoves being so similar (same ownership) command a higher price, but could not determine if that was justified so carried on looking at belling if its just a stoves tax. Rangemaster seems less robust, as do flavel. Aeg dont like the design and are alkso a hit/miss, even though I think John Lewis use them for as inhouse models. Bosch I’m unsure about, only know them as as a car parts and tool manufacturer, cannot realisitically see them making their own household appliances.
Hotpoint seem to sell a lot of the electric models but to me they’re mid to budget, though I could be wrong (had a fridge of theirs, was sub par).
My budget was 600ish but can go up to the 900ish range if truly needed. I’ve been banging my head for months, now I need advice please.
Thank you.

[kwatt]

I’ll give you a bit of a starter.

If the cooker has any more than a minor problem, then it’s probably more appropriate to consider a replacement, more so as at that age, many, if not all, parts are liable to be obsolete. So, chances are you might not have any other option than to replace it.

Then consider this, if (conservatively) you paid say £400 for that cooker in 2005, in today’s money that’s over £700 with inflation. To get to £900 or more isn’t remotely a challenge like-for-like.

What you replace it with very much depends on what you want, how much you cook and so on, there’s no easy answer to that I’m afraid as it will vary wildly depending on what’s required.

K.

[electrofix]

to find out if spares are available would need serial no

have they called the cooker leisure as it may not be a brand name not a manufacturer name

leisure is now part of Beko who also own Flavel. Beko now own most of hotpoint but designs are different for the moment

stoves as you say own belling

Bosch stuff is ok as is Neff which is same company

as for what good at the moment will tag in Don he is more on the retail side of things

and take into Account K’s comments above because you often forget inflation when looking for new appliances which leads to lower quality over time

Dave

[USER=”125″]don[/USER] comments

[don]

Correct me if I am wrong but Rangemaster 55 was a 55cm wide cooker?

In which case you will struggle to get a direct replacement as you say there are AEG link https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/ct/cooking/cookers/gas/55cm

If you can get a 60cm in that would give you a far greater choice. A word of caution the gas safe rules for installation of a new gas cooker have changed dramatically so you need to check as manufacturers regs can vary.

Don

[FlyingDragon]

Hi, thanks for dropping in and imparting your wisdom and advice.
To answer overall.
I and my family cook daily, around 90{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} on the hob and 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} with the main oven. As the grill packed in years ago, we haven’t had chance to experience it since but know we would a fair amount, thus using the toaster less plus being able to grill in general or extra oven (an option with some models) when we have guests. For now, needs to be gas hob and gas main oven. Perhaps if all fails, maybe electric main oven.

In regards to repairs, I’ve tried to look around on the net for parts, seems difficult to sttain. Talked to a few friends – friends who are Gas safe engineers, not many have experience in repairing such appliances but say the age could determine a significant cost plus parts availability issue.
Something to which has been said here. I thought why not ask here too.
You’re right about inflation. I was trying to determine that before too, as I think the cooker is easily over 25 years old hence why I thought about going up to around £900 at a push.

Yes Don, the Rangemaster 55 is 55cm. During covid era I refitted the kitchen (tiles, units, layout) with the idea of replacing the cooker at some point, thus did some research at the time concluding that 60cm cookers have a bigger selection, so allowed that space in the kitchen with a fraction more for ease.

So thats my status. What should I Iook at? Thanks

[don]

I would be looking at Rangemaster and AEG. I would though visit your local stores to have a real close up as you will find the quality of product is not the same as your current appliance. John Lewis, a local Euronics and of Course Currys are good places to start.

As for the rest the likes of Beko and Hotpoint are average and the others like Kenwood and Logik etc are okay on price but poor on quality.

Don

[FlyingDragon]

don wrote:I would be looking at Rangemaster and AEG. I would though visit your local stores to have a real close up as you will find the quality of product is not the same as your current appliance. John Lewis, a local Euronics and of Course Currys are good places to start.

As for the rest the likes of Beko and Hotpoint are average and the others like Kenwood and Logik etc are okay on price but poor on quality.

Don

Thanks Don. I’ll look into Rangemaster and AEG further. Are Stoves or Belling viable? Thanks

[don]

Stoves and Belling are both owned by Glen Dimplex appliances, they would be my second choices to look at.

Don

[FlyingDragon]

I see. Stoves and Belling I’ve already looked into quite thoroughly, though it’s been that long they’ve brought out new models, with a wok burner I like, which I’ll need to investigate. In the Rangemaster, the professional plus seems promising on paper and hopefully Currys near me carry that model range in any size just to see it, but not the best price for it. Hughes is another choice plus a better price.

Thanks again

[Author]

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