Weber 841001 22 1/2-Inch Performer Charcoal Grill with Touch-N-Go Propane Ignition, Black

Works great! Lots of new features and seems well-built. Easy assembly instructions, but they should include extra screws in case you lose one while putting it together. Easy to find the disposable propane tank in a local hardware store, though I liked the old refillable model better. Seems like a waste to replace the tank instead of refilling it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000659KDW/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img

Well, I received this grille as an aniversary gift. I sure was surprised when it came to the door! We put it together very quickly. It is made extremely well, all parts fit well, with no twisting or bending needed to align screw holes. This is as you would expect from Weber, a big name in grilles. But these days you never know what to expect. It fires up first time. No problems. Add charcoal, let the propane run 15-20 minutes and you are ready to go. There is a nifty brushing device that removes the ash, pushing it into a holder below the kettle. The ash holder is easily removed to empty and clean. A flip out bin is provided under the huge table area to hold a large bag of charcoal. Since it flips in, the charcoal stays nice and dry even without a full grille cover. I do recommend the WEBER grille cover made for this model instead of a generic cover that will not fit snugly. I would also recommend the adapter to use a 20lb propane cylinder so that you are not changing the smaller screw on bottles as often. Although so far I have used one bottle 5 times and it still has some to go.

Since the cooking grille is not height adjustable, you have to build the brickettes to a pyramid design so you can vary cooking temperatures if desired. When I got the knack of this technique everything was fine. It is explained in the guide booklet.

Overall, it is a fine charcoal grille, built very sturdy and well worth the cost.

What can I say? Every good review about this grill is true. The easiest-to-use charcoal grill I've ever seen. Plus, assembly was easy and the quality of the grill is pretty good, which leads to my only gripe. The plastic prep surface does look and feel cheap. Aside from that, it's a great grill. I ordered the item through Amazon and the grill came fast. The bundled grill cover, on the other hand, took way too long. Order the grill, skip on the cover -- it's overpriced on Amazon anyway.

I am very impressed with this charcoal grill in many ways. Yes, the natural charcoal gives the meat a natural charcoaled flavor. No longer is there the slight propane flavor experienced on my previous grill. The charcoal lights easily in less than 5 minutes time, and one is ready to grill on hot coals in about 15-20 minutes. The 2 charcoal "boats" allow the right amount of charcoal to be utilized without waste.... one boat for cooking for two persons.... two boats for cooking a meal for four.... and the entire surface for many family and friends. Also, the storage of the grill's top while checking the meat is clever, along with the storage of one bag of charcoal. The entire assembly shows that Weber engineers are "on the ball". The assembly out of the box took me about 45 minutes, producing a very sturdy frame. I found a power drill with a philips drive very useful.

I have only one downside comment: The cool-down time is far longer than the conventional propane grill because one has to wait for the charcoal to extinguish. If you want to cover the charcoal grill for the night, be ready to cover it about 2-3 hours after you finish your grilling. I might add that the Weber "performer" grill cover fits perfectly and will likely NOT blow off in a high wind.... well worth the extra expense.

OK, here we go....I have had so many grills over the years. This is the best. The complaint about the "plastic" side is maybe a complaint from the past? Mine is a durable composit substance that stays cool, cleans easy (mine still looks new, not because I am a neat cook) and provides a nice big area to set stuff. My *only* wish is for a larger grill surface -- or then again, two of these babies back to back on my patio --- now your cooking with fire!

The charcoal bin sounded sorta cheesy to me, but in use it has worked out great. I keep a box of throw away gloves by it to make it eaiser to add as needed.

The hinged grate? Where were you my whole life???

Sliding lid holder? Works like a charm - stops ashes from flying up on your food when you open the lid and holds it nicely.

Starter, does great - what more do you want?

Fuel holders: Don't know how I ever did indirect cooking without them...makes it much eaiser to keep a cool grill. Ribs - 225 degrees for about 3 hours --- much eaiser to do with this grill.

Thermometer holder/hole also works great, much better than having to drill your own hole (yes, I did that to my last one...it DOES work...just sorta red-neckish)

Oh yeah -- clean up is Soooooo much nicer than flipping the da*n thing over and having the legs pop off like the old ones...I actually clean out the ashes _before_ they reach the grate....

Suggestion: when the bottom of the kettle is clean, mark on the bottom handle slide thingy (technical term) where the vents are open and closed at. The little "fins" inside move back and forth pretty far to help with cleaning, but only a portion of that range actually controls the air-flow. It is handy to know where exactly is "closed" and "open".

If you already have a kettle, at least go out and buy the fuel holders, hinged grate and a clip on wire lid holder...money very well spent!

Joe