Ever the bargain-hunter, I bought my Hotpoint free-standing range for $250 from a local appliance outlet. The salesman showed me the same model with no damage priced at $399. My range was brand-new but was discounted because of a long scratch on one side of the unit. To me, this did not matter, especially since the scratch would be hidden next to a wall in my apartment's kitchen. Also, the scratch did not at all effect the operation of the stove. Another reason why the discount was so attractive was that I cook on a very basic scale. Since my apartment did not come with a range, this basic type was all I needed.

The stove, 30 inches wide, takes up minimal space in the kitchen. It came with anchor fittings--screws to use in bolting the unit down so that it could not tip over. This model has absolutely NO frills. None of the features found in more expensive and larger models were present. There is not even a glass panel in the oven door to watch food cook. But, as I said, these are things I seldom used before when I had them, so. . . .

The oven interior is quite roomy although a bit more trouble to clean since it has no self-cleaning option. But, a quick spray with any oven cleaner seems to do the trick with most food spills. The four top burners are convertible to LP gas with minimal effort. The burners also come with flame adjusters just below the cooktop to easily modify flame size with the twist of a screwdriver. The oven heats quickly and holds its temperature perfectly, although the front and sides of the stove can become very hot when the oven is in operation.

This range is basic in every way but I strongly recommend it for a single person, couple or small family. It performs very well and I have had no service problems with it.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 250.00