Genesis II vs Genesis

[BFlynn]

Howdy Howdy!

Hopefully this is a quick question. I'm helping my dad replace his gas grill. He's looked at a lot of them, and is thinking about the Weber Genesis II S-435 (Model #62006001). It's available at Costco.

It looks like Weber has discontinued the Genesis II line in 2022, and gone back to the Genesis branding.

The current Genesis S-435 is model #36400001. Is there any practical difference between the two? It looks like the newer version has a "larger sear station", and fits with their branded cookware.
He's not going to buy the branded cookware, and will replace all of grates with GrillGrates anyway.

Is there any other difference that I'm missing, other than aesthetics?

[jfmorris]

The Genesis II was introduced around 2017, and discontinued early 2022.

I have the Genesis II E-410 4 burner grill, purchased for a great price on clearance in January 2019, but *DO NOT* recommend it *IF* he ever wants to use a rotisserie on the grill. The Genesis II has very low side walls on each end, and the rotisserie attachment, which my kids wasted their money on because I wanted it for Father's Day one year, has so little clearance I can't spin a 5 pound chicken without removing BOTH the cooking grates and flavorizer bars. I've used it exactly once, was so frustrated with it that I never used it again, and only rotisserie on my Weber kettle.

The newer Genesis has higher end walls, and more rotisserie clearance. And a higher overall grate to lid height.

I also recommend on whatever Genesis he gets, that he be careful with a full replacement set of Grillgrates. I had a massive grease fire under them in my Genesis II when it was about 18 months old, which destroyed 2 of the Grillgrate panels AND warped the cast aluminum body of the grill. And I had been using Grillgrates on a 2002 Genesis for 5 years before that happened. It happened during the pre-heat on high before a cook, about a week after I did Korean style short ribs (kalbi/galbi), which left a lot of grease I guess in the bottom of the grill.

I really question how well the sear burners work when also using Grillgrates, since they tend to block direct heat and distribute it across the aluminum panels.

If he doesn't care ever using a rotisserie, and the Genesis II is a lot better price than the newer Genesis, I really don't have any complaints about it. Just wanted you (and him) to know about the rotisserie issues with it.

[BFlynn]

That's really helpful.

No plan on using a rotisserie, and the price difference is about $400

[jfmorris]

If it’s $400 cheaper than the comparable new model I would 100% recommend the Genesis II. It’s a great performing and quality gas grill. If it’s the S (special edition) model I think it has stainless cooking grates and flavorizer bars. The model I have (E-410) had cast iron grates and porcelain coated steel flavorizer bars. After 5 years of use the flavorizer bars are starting to burn through, but i solved that by swapping them around with ones that were not over burners.

I recommend keeping the stock grates and not tossing them, as they are very useful if you want to use a skillet or dutch oven - something you should never do with aluminum Grillgrates. I keep mine on the shelf under the grill. Recently I started cooking on the cast iron grates to change things up from the Grillgrates I’ve been using since 2017 on all my gas grills.

[BFlynn]

It's the S model.

It'll be a big upgrade from his charbroil

[Grillin Dad]

I scored a Genesis II a on a Lowe's clearance a couple of years ago as they were rolling out the new Genesis (III?) line. I'm really happy with it so far. It's built like a tank and cooks reasonably evenly. I can easily see this thing lasting 10+ years. I don't use Grill grates, so I can't comment on that. But I do use a SteelMade flattop with it, which I love. Turns it into a griddle, and is removable when you want to use it in 'grill mode.'

Myself, I'd probably save the $400 and get the Genesis II, but that's probably a personal decision. I don't think you would go wrong either way.

[BFlynn]

That was my thought too. But wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

He keeps them until they literally fall apart. He's gotten 12 years out of this charbroil.
This Weber will likely be his last grill.

[jfmorris]

If it says anything, one of my daughters is still using the 2002 Genesis Silver A that I used until 2019 when I got the Genesis II. Weber makes some well built grills.

Of course…. That 2002 grill was made in the US. The 2019 one was made in China, and I don’t expect it to last quite so long.

[BFlynn]

My brother supervised an industrial fab shop in China..... He has some stories

[BFlynn]

Genesis II S-435 Assembled



Thank y'all for all the help

AND everything works

[jfmorris]

Beautiful!

I am again gonna hint that he try the grill with the stock stainless grates, before ordering a set of Grillgrates for it. Grillgrates almost destroyed my Genesis II E-410...

[BFlynn]

I've definitely passed that on, and that's how he's starting out