The NEW Mt Vernon

Geez-went to the dealer (carries both Harmon & Quadrafire) with my brochures on the Accentra & Castile inserts. Ready to pick one. (Actually-went to the dealer bringing along DH so HE could pick one-and hopefully that was the one I wanted haha) And then-they show us the new Mt Vernon AE with the multi-feed capability. They fire it on up and give us the "tour". Our original intentions were to look for an insert that could do both the pellets and corn. Now they say the Harmon tech says to not use corn in the Accentra. (For some reason I though we could?) So we're back and forth between the Castille & Mt Vernon.
The Mt V sounds awfully nice with the no daily maintenance issues, the versatility of using the different fuel types and computerized programming that automatically sets the feed for the correct amt. - all that jazz.
But-none in stock yet and they are trying to find out when they will be in. I'm not waiting until January if that's what they say. I'll find out tomorrow.
The Castille is in stock.
There is a price difference of about $650 between the 2 all said and done.
So.......are the bells and whistles worth $650?
decisions decisions decisions
help?
RA

Well- dh would like to wait for the Mt Vernon (all that stuff must be a guy thing) - so we have to see the time frames on it. He seems willing to try it out - and hopes they've got most everything worked out (or worst case they REALLY fix whatever isn't right).
We DID decide to go for having the dealer do all of the installation (i.e. pay the exta bucks) instead of our chimney guy for the warrantys and any service issues.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Ridgley

Rettingers in Voorhees (Rt 73) - we're in Pemberton

The answer on the delivery of the Mt Vernon is they (Quadrafire) won't give an answer. They will not even give a time frame for when they could expect the stoves shipped out to the retail establishments.
Doesn't make sense to me-how can you sell a stove to someone and not tell them?
(This isn't looking good)
Any other Quad dealers know anything?
R

Here's our quote for the whole shebang (if you only want the stove price don't read down past the 1st line):
Mt Vernon AE insert in black $3039.00
standard panel surround 50x33" $149.00
2 piece ceramic log set $89.00
12 v power cord $39.00
Olympic 3-4" $40.00
Forever flex 4x35 liner kit $550.00
Liner clamps $8.0
Olympic high density mesh $93.45
Olympic stainless locking wire $19.99
Olympic insulation $163.37
Labor $900.00
Pellets $230 per ton

Called another Quadrafire dealer and they called Quadrafire to see about retail distribution. Got an answer (at least).
Inserts won't be out until the earliest Jan 2 2007-could possibly/probably be later. They are still trying to catch up on the pre-orders that were supposed to be out in August. (So now I know).
Don't think we'll wait around-that's the whole winter shot.
So now it's back to either the Harmon Accentra (someone says we could do 30% corn) or the Castille.
thanks all for your input
Ridgley

Thanks-I think I read it before-just makes me want all the "new stuff" 'cause it sounds so nice.
Confuses me again-which one to get.
Sounds like the Accentra isn't what it's talked up to be either on there.
Haven't read too much about the Castille-except those posts on the noise issue.
I do have to say-seeing the Mt Vernon fired up was nice and quiet. But does it really make all that much difference on the noise? Our old wood insert fans were really noisy so anything might be better.
Do I wait it out? (How much oil will I need this winter if I do?)
R

We're going to wait it out for the Mt Vernon. DH is afraid if we get something else we'll end up kicking ourselves because we didn't go for the "new". (And we're only doing this once).
So-if anyone hears anything about when they start shipping these buggers please let us know!
thanks
Ridgley
(who's going to be VERY chilly this winter....brrrr)