I went to the Bosch web site and I can't find any of the 300 series models you mention so I am not sure what they offer. It's not easy to compare entry level models of one brand with with top of the line models or another brand but you can compare price. You didn't list any models in the 800 series but this is their top of the line so that should be good. You did mention Miele Advanta, and the Inspira. These are entry level Models. I don't care for the Advanta although I know folks do have them and like them. I don't care for it because it has a different drying system than all of the other models. They have passive condensation drying which just lets the dishes sit and dry by condensation. The rest of the Miele models use a fan to assist this process which I think helps things dry better. Only MY opinion! The Miele Optima is the mid point in the line and It offers more flexibility in cycles, energy saving features, and loading than the entry models.

Great minds think alike! I was just thinking about you tonite. My new job is keeping me off this site...well, most of the computer now! I don't like that! Don't want to stop the momentum! Is that you? Love it! I believe I recall something about Mr. Clean in another thread awhile back, not sure if they were referring to you or not, tho! I went to another store this past Saturday & they carried the VAH's, as well. I think the only thing I don't care for, is they don't appear to have the mesh filter type things over the opening. It's just completely open & I think that looks cheap. Apparently they are very easy to clean...well, the mechanism is! You just throw it in the DW. But, I can see where the inside of the hood would be hard to clean. Anyway, still haven't had enough time to concentrate on that right now. I called Tevor last Friday, I believe, & he couldn't offer me any great deal. He returned my call while I was at my new job & it was hard to talk to him, so couldn't try to wheel & deal! I did, however, find a 30" Cap. Cul. from a place in Dallas for $4K! That is, however, if I get the fridge, hood, & DW from them. They don't carry Bosch, but I believe he said he'd throw in the Miele for $1000. Not 100% sure on that, but believe so. I just wasn't going to do that at the time but now I'm thinking maybe I will. I do have to pay taxes, being in Texas! That bites! I was on Ebay tonite - you got me hooked! - & there was a miele on there. I want to say they were asking $1K, but $180 for shipping. If that's the case, I'll get it from some other place that'll give that to me on a package deal, & hopefully get it for $1k...or better, less! On the ebay listing, you can make an offer to see if they accept it, but if I do that, I'm going low & more than likely they won't take it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! I'll let you know how that goes! Good to hear from you. I'll be back sooner than later. Still more questions!!

We decided to go with the Bosch. My husband liked the construction better than the Miele which seemed flimsy. We also have decided to go with a 24" Sub-Zero column with 24" undercounter freezer drawers as yet to be determined. I like the Fischer and Paykel better than the Sub-Zero. That is going to be in a corner that was going to be long term storage but I had to give it up. 30" frig would have been giving up the Miele Speed oven or storage. The Speed Oven won. There is a 15" under counter freezer by Summit that is integrated. But it is just a bit too small for our needs.

I have been watching this Cove debacle for a long time, hoping that a US manufactured dishwasher that would take my existing (Miele Optima) overlay door would be available when I needed it, and would be higher reliability. (In all fairness, the Optima reliability has become excellent since i replaced the feed water solenoid with my own parts.) I wonder if the problem starts with being late to the dishwasher business such that the forest of existing patents is almost impossible to get around without paying a lot of royalties, or being very limited in design approach. Long in the business companies can trade patent rights for patent rights and keep royalty costs to a minimum. At this point, given the price and history of issues, every delivered Cove dishwasher should have been factory tested under the water chemistry and dish soilage conditions (surely known by Cove) that most strongly correlate with the conditions present at the residences where complaints ultimately lead to dishwasher replacements. I don't see how the present situation maximizes cost containment, much less customer satisfaction.