Some prefatory comments:

First thing: don't put too much stock in the user reviews on vendor websites. Every manufacturer's factories will inevitably produce some lemons. Every manufacturer will, at some time of another, have idiots doing warranty service (which is the thing that creates the deepest well of irate internet postings.) Folks with problems are far more likely to post than those whose appliance works well enough to be taken for granted. Some posters will be plants and shills, hired to disparage or praise. Some will be trolls. And some product lines really are awful. Some test well but have durability problems.

Second, this is not to say that you should ignore the online reviews, just put them in perspective. Look for patterns of defects and then search on those problems. For example, suppose you were looking a Kitchenaid range and saw the complaints (as there were for a a couple of years) about oven self-cleaning frying the electronic circuit boards and/or tripping over-temp circuit breakers in the oven. You could do a search on "kitchenaid + range + self-cleaning + oven failure." (Whirlpoo had those problems through 2011 with wall ovens and the more exensive ranges in its Whirlpool Gold and Kitchenaid brands; supposedly, they've been fixed.)

Third, another place to check is www.consumeraffairs.com, which collects complaints. Look for patterns. If you see a pattern of poor warranty service, then look for vendors who will stand behind a product and take it back if you get a lemon (there will often be local appliance dealers and some big companies, such as Costco.)

Fourth, another source of information on reliability is the annual membership product reliability surveys published by Consumer Reports. The latest ratings show GE (including Hotpoint), Frigidaire and Kenmore gas ranges are the most reliable, running about a 7% to 8% defect rate over the first five years of ownership. That means 92% of the owners do not have reliability problems but 8% (one in twelve) do, and some of those people will be made verrryyyy unhappy by the increasingly common shoddy warranty service.

So, turning to your question about makes and models:

Do you have a budget or a price range in mind? That could help narrow things. Slide ins tend to be more expensive than other freestanding ranges, and the prices can run from from around $1k on up close to $4k. That you want a storage drawer suggests you want something in the lower end of that price range.

You are probably out of luck on getting a bique/off white gas slide in. It is hard to find anything now except stainless steel finishes (or stainless steel fascia with black tops and sides.)

Have you tried using the search-narrowing selection filters on the large vendor sites? Many of them (AJ Madison, Plesser's, Lowe's, Sears, etc.) have selections you can check to narrow down the display of choices. If there is only one (or none) available in bisque, that really narrows your choices, doesn't it?.

There are probably some slide-ins available in white. I would look at Frigidaire's Gallery line as they have a pretty good reputation for reliablity, CR says some of them do well on its tests. I recall recently seeing a white GE or GE-Profile slide-in model with a four burner top at Lowe's for about $1600-$1700. Both are likely to be reliable and functional stoves.

When you've narrowed your choices, you might try posting questions about specific models with the brand and model numbers in you thread title. That can be hit or miss, but if there is somebody on this forum who has that model, you can get good feedback on it.

On the GE Cafe models, I looked pretty hard at one several years ago when I was stove shopping. They are pretty expensive though ($2900 to $3200 depending on the oven set-up). I was looking at getting a floor model but it was bid up beyond my $2k budget. There are numbers of threads on Cafe models here, and they opinions are very favorable. Some of the older (pre-2011) models had some issues with oven venting and overheating (if not melting) the burner control knobs, but the models since 2011 haven't had that problem. Bear it in mind if you are searching on that model.

thanks for the great follow ups. Left the house after I posted this and just got back 8:30pm :)
I don't really need a warming drawer, although they are nice, I could use the room better for extra pans. The amount of times I would use a warming drawer would probably be once or twice a year if that.
You are right, I did see many with complaints on the Whirlpool Gold, and I think 2 other brands that look very similar and may actually all be the same mfg. People were complaining of stoves frying, front controls melting, air vents on the top pushing so much air across and right at you that cooking at all in the warmer seasons is unbearable. Some complained about the cooling fan being so loud that it was annoying. I think one of those complaints I also found here.

Here is one model I liked the options and also the look, but found the most complaints about it.
Model # GW397LXUQ
http://www.sears.com/Whirlpool-30-Slide-In-Gas-Range/p-02235272000P

What I really meant by slide in, was the absence of the higher section of controls in the back. Had a range like that 1986 to 1990 in our old house and when it broke bought a slide in. This house now when build 1995 had a GE gas range with black and bisque color and the high controls in the back. Both those types of ranges seemed to get extremely dirty in the back and harder to keep clean. It also prevented having say a large spaghetti pot and pan both on the right side at the same time. The slide in type seem to have better room.
Plus, finally the first time in my life of owning a house 1978 to date, we are finally getting a nice backsplash :)) and I want to put nice tile behind the range. Would much rather wipe that down than getting into all the nooks and crannies of knobs etc in the back.

Possibly a backsplash similar in design to this
https://www.houzz.com/photos/divine-kitchens-llc-traditional-boston-phvw-vp~66865

or this
https://www.houzz.com/photos/showplace-cabinets-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-phvw-vp~1229489

I was hoping to go not much over $1,000 but after searching for months off and on, starting to realize some better ones are closer to $2,000 or $3,000.

I just don't need it breaking on us after a year when the warranty runs out, as after spending that kind of money on one and having to replace it, wont be financially feasible to us.
Looking for reliable :)

1. Slide-ins are just plain more expensive. No way around that except (maybe) finding a ding-n-bing deal through the Sears clearance outlet or equivalent. Near as I can tell, slide-ins start at around $1400-$1500, though sometimes discounted to less on holiday weekends. So, probably not much joy on the sub $1k budget. You may be able to use an online price to negotiate a better local deal, but that is highly variable.

2. I know exactly what you mean about not having the thick backsplash/vent/riser at the rear. However, be aware that many slide-ins with an angled control panel in front will probably have a bit less room on the cooktop than freestanding ranges. Not a big deal when using pans that flare out from the base (e.g., frying pans) but can be a pain when you want to use a big ketttle (with straight-vertical sides) in the back while using a 12" fry-pan on the front burner.

3. One thing to consider in your kitchen redesign is that some slide-ins have flat backs that will sit flush against a wall and some have oven bumptouts that will require a countertop ledge across the back. When considering stoves and your new countertops, download the installtion manuals and give them to our countertop contractors. (That is what seems to be going on in the second of your design-photo-links.)

This post was edited by JWVideo on Sun, Mar 30, 14 at 22:54

thanks so much for your valuable input :)
I would have not known what you meant about the countertop until last week when I stopped in a Lowes and one of the woman sales persons there told me that I had to realize there would be a space in the back because they don't butt up against the wall. I think she said the best way to go was have the countertop guys add a wood ledge of some type to go to the wall, then make a removable piece of quartz the same as the countertops that can easily be removed or changed if we ever had to replace the range in the future, the extra piece could be adjusted smaller to fit even a range being 1 inch deeper. Otherwise if it was one continuous piece across whole cabinet bank, then we would be limited years later with the size range, or be forced to replace the countertop. I think we are buying Silestones Lagoon Quarts that has the look of off white marble.

As for the size pans that fit say on the right side both front and back burners at the same time, I'm having the same problem with my freestanding :) Guess I can't get away from that on either choice :))

how about this model? anyone own it yet?
CGS975SEDSS
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/caf-233-30-self-cleaning-freestanding-gas-convection-range/8949082.p?id=1218956258382&skuId=8949082&st=CGS975SEDSS&cp=1&lp=1

Look around for the Frigidaire Gallery gas range FGGF3031KQ in bisque. I almost purchased it a few months ago, and I think it has been discontinued but you may still be able to locate it. GE also still has a convection gas range available.

This post was edited by GalleyHag on Fri, Apr 18, 14 at 22:01

Thanks DIY - HER for this thread, since I am also looking for a new gas oven, although not in bisque. I have to say I was shocked at the prices!! wow....it's been quite a while since I bought a new stove!!

It looks like most of them have a convection oven, which I don't know too much about either!!

We are renovating a bungalow style home and have finally worked our way to the kitchen. With the work on electrical supply and plumbing, plus knocking down walls to get a bigger footprint, I was blind-sighted by this pricey appliance.

However, I agree having an efficient and reliable oven is the best end result!

Usually we are pretty happy to go to Sears for our appliances, but I was waiting to find CR latest recommendations. I just saw that their July 14 issue will take a look at appliances but I think that will be too late for me. Thanks JW for listing the recommendations.

sbckit,
I had some sticker shock too when I was looking for one of these. I soon came to love the slide-in model. Just so clean and classic looking.
I considered the GE Café that is shown at the top of this thread but it was too commercial looking for me and I did not want to spend over $3,000. I went with the Ge Profile double oven range with a similar look but a lower price and all the same great features. Model number is PGS950SEFSS. I have been very happy with it since it was installed in February. There is a discussion about this model on Amazon.com.

Thanks chitownkat for all your info!

I checked on amazon and thought the price was great. Is that where you bought yours?

And how about the second oven....do you find it very low for working??

I am interested in this GE profile range too. It is on sale for about 2100 on AJ Madison . Haven't checked else where yet.
Chitownkat, how long does the top oven take to heat up? Can it substitute for a toaster oven? Also , how easy is the cooking surface to clean? Does it get scratched easily??
Thanks in advance.

I got our range from Ferguson, who worked with my contractor in the Chicago area and gave us a discount. I don't find the bottom oven too low. There is a slide out rack in the bottom oven which really helps in that regard.

I love the smaller top oven. I don't know about substituting for a toaster oven, I guess it depends on what you want to do. The top oven heats up very quickly -- probably 5 minutes or so. I use it most of the time for our household of 2. the bottom oven has convection and two racks, the top oven has 1 rack and no convection (but I find it cooks quite evenly.
The cooking surface on top of the range is very easy to clean. I have not found it to scratch easily but I have tried to be careful with it. The grates are heavy but removable. I used the center griddle and it worked great. Very heavy (it is Lodge).
Best of luck!

I have had very good luck with GE gas ranges in the past, but if you, like me, prefer American made products, I'd look at JennKitchenMayPool or FrigiLux.

Thank you so much for responding, chitownkat. I have very limited space in the kitchen. So am considering getting this dual range and a drawer microwave instead of a normal range, microwave+toaster or range+speedoven. We mostly use the toaster oven for fast heat up-chicken nuggets, left over pizza, sliced baguette for soup. 5 min pre heat is great. I am hoping to see one in person this week. Glad to hear you don't have issues with cleaning it. Thanks!