SubZero's recent repair history has been the worst among fridge brands. Please do not read anything negative into this comment, but it would appear that anyone willing to pay $14k for a fridge is probably not going to be too concerned about repair costs. However, for that amount of money, one would expect to get a reliable appliance. Many people have been happy with their SZ, but it appears that the odds are against you, at least regarding reliability.
Good luck on your selections!

The Gagg's aren't glass doored fridges. The SZs with the SS doors aren't 14K.

The Bosch SHX45... is a mid-line Bosch, not "the best". The upper end Boschs and the Mieles will offer more features and more quiet. Of course, if you don't need all the features then this one is the best but its hard to answer the question when you speak of "the best" and a mid-line of a brand. Miele are excellent (I have a bosch - a 3 year old shx45 at that, and like it very much). However, if you're going to get the 14K glass door fridge, I think you ought to get at least an upper end Bosch if not an upper end Miele. :-) They'll run you to about 1/10th to 1/7th the cost of the fridge ;-)

olympic - could you define "recent" and tell us who is writing the "history" with regard to SZ's worst record?

Following from the Brand Repair History section of Refrigerator Ratings that appeared in the August 2007 issue of Consumer Reports:
"The graphs show the percentage of refrigerators bought from 2002 to 2006 that underwent repair or had a serious problem. Differences of less than 5 points aren't meaningful. Maytag was the most repair-prone top-freezer. Sub-Zero has generally been repair prone. Built-in bottom-freezers were more repair-prone than freestanding types. Models within a brand can vary, and design or manufacture changes could affect reliability. Improve your odds of getting a reliable model by buying a brand with a good repair history."

The results for side-by-sides with icemaker and outside dispenser were:
14% Whirlpool
15% GE Monogram
16% Kenmore (Sears)
17% Amana
18% General Electric
19% KitchenAid and Frigidaire
20% Jenn-Air and Maytag
24% Sub-Zero

The results for bottom-freezer with icemaker were:
15% Amana and Kenmore
24% Sub-Zero

CR did another Refrigerator ratings in their current May 2008 issue. The Brand Repair History covered purchases made between 2003 and 2007. "We didn't have enough historical data to include either Samsung side-by-side or Sub-Zero built-in models in the chart. We do have sufficient data to conclude that, while Samsung has been a reliable brand, Sub-Zero has been repair-prone."

This responds to the question by antss. FWIW, folks have varying opinions on the usefulness of Consumer Reports ratings and data. In this particular case of SZ fridges, our own experience with our 12 year old SZ matches the CR data. It has given us continuous trouble, both big and small, from day one.

The Gaggenau fridges are out -- I've seen them on the floor. They are basically Thermador's Freedom Series with stainless interiors. Link below shows the fridges -- you'll have to search again for the freezers.

I have the Thermador firdge and freezer columns and am very happy with them. I like them better than the Subzero -- even the Pro 48, and I spent less than half that for them.

I agree with the Bosch DW comments above. I think that model is at least one rung below mine (I have the next to the top of the line), and I think the added quiet and features at that level is money well spent. I couldn't justify a good bit more for the very top of the line Bosch or the Meile (which didn't look like it would load as well for our dishes), but I would go to that 2nd Bosch -- the sound difference between it and the very top one is only 2 decibels.

As for a fridge and ice maker in a bar area, I would base that decision on the kind and level of use as well as the proximity to the kitchen. For frequent use and a lot of entertaining, it might make sense -- especially if the kitchen fridge is not near. For holiday and occassisonal use, it probably isn't worth the money for most folks.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gaggenau refrigerators

Once again a Consumer Reports parrot. Making a broad statement without qualifications is not very helpful. People read "it's the worst" and go away thinking It must be true.

CR loves to bash them and other highline brands because in their studies they do poorly. It's only recently that they have started to introduce VALUE into the equation. Based on spec, cost, styling, ect... the highlines still do poorly. This is a fair assesmnet, but was late comming to the table. What CR also doesn't tell you out loud is that the rates are based on their reader's samples. If 20 readers buy a SZ side x side and 5 have problems then 25% of all SZ's have repair issues. What you don't know is that those 5 units came off the line on the same day and recieved faulty icemakers from Whirlpool (who's tops in CR's eyes) and caused the problems. CR doesn't disclose what was at fault, a early failure on evaporator, a door seal that comes loose because it sat around you jobsite beigng josseled, and a burned light bulb after 2 weeks, and a computer board fried by lightning would all generate calls to SZ and trigger a repair under CR's questionaire. ONLY the early failure on the evaporator is a SZ quality/repair issue. The sampe size is also a bit skewed. SZ sells few side x sides. CR reader buy few SZ units as group and even fewer SZ side x sides. Conversely, the # of Kenmore and Whirlpool units are off the charts. They also seem to take stupid pills every once in a while. How can they not have enough data on SZero's built-in refs to list in the chart? They make ONLY built-ins, it's the whole reason they started. And of course Samsung is relaible, they don't make many units, and none of our readers have them to file a complaint. They must be reliable, or we'd of heard, after all we're CR.

Now, your personal experiance is a different matter. That is much better bellweather especially if you give details. Do you have an undercounter, SxS, were the probs, cosmetic, complete system failure, did you just not like the layout after living with it, did SZ warranty any of those probs, did they rape you on the price when they didn't warranty????

My point is this, CR is a nice tool to have in the descision basket, but they are not a benchmark when it comes to highline $$$$ brands. Liek political polls they can show anything. It all depends on who frames the question and who is asked.

The Kenmore Pro refrigerator only may be something that you would want to look at. I've seen then on Sear's website but have yet to see one in person.

smooth - how does this help the OP? The Sears PRO does not have a stainless interior, in not a SZ48 , is not a stand alone ice machine, or Bosch DW, or Gaggenau ref. These are what (s)he asked about.

We have 2 of that exact model of Bosch dishwashers and are very happy with them. We didn't need any more types of cycles (we almost always use AutoWash and it does a fantastic job) and I have no complaints about the sound. We had an older model (top-of-the-line at the time of purchase) Bosch in our last house that operated at the same decibel rating as these. We were always opening it while it was going, because we couldn't hear it washing.

Re: icemaker; we have a lakeside home and originally I had planned for an icemaker. Then I got the estimate from the plumber for the extra water line *and drain*. Next came comments from the forum and two friends about the noise. Ignorance keeps me from describing the icemaking process in these units but the clear ice comes at a cost - think about the noise of ice falling into a bin at your local motel/hotel. The combination of higher water usage, higher initial costs and noise made me rethink my initial decision. Oh - and one other question by my wife: "How many bags of ice can you buy for $2000?" Granted - a simplistic view not considering gas, convenience, etc. but we've had periods of time when I just kept an extra bag of ice in the freezer and all was well (granted it's a 36" all freezer unit).

Just a few thoughts to consider - if these points don't apply then enjoy! I still wish I could justify one for the "cool" factor! (pun intended)

Beaverlake, Nice to hear from you again! I haven't read anything from you in a long time. Did you ever post any photos of the raising of your timberframe?

Now back to appliances...