Thanks for all the good feedback. I did speak directly to Thermador and they verified that the finish on their retractable vent system will match the frame on the cooktop. I decided to go with the 14" tall vent instead of the 10". It will do a better job covering my tall pots and it has a few additional features. Both of Thermador's vents use a screw drive system versus a cable pull. I did get a hands on look at their 36" model on display. The mechanism that pulls the vent up and down seems a little noisy but within reason. Vent noise on low setting was pretty quiet. Medium seemed to match the noise level of my current GE downdraft and the High setting was definitely LOUD. I noticed they had a 36" Bosch vent on display right next to the Thermador. It was actually a little quieter in its drive mechanism pulling the vent up and down, but I will stick with the Thermador to ensure proper compatibility with the cooktop.

Blowers are pretty much a motor , a fan blade and a (realatively) simple speed control. It's either constantly variable or a 3 speed variable set up. If you can dope out the wire hookups from the schematic any combo is possible. Now you'll run into support and warranty issues but for instance a BEST roof blower at 1500 cfm retails at $925 and their 1100 cfm inline blower goes for arounf $700 bucks. Fantech makes some nice inline blowers and they do not make exhaust hoods. So.......... I would not go the single popup route. It only has an effective capture area of 15 ". That is only going to cove half your top at best even with the pivot feature. I still stand by my rec that you'd be better off with the T'Dor/ Best/Wolf, Viking, ect... pop up splash than even if you have to have a gas grill. These things are way stylish and can work fairl good if the are placed accurately which you don't seem able or willing to do. One would have to pivot directly over the grill surface to be more effective that the other type. It's still only mildly better. Are you dead set on a gas grill? Weren't those J Airs elect??? Why not get an elect. combi, a normal full width pop up downdraft with a reasonable priced and powerful blower and whatever gas eyes you like? This should provide the type of cooking you seek at a reasonable price and still perform pretty good? Didn't make it to the office so can't give you gaggi $$$.

Most ranges - even slide ins don't allow for downdrafts to be installed behind them - the ranges with the tall backsplash clearly don't. Dacor is the only brand I know of that has a downdraft that works with their range - but it's not cheap. Most downdrafts are made to work with cooktops, not ranges. Is ventilation required by code where you are or is it just something you want (I agree it's a good thing to have). Yes you can get cheaper ranges but depending on how or what you cook, the current Jenn-air isn't a terrible choice. I acutally tried to initially talk my friend out of it, but she insisted she needed some kind of ventilation and that was the best of bad options. At least on this new Jenn-Air the burners actually get hot enough so she can actually stir fry.

This is a very timely thread. This past week we were out looking for refrigerators to replace the single door, black board front, counter deep, freezer on the bottom model that is freezing everything. Unfortunately, we can't find single door models and may have to go with the French door type which may be a problem with a counter. Now all of a sudden tonight our duel fuel Jennair's door hinge broke. I already know they no longer make replacement hinges. We also have the additional tall backsplash and shelf that you could add onto this range. hubby just wants to replace the jennair but I never liked the down draft in the middle. Years ago at another house we had a thermador stove top with a pop up downdraft and loved it. grant it I had an additional draw outside but it did its job without cooling down what I was cooking. We have to use some for of down draft and Im not sure what to do. Does anyone know if thermador has a range with a down draft. Oh yeah and because of the tall jennair backsplash and shelf I have the counter trim backsplash that is everywhere else in the kitchen isn't behind the range. ::::sigh:::: what to do :(