Attaching the panel did not work. A couple of service guys have tinkered with it with no luck. Now we're getting a new freezer drawer.

This model will fit the space we have for it and seems to have all the right features. Also, I like the look of it. I notice on this forum and on CR that the French door 36" KA fridges are very well rated - but I can't find the bottom freezer 33" rated on CR or on this forum. Anyone have experience with this model and can give me advice? Am also wondering about the equivalent Kenmore, although I have to say - I have sort of fallen in love with the look fo the KA

Current May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports has it tied for the best built-in with a GE Monogram model (out of a total of 11 built-ins that are rated). CR says "the GE bottom-freezer and the KitchenAid French door offers excellent temperature performance and are energy efficient." Good that you are considering the 42" model since the KitchenAid 36" built-in is the lowest of the 11 rated models. We are excited about the French door models for our next fridge as our current SubZero side-by-side is just too narrow for us.

This was also my concern. Plus I want a counterdepth refrigerator. There aren't many single door ones available, but I am waiting for the new KA V series single door counter depth, freezer door on the bottom to be out. Should be soon. I have talked to KA several times about it. Anyway the V series is replacing their T series and I saw the same model in the French door type and liked the freezer drawer layout and studiness better. I have a friend who hated her french door LG and had door gasket problems that reocurred so much that the the store took it back and she now has the single door freezer on the bottom. She likes that arrangement much better for the same reasons already mentioned--only open 1 door when putting something away. I just imagine going to it with a large pan that I can barely hold in one hand and then needing 2 arms to prop open the 2 french doors. I do prefer their look, but I'm in and out of the fridge too often to give up the convenience of 1 door. Anyone have the V series French Door by Kitchenaid?