If you have no need for the extra burners or a griddle/grill, get a better second oven; those 36" range ovens can take a long time to heat up. Look at the all gas ranges for superior broiling.

Thanks Ellen613. I don't think I have a need but i also didn't think i needed heated seats (really don't need them) but living in the mid-atlantic I'm very happy that I have them now. what i'm saying is that does everyone out there really use their 5th or 6th burner? if it's just once a year, i'll skip it and make due but if you have found that you really enjoy having/using it then i'll step up and get it.
As for the range, i'm following all the threads on BlueStar since their burners can simmer at 130 deg and go up to 18K BTU.

FWIW, I have a 48" w/ 6 burners and a griddle. I use the extra burner(s) all the time and sometimes if I just have a big saute pan or stock pot on the stove I find it crowds the other burners. I definitely wanted more than the 4 burners in my last range. I also really wanted 2 ovens so I got the griddle as an "extra" - because I haven't used it yet - once I break it in, I will probably use it all the time.

Another option to consider might be a rangetop and 30 " wall oven w/ a convection/micro combination?

I have a Bluestar range -- actually I have 2 in my kosher kitchen -- and although I use 3 burners at a time often, 4 at once is unusual. The burner spacing on the 30" Bluestar is generous, and I haven't had crowding issues even when using my 14" wok or saute pan. I used to have crowding problems regularly on my old cooktop because the controls ate up a lot of space.

Well, we cook a lot and I was just thinking the other day, aren't these 6 burners great? (for my DH's b-day dinner).
I had 2 stock pots going in the back and all three front burners going with stuff that I was constantly stirring, and steak & shrimp outside on the grill, and bread in the oven.
When I make Mexican, I've got rice, beans, veggies and warming tortillas - that's four burners right there.

So think about how you cook and take your biggest pot and your biggest pan to the store with you - don't worry about how silly you think you look, everyone else is thinking, "that was smart" and when you're talking thousands of $$$, you want to get it right!

For the record, we have a 36" AG Wolf range & 42" hood and a KA MW/convection oven wall combo (so we have moist & dry cooking available). So far, after 6 months, I wouldn't change a thing!

But remember, prices often go up at the end of the year, so you probably want to get going on your decision!

I tend to like the slightly smaller oven.. would even consider a single induction hob on the side if I needed the real estate on top. ...On the other hand, if you have the wall oven for most oven use, then the 6 burner Bluestar would be particularly nice, with 2 more of the 15K burners. (my favorite burner size). And you'd have a huge gas oven.

I ordered the 36" Blue Star drop-in cooktop, which has 5 burners for less than $2,000. I also like the fact the one of the 22K burners is in the front and one in the back. I haven't received shipment yet, so I can't tell you more about it. I think that you could probably put an oven from any maker under it if you wanted (but I am not sure, as I am locating my double oven elsewhere).

I love having 6 burners! It is great when using large pots and frying pans. I have a 36" Wolf. The oven takes a long time to heat up, but I like the space for large cookie sheets.

If you have not missed the space, then spend your money elsewhere!

Comes down to what you cook as stated above. We lived with a 30" all gas range and found it fine other than having to do a suffle when making larger meals. Take one thing off to cook another and then pop that pan back on to warm up whatever etc. as we had all burners going. The range had four burners on it. For us, a 5 burner 30 was just too crowded for what we wanted.
What started our whole remodel process is that hubby wanted a second oven. Hubby loves to cook and really hated having a rib roast in at 200 slow cooking and then having to suffle things and wait on yorkshires at 400-450 to get done or roast potatoes or bread. So, we redid the kitchen and bought a 36" DCS AG with 6 burners to replace our range and a 30" wall oven that we mounted under counter. We were the same as you on the burner/griddle/grill issue.

Love the 6 burners. Can have multiple pots and pans on cooking the whole meal and simmering all at the same time. Nice to have the realestate as it were. Great for starting roast potatoes and gravys in large roasting pans without crowding out the rest of the burners and then pop them in the oven to finish.

Really like the extra room in the oven as well. Yes, does take longer to warm up the large capacity, but then we also have the 30" wall oven that we use if we are just doing a small pie or something.

Very wise advise to take your pans and cooking sheets into the store. Yes you can buy new pans to work on whatever range you buy, but you are used to cooking certain things on certain pans and so it will give you an idea of capacity and useability for you.

We were surprised when we did this as it illustrated to us the difference in some manufacturer ratings for cubic feet oven space. Put our half sheet pans in two ovens that were supposedly identical size. Fit with tonnes of room in one (in fact it would fit a full sheet pan per level) and had to put the pans sideways to get them in the other (only one half sheet pan per level).

Good luck with your search!
Cheers

Thanks everyone for the help/advice. I convinced my friend to let me cook for him at his house (he has a 6 burner Viking) and I must say, I could instantly tell the difference in the size. yes, a good stove really helps out but the space was awesome. I ended up only using 4 burners but 1 pot was off to the corner keeping warm while I finished the meal on the other 3 burners. it was so much room that I felt like I was cheating. Do I really need it? No, but since I'm spending the money to get a complete new kitchen, I feel it would be silly not to spend the extra $$$ on a 36" (once it's lumped in to the entire mortgage payment, the extra $5 a month is worth the extra room).

Thanks again for all the help and advice. This is a great site!

Eric