Some basic questions as I have recently replaced the older appliances in our home. What type of range are you currently cooking on? Do you already have a gas range/cooktop? The reason I ask is that when your used to one type of heating switching can be a surprise. I've had the Frigidaire FGGF304DLW (in white) all gas double oven range. I've only had it for a week so I'm still getting used to it. So far I really like to double oven feature. We've only used the larger oven once, but the small upper oven preheats quickly. Can't really comment on temperature uniformity/accuracy but the temps don't seem far off. The one surprise is how much heat is 'wasted' on the cook top with the sealed burners. We had an older (not sure how old) coil top electric stove before. If I try to boil a cup and a third of water in a 6" diameter pot (an AllClad) it seems to take longer than the old coil stove. Also we've found out that our over the range microwave has a overtemperature feature that turns on the exhaust fan. It had never gone off before. I'm still on the learning curve so I won't give a full review. Just to let you know if your going to a different system, you may be surprised at how different it is. If your already using a sealed gas cook top, it might not be that different. The Consumer Reports appliance review did mention that even the electric smooth top ranges are more efficient than the 'consumer' gas ranges they reviewed. In terms of your other selections, we have Kitchenaid DW and cabinet depth french door fridge that we are happy with. Also look at the 'distributor's' in your area. These are the companies that sell directly to builders, they may also sell to consumers. I'm in Cincinnati and the one I've dealt with has come close to on-line prices (definitely beats big box stores). Also see if there are stores that have scratch and dent show rooms. Often the slight damage is in the unexposed area.

For fridge my first choice would be Samsung and KA second. The highest FD Samsung is 69 7/8". JD Powers has Samsung #1 for FD five years now,more features than KA,and IMO better interior.KA is solid with good reputation among appliance repair men.LG has reputation for being quiet. Marvel BC are excellent,made in the USA,but are a bit noisy. Liebherr RU-500 is ~$1500 very quiet and energy efficient.Perlick is the best and very quiet but ~$3K. Perlick sells their scratch'n dent factory direct at up to 60% off on their website. Made in USA. Liebherr made in Germany or Austria. It is about $5500 for Bluestar RNB range not the RCS. RCS has 15k btu power burners while RNB has 22k.RGTNB364GV1 is the rangetop and should be around $3k but there is also a cheaper cooktop without full motion grates and drip tray that is cheaper. Both have 22k btu burners. The cooktop is BlueStar RBCT365BSS about $2.1K. I would only consider the RNB range,BS rangetop and cooktop. A lot of us have purchased refurbished Sharp MW drawers on ebay for $499 without problems. Bosch dishwaser,Electrolux wall oven,and GE advantium are good choices. Maybe Kas can weigh in on ventilation but I don't see how closed cell insulation affects which hood you get. It may affect your decsion to purchase a make up air system(MUA).

SZ is very old technology compared to the Jenn-air and apparently even the Kitchen-aids. The Jenn-air since 2005 or possibly before, uses the variable speed compressor. Apparently the Kitchen Aids, as well as most of the other Whirpool Fridges use that too, (according to a poster here). The poster even put up the operation of how the Variable compressor works--Hopefully you can find that post. Liebheer also uses that variable speed compressor. "To me", comparing the technologies of the SZ with a fridge that has the VSC (variable speed compressor)is like compairing one of my Dodges (1959 or 1964) to the latest cars built. Yep the Dodges are a blast to drive, but for efficiency, safety and state of the art----as much as I hate to admit it---(The Dodges lack a bit). As far as I know, and Antss can correct me if I'm wrong, SZ does not use the VSC's. An old style compressor is like a light that can only be turned on/off (no in between or dimming) so the compressors are either all the way on or all the way off, and at least according to a post here, the compressors run quite a bit of the time and according to SZ's Operation Manual, "humming" is normal whilst they run. Not that you would need it, but I believe the Jenn-air Specs that the temp will hold within half a degree. No way the SZ can do this as it "Purposely" has to run until it is a bit colder than "set temp"--otherwise it would shut off and then start right back up again, where as the Jennair will at first increase the speed of the fan, if it still calls for more cold, it starts up the compressor (if it's off---or speeds up the compressor if it is already going (Isnt this just a bit more modern than just straight on/off (and maybe between the 2 compressors, --not that much off?) I've had the JA 48" built in for 5 years now. It is NOT flimsy inside, nothing has ever broken, bent or whatever. The lighting is great, and we like the digital controls and readouts that allow for 3 different temps in different areas of the fridge (Chrisper, meat keeper and main fridge). You can not tell (or at least I can't) when the fridge is running, and No, i'm not deaf---I have no problem hearing the Elux wine fridge run. Not all buyers look for the same thing in buying a house, I have read enough on Garden Webb, Consumer Reports, Epinions, Actual user reviews, etc etc that if I saw a house with all SZ and Wolf Appliances---I would tell the Realtor, "Next House Please". Good luck with your pending choices! Gary

Well, I live in Toronto so I may not have all the same choices as you . But I just bought a Thermador 30" dual fuel range- do not have it yet. Have to get a new hood too, Getting the Zepher Typhoon as it is the only product that ftis my needs and budget. So, anyways, let me give you an outline of my thinking and how I got here (and the 'facts on the ground'): Helpful hint - google search the products and download the owners manual Facts: restricted by cabinets which are not being played with, must have under cabinet installation of range hood Wolf was, more or less the archetype that I used to measure all other ranges by. 1, Looked at Fisher Paykel- was moments away from buying- they are throwing in a wall chimney vent hood or a real-deal over the range microwave for the 30" dual fuel stove- s comes with 2 double stacked burners, at 17K btu each. Brilliant design in many ways. But, the add on ventilation until would have had to be a forced fit, due to my cabinets. Microwave would have been in ingenious , but does not fit at all.In any event, at or about $4,500 all in, or so, very attractive price. Has stainless steel, and not porcelain enamel top - but it also has warming drawer that looks 'real deal ' and not flimsy. But instructions were not clear or obvious- seemed translated into English etc. 2, Looked at an Electrolux Icon- super value at under $3,000.. looks like a Wolf, has porcelain enamel top, 2 double burners at 18K btu, but, sadly, the grates were not even, and the product has already been discontinued. (Have an Electrolux central vac, and my estimation of Electrolux has gone up since that purchase 3, Looked at Jenn Air, top end Kitchen Aid, before I looked at Thermador; but the Thermador was surprisingly competitively priced And 2 power burners are a must for me. 4, I have a very nice and new Kitchen Aid countertop oven- amazing, and my estimation of Kitchen Aid has gone up (I have very good KA food processor, blender, and dishwasher too - all fine) So I looked at the brand new entry level dual fuel Kitchen Aid- outrageously low price of $2,250 had me thinking about it- but it has electronic controls/ touch pad thingy, and a flimsy looking warming drawer, and gimmicky steam bake. 5, looked at Wolf, salesmen were horrible and snotty (part of the problem) 6, Then I looked at Thermador. At or about the same price as Jenn Air and Kitchen Aid, but has much fewer electronics (I understand they fake not having electronics and they still have a panel, but they do have dials instead of push buttons, which is important to me for various reasons) Thermador also has all 4 burners at 18K BTU. The business end for me is the stovetop more than the oven, and the star shaped thing that thermador has on offer , all burners at 18K btu, along with the 'easy clean' top pushed me over to Thermador, along with a price I was comfortable with ). I want to shop like a millionaire: fist and foremost, get good value for money. The Thermador was cost competitive with Jenn Air, Kitchen Aid (high end) and Fisher Paykel. I needed to get a new hood too- Zepher Typhoon is the only product that fit my needs. All in, all taxes, all delivery etc. with the Thermador and the range hood is still less than the equivalent Wolf. Further, Thermador has a promotion on now (bit of an odd one for good reasons however - buy a range get deal on dishwasher, not ven hood etc) ) that enables you to save money the more you buy. (Are you saving money if you are spending it??) So the purchase of the stove enables me to get an entry level dishwasher for $500 . (Thermador's are rebranded Bosch) I might still go for it, but the $500 one is basic and has less features than the one I have now (which I may take to the office as the one there is done for) Still thinking about it, but will cost me $1,000. Still, I could get the dual fuel range, the range hood, and the dishwasher, all in, for the less than the price of the Wolf. So Wolf is out.. Anyways, I am not as excited about having everything match as having everything good quality and a good value for money. Buy a good design so you are not sick of it later. Watch out for buyer's remorse and think about it in advance. ( I think buyers remorse is the cause of 1/2 of the complaints on line.) Sorry about the essay.