We are considering all the same issues as this poster. Our fridge will be on the far left of the row of cabinets in a galley kitchen, so it seems that opening a single door left-hinge fridge will be more convenient than an FD. I also am very concerned about energy efficiency and durability, so I have some questions about how well the FD models will seal long term. I have no interest in throwing my $2000 fridge out in 5 years! We did find a GE model that seems to fit the bill: PDCS1NBWLSS GE Profile Energy Star 21.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator - Left Hinged. We have not bought this yet but are still shopping around. We want a modest sized one like this (again to avoid wasting energy for space we rarely need), but there may be something similar in a larger size. Good hunting! Good luck!

I've been going through a similar process but with models without the second external drawer and or through-the-door water and ice. The Kitchenaid is a Whirlppol product and, as far as I can tell, is assembled with Whirlpool's other FD fridges at the factory in Amana, Iowa. Even though i apparently shares compoents with the other Whirlpool products, KA offers a ten year warranty on the sealed systems but the other Whirlpool fridges only give you a 1 year warrranty. KA's warranty is 1 year everything, parts and labor on the sealed systems through year five and parts only for years six through 10. Equally interesting, most Samsungs only give you a one year warranty like Whirlppols but the particular "four door" model has 5 year warranty on the sealed system. All of that being said, the warranty is only as good as the service companies you can call when you need help. Some places, you have choices. Others, you do not. Some service companies are good and some are terrible. The warranty isn't worth much if you have to wait three weeks to even get somebody to come out and look at your dead fridge. Do, do check on the warranty coverage and find out if you have choices. Samsung seems to have had particular difficulties in that area but Whirlpool brands often use the same low-bid service companies and can be equally bad. Getting some "hands-on" time is also excellent advice for making a choice. Look what what you like to keep in the fridge and how you can arrange the shelving to hold it. That fourth drawer may be very useful to some folks and a royal pain to others. Until you lay hands n it and see how the unit works for you, it can be really hard to tell if it will work for you or not. For instance, are you somebody who needs to store gallon jars of pickles? Maybe you will want to stash a 3 gallon pickle crock? Will you be brining 20 lb. turkeys? If so, can you arrange the shelving so that you can store these things conveniently? Do you need to supply milk to whole platoons of kids? If so, where are you going to put the containers? Maybe you have a world-class collection of mustards? Do you need slide-out shelves to access that half-acre collection of small condiment jars? How do the tempeature and humidty controls work for you? Sliders are fine for some folks and anathema to others.

Jeri - We just purchased the 950TT this morning from HD. It's last year's model and is now down to $1849 @ HD and $1844 @ Lowes. The 960 is this years model. It's the one with the Tilt Freezer Door. There are some other sutble differences as well and some not so sutble. Other ways to visually tell the two apart is by the display. The 950 has individual buttons while the 960 allows selections with contacts hidden under a membrane,... or is it membrain. Can't remember!! The 950 is accented with light gray plastic and the 960 sports black plastic. The 950 is Titanium while the 960 is Stainless,... TT vs ST. And the 960's internal shelfing and compartments looks a lot more modern. I was lucky (as far as price is concerned),... I got mine (new in box from warehouse) from HD for $1475.99 after a Lowes price match + 10% and some other discounting. $1604.80 after taxes and delivery charges. Not bad! Does anyone know of any performance or quality difference between the two? Stuff deeper than the eye can see?

We had lg appliances in our last new build and I would never buy anything lg again strictly because of the customer service. Our stove wasn’t working right and it toke months before they ever made it right and that was with me calling daily. We had a stove in our brand new house that only half the burners worked it was ridiculous. I vowed to never buy lg after that.