I was going to get the Wolf DF but ended up with the Kenmore Elite. For us, it wasn't about the money per se but where we are now and how we cook. We are both in our mid-late 60s, both retired, eat out often, don't do a lot of fancy cooking, family on the opposite coast, and live in a rural area where lot size is by acres so not a lot of neighbors meaning occasional entertaining. I must say DH, who does the cooking, has been happy with the Kenmore Elite and it's perfect for our lifestyle now. However, if I was doing this 15-20 years ago, I'd probably have gotten the high end pro-like Wolf, Bluestar, or even Aga or Lacanche. But 20 years ago, I would have had to save for a couple of years to afford one of them!!

If I read your post right you are saying you can spend $2,500 now (midrange) or wait a couple years to purchase high end....and right now you have an old range that doesn't work properly. If that is the case, I would buy now. Look into it, but I believe that when you want dual fuel and 2 decent sized ovens you can do better buying a cooktop and separate ovens.

My rangetop (Viking) was about $2500 as was my GE Monogram double oven stack. I like both, but the truth is I can cook just as well on any gas range. (I think gas cooktop and electric ovens are the key, IMO) I went high-endish because (1) I had the money back them (different economy) and (2) my house value justified it (again, different economy). My father has a GE Profile range and the food we cook in his kitchen tastes just as good as what we cook in mine!

Another vote here for buying what you can afford. I did just buy a more high-end range and love it. I bought more high-end in part because I expect to be in this house cooking and baking for the next 25 years. But my two best friends who bought new ranges this year bought more mid-range (a GE profile and a Bosch dual fuel). We are all equally happy and cooking equally amazing food.

I think the GE Cafe is a great buy! It sounds like it will suit your needs well.

We just had our Kenmore Elite Dual Fuel basically blow up on us after less than 5 years of (heavy!) use. I would never get a range with a back control panel again because we seriously suspect that all of the deep frying on the back burner melted some stuff inside.

The GE Cafe is my vote!

Thanks for the feedback guys! My original plan was to go with something mid-range, but then I read a lot of stuff online that made me worry about regretting that choice a few years down the line. While a $2500 range seems inexpensive compared to a Wolf, I still don't want to spend that much and then be sorely disappointed. Good to get some reassurances. :)

My dream stove is actually the Aga (for looks), but the oven sizes seem very impractical to me. They are beautiful, but it would bug me to not be able to fit a standard size cookie sheet in my $7K oven.

I'm five years into a Wolf 36" cooktop and Dacor double ovens. Though I like them very much, I also got a new KA slide in range at my weekend lake place and I like it just as well as the much more expensive stuff I have at home. It's easy to get caught up in all the possibilities but you are smart to be objective and consider what you really want and would use. You sound kind of like me. I got all caught up in having alot of burners with alot of BTUs until I realized I really had no need for that. Good simmer and enough space for 3 big pots was what was most important to me. I have found that either a slide in or a cooktop allows for more space compared with a typical free standing range that has the control panel in back. Good luck with your decisions.

sabjimata, my current range also has the controls on the back panel and I hate it. I don't understand why they're designed that way - they take up so much room, get filthy, and you have to reach over hot pots to adjust the burners. It drives me crazy!

gibby, it is definitely easy to get lured into the pro ranges. They are so sexy and seem so superior. But anything would be an improvement over what we have now, so I think the GE Cafe or the KA would be a huge bump up for me.

I research the ratings and go by the repair record and how the current owners like it. Brand names don't impress me and aren't just expensive upfront, but can be difficult to find parts and repair shops than the more common models. I'm a mid-range dweller. I'd rather pass my money on to the kids than give it to marketing execs.

Check into the specs for the range hood on the models you are considering. You may find that you can cut back on hood costs by cutting back on BTUs. And you won't have to work up alternate sources of fresh air now required by local codes when large ranges are in use.

Have read enough objective material about the trend toward large ranges to know that many "pro" appliances are more for show and status than for actual daily use. I'm glad you have made some comments about the surprising benefits of a well-designed 30 inch range.

Six thousand dollars is a lot of money in my world.

"hey take up so much room, get filthy, and you have to reach over hot pots to adjust the burners. It drives me crazy! "

that's a good point! I've been trying to convince myself a free standing range would be fine for me - and cheaper. being short I checked to see if i could reach them and I can. but just enough to turn off or on, cleaning would be a different story!

anyway, go with what you can afford now. you need to cook now. I doubt you can wait to cook for a few more yrs...lol! and I also think the midrange (or even lower) cook up a mean meal just as much as the expensive ones. what I used while raising my kids would be a joke now and I was considered a good cook using them.

my BIL is a very good cook (thank God - I can get home cooked meals there). they have GE - not sure if profile or cafe. he has a slide in range and an additional wall oven (convection).

besides, in 10 or 15 yrs you might want to get something new!

You might want to look at the Kenmore pro range -- comes in 30 and 36, beautiful appearance, dual fuel and well priced.

I'm also a competent cook who occasionally does the large or lavish party. BUT-I'm not obsessed with kitchens or appliances. I'm quite happy with the 10 yr+ midrange Jenn Air convection oven I have-it bakes and roasts evenly and reliably. The equally old KA fridge also works without leaking or being noisy. I did, however, pick Wolf when replacing my 30" cooktop. It wasn't that much more than the runners-up and each Wolf burner has more versatility in function, important when you only have 4.

The DCS cooktop has simmer function on all burners-I assume the range is similar and presumably less expensive than Wolf. I wasn't sure the small burners would be small enough for my 1 qt pots. If you don't use them often, it may be another range to consider.

Well, after reading some mixed reviews about the performance of the GE Cafe, I'm now leaning towards a slide-in range from Electrolux. It has a second oven on the bottom, just like the Cafe. Anyone have any experience with that brand? I'm not that familiar with it, but it seems to get good reviews as far as I can tell.

I was able to look at a DCS today also. It was very impressive, but the 30" dual fuel was priced at $4400 (a full $2K more than the Electrolux or Cafe). And since it only has one oven, I would probably want to buy a second wall oven. It was really pretty though.

laheen, I'm wondering where you're finding mixed reviews on the GE Cafe. I too am considering it, trying to decide between that and the Electrolux ICON (only one oven, not the one you're looking at). I don't find too much written about either. It sounds like you might be looking at dual fuel (I need all gas). I can't vent to the outside, so the DCS, which is a true pro range (not pro style) would generate too much heat for my kitchen that is small and will have only an OTR microwave vent. If you really don't want the GE Cafe, for your second oven, have you considered a combination microwave/convection oven? I don't really need three ovens, but I'm still thinking about it, as I can see the GE Cafe bottom oven as a warming drawer while baking/roasting in the other two ovens. As much as I'm stressing out over this decision, I believe those who have advised me that it's really a matter of personal taste and no choice is wrong are probably right. I currently have a Wolf gas cooktop in one home and a cheap Maytag gas range in the other, and my cooking is about the same in both places! Good luck!

You might want to look at the NXR ranges. I badly wanted a Wolf but didn't have the budget for it, so I was looking at the same (mid-level) ranges you are now. I narrowed it down to GE Cafe and a couple others. (I also looked at the Bertazzoni but the oven was waaaay too small for real use!)

Then I saw the NXR in person, beside a Capitol range, and was really impressed with the quality -for the price. I got my NXR DRGB3001 (with the sleeker straight handle) for something like $1900. We've been using it for about a year and I couldn't be happier, again given the price point. I cook a lot, pretty seriously, and I love the burners (I believe they are the SAME that Wolf uses, actually) and the convection oven. I have a couple of review posts over on Appliances if you're interested in our experience with it.

By the way, the NXR burners are all the same. All of them are 15k BTU, and ALL of them have a super, super-low simmer setting. So you can get a really hot flame or an unbelievably low one on all burners.

It's not dual-fuel, though. It's all-gas. I'm on LPG. I have never had such a high-performing oven, though. The convection is awesome for baking multiple sheets of cookies or pies, and incredible when you want a crisp skin when roasting meat or potatoes.

Also, we had a couple of electric ranges where the electronic/computer module fried and it was expensive to replace. WE love that this one has NO electroincs, other than the burner ignitors (which can be overridden if no power). It is super simple, and much cheaper, to replace parts. No fancy computer thingies to go bad :)

My concern about the mid-range models is that they all seem to have dedicated burners for high and low heat. Does that mean you can't simmer on the "power" burner? Because that seems annoying to me.

It is annoying to me! I have ranted before about p.o.c. GE Profile gas range but I'll try to do the condensed version. The cafe range is essentially the same except the broiler is better.

On GE's ranges the diameter of the burner ring varies with the btu's of the burner. In essence, their highest value power burner can only be used with very large pots. If you try to use with a small pot (heat a few servings of soup or melt butter or anything under a 3 quart pot, the flame will just climb the outside. Even with a larger pot, you may notice that boiling water takes forever because they don't have dual flame, just a ring around the outside. If you turn the burner up all the way, the flame ring will climb the sides of the pan and burn you, but STILL NOT BOIL the water.

All of the burners, including the simmer burner will not simmer without a cast iron third-party simmer plate or heavy cast iron pots. The simmer burner has the ring issue in reverse - the ring is so small, all of the heat is concentrated into a small ring in the center - causing that part to stick and burner while the rest of the pot remains relatively cool.

On mine, I end up with a two burner stove (12k and 6k useful burners) and two others - one of which I can use for low simmer with simmer plate mod (simmer) and the other (17k power burner) is pretty useless.

When we recover from the extra redo, I'm going for an NXR. 4 15k dual ring burners sound like heaven right now.

We went with a "mid-range" stove - the Fratelli Onofri 36" dual fuel Royal Chiantishire (what a name!). It's a 5 burner and we've been very pleased with it. The gas top has a nice mix of burners and the oven does what it's supposed to. Also, the oven is fairly well insulated, which was important to us because we have an 18-month old who gets his hands on everything. Our heating/plumbing contractor who installed the stove was impressed with what the product.

Here's a picture the stove in our kitchen:

We bought ours at a very attractive price from EuroChef. For reference, AJ Madison sells them for $3,149 to $3,649 depending on color choice. Here's a link:

http://www.ajmadison.com/b.php/Fratelli+Onofri%3BRanges/N~25+4294960593

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one struggling to pick out a range. I looked long and hard for a hood that was quiet so I really don't want a range that is noisy (fridge either). I'm looking for all gas, either 30" slide in (I'm considering kenmore, ge, frigidaire or electrolux.)
or
36" free standing (haven't seen affordable 36" slide in)that is not too expensive and doesn't have that bulky thing at the back. NXR looks interesting, maybe Kenmore Elite, shouldn't spend to much more then $2,000 would'nt mind if it was less but don't want to hate it. Here are some questions/desires:
-Quiet, we now have an open floor plan. Anyone have noisy or quiet models?
-Roomy cooktop so pans don't get in each other's way. Liked the kitchen aid but not after reading all the bad stuff.
-Are slide in convections small ovens?
-Does anyone know if some like the Kenmore elite 36", or Frigidaire pro or gallery won't match other stainless appliances? I have a kobe hood, and will get the fridge later.
-Does anyone know of a good,knowledgable appliance place in metro Detroit? Showroom with NXR? Any models I missed? Thanks for all the good information.

I also vote for buying what you can afford. There is a certain freedom in that. It feels good. (And, btw, this is my very first post on GardenWeb EVER!)

michaelct, here's where I saw the reviews of the GE Cafe.

Thanks for the other recommendations and the photos! I'll check out the NXR and the Fratelli. I really want two ovens, though, and I think those both have a single oven only. I've considered going with a single oven range and adding the GE Advantium for my second oven, but it's so expensive. I'm having trouble with the idea of spending almost $2K on a glorified microwave.

riverspots: May I ask if your 30" Wolf cooktop can accomodate 2 or 3 large pots? I am considering this to replace my 25-year-old 36" Thermador cooktop with only 4 burners in order to gain counter space. I've only wished for 5 burners once in the last 5 years!

Me again, I also really want to know if it is unrealistic to think that a range will last for awhile. Do you have to spend $4,000 or more for something that will still work in 15 years or are the high end appliances just as likely to die. Maybe a pared down one with no convection or self clean and less electronics is the way to go. Think I read that on one of the posts. Really would like a cleaner pro-look....

Since bmorepanic has opined against the GE, I'll offer the counter opinion. I bought a GE Profile dual fuel last year and am loving it. I don't find the power burner (17,000 BTUs) "useless" at all. I find that it boils water for pasta quickly. The requirement that it be in a large pot doesn't bother me in the slightest because I think pasta should be cooked in a lot of water. The oven space is really large and we have a second oven below which is nice for entertaining. I like the convection oven, although I don't use that feature much. All in all, we're very happy with it and would highly recommend it. I would buy it again if we move.

Good luck with your choice.

I have the GE cafe (gas with convection oven) and have been using it for over a year. I can simmer on 3 burners. Love the Power Boil feature. Another feature that I love are the continuous grates. Make sure you get those regardless of the model you choose. I cook about 4 meals a week. Thought the stainless top would be hard to clean, it isn't.

Convection feature is really efficient and helps bake & roast evenly.

The only problem I had with mine was upon delivery. Warehouse rough housed my range in storage. I received another with a weird scratch and finally the one I have now. My problems were not related to the mechanics or function of the actual range itself. Once hooked up it has served me well!

caligal and mom270 are your ge's loud? Any touble with the knobs getting hot?

metrodetmom - No to both questions, although mine is white, not stainless. I'm not sure if that matters for the knobs getting hot.

The fan comes on when the oven temp is around 450. It isn't any louder than a vent hood on low. My kitchen is part of a great-room and the fan has never been an issue.

The only thing that gets hot is the handle of my over-the-range microwave when I am using all my burners.

My range has the new knobs. The knobs used to be plastic and I think those were the ones that got hot. Just make sure you don't get the plastic ones.

My current range is an old GE all-electric convection (not Profile or Cafe, just plain GE). I love the convection feature and would never live without it again. I don't find the fan loud at all and I always run it in convection mode, even for roasting. It just cooks everything so much faster.

Metrodetmom, Big George out in Ann Arbor sells NXR and a bunch of other brands, although I don't know what they have on the floor.

Thanks a lot to everyone for all your answers. Does anyone feel like the 30" slide in has too small of an oven? It's great to read all these inputs. Husband thinks I'm nuts.

We considered a 36" range, since I really wanted a 36" cooking space, but decided that a 36" oven was superfluous. I don't have any pans bigger than 30" wide anyway. The depth & height were more important to me, and those are the same on the 30" and 36" models, pretty much.

I've also read on some threads that a 36" oven is actually not ideal, since it takes more energy to heat up and takes a lot longer to pre-heat. I've never had one, but that's what I've seen posted on some threads in the Appliance forum.

6 years later and I am still pleased with my choices: GE Monogram cooktop- LOVE the DCS technology burners that all go down to low simmer. Also love my Advantium- much more than a glorified microwave, if you choose to take advantage of what it can do. We had 3 teenage boys at the time of the remodel, so biscuits in 9 minutes, brownies in 8, pizzas in 5 were all very well received. Now that it is just the 2 of us, we enjoy doing fish and steaks, plus homemade cookies, without having to heat up the whole kitchen. Do not miss that second oven at all. It even does the crescents for Thanksgiving dinner, the only day of the year I ever needed two ovens.

The inside of my 30" GE cafe range has more than enough space inside. Plus there is always the bottom oven.

caligal, is it a slide in or a freestanding? Oven's a little smaller with a slide in. Have you been using the bottom oven? What do you cook in it? How about the center oval burner? Sometimes I don't know what will be useful to me until I get an appliance and use it for awhile. I'd love to get a 36" cook top with the fifth burner and a separate wall oven but can't make it work design wise or with our budget.

Also has anyone heard about problems with the Electrolux oven racks getting stuck when you pull them out? My sister's are jammimg up and they have to take everything out of the oven and wrestle with them until the free up and go in. I think they have stopped rolling them out.

So glad to come across this post. I am in nearly the same position. A 30" gas Kenmore Elite is supposed to show up next week and I am not excited! Nearly all my research on the Kenmore was positive and price wise it was good. I wanted a 30" gas burner, convection oven, slide in. Reading not so good reviews on the GE Cafe or any others such as KA or Electrolux (and and a significant up in price from the Kenmore) - sent me to the Kenmore. But honestly I don't trust the back control panel to last long & really don't like the look or need the features. I just want to turn the stove and burners on and off. We seriously considered the Bertazzoni but the oven was way too small (it is very pretty and basic functioning) and next thing we know are looking at Wolf for more than 3x the price of the Kenmore! It is amazing how you can mentally upgrade. We love to cook but spent the last 4 years with an ancient hotpoint that only had three functioning burners and was fine (my husband not so much :) I am glad to hear good things about the Cafe & others. Any more input on those 30" slide in "mid range" stoves - KA, Electrolux, GE - would be wonderful. And I am going to check out the NXR. Thanks.

I also had your same problem, what to buy and how much to spend.

I just bought the DCS model RGT-366N for $4729 with an additional $200 off and a free dual drawer stainless steel dishwasher. So for $4529, I got a new range and dishwasher. Pretty good deal considering the other options.

I ordered from Buy Appliances on Ebay which is actually Fredrickson's Appliance in Sheffield, AL. Very nice people to deal with and since I live in Atlanta they will delivery it locally rather than shipping it, either way shipping is free.

If you can spend $4500 it might be something to consider.....

Here is a link that might be useful: Ebay Range

I just wanted to add in that I will never have a range with back controls. When my husband and I were in graduate school, eons ago, we had an electrical short on the apartment range which caused a crazy arcing fire. Sparks were flying and electricity was zapping. It was impossible to reach the control panel, since it was in back. Fortunately, my roomate's boyfriend had the wherewithall to run downstairs to the circuit breaker and shut it off. It was a very memorable event. And that's all I've got to say about that.

Well, I just bit the bullet and ordered the Electrolux. It won't get installed until mid-July, but I'll try to remember to report back and post a review once we have it.

I ruled out the GE Cafe because of the mixed reviews about the burners (although the ovens seemed really nice). I ruled out almost everything else because I really wanted two ovens without having to spring for a double wall oven or a 48" pro range. It will be a huge improvement over what we have now, so I hope I don't find myself pining for a pro range a year from now. Since we saved some money on the range, we were able to spring for an enormous custom soapstone sink. I'm very excited about that!

Thanks for all the support & advice. Good luck with your choices!