Chac mool, I'm definitely interested in an induction range and I've heard good things about the Electrolux. I don't think downdraft is the way to go, either. The wall the range is on backs to the garage, soI think it will be fairly easy to vent out a new range hood. Live wire, I've been working on my design for about one year. The KD I'm working with is basically just providing me with cabinets. I tried going through a local kitchen and bath shop, but the price of the cabinets was $10k more than Lowe's---and that was for Shrock (without any upgrades or glazing). I have even met with a custom cabinet guy and a general contractor---both of whom never got back with me. There are definitely disadvantages to working with a big box store....but I want this kitchen done and Lowe's has been the most responsive. Chac mool, since you bought an induction range, what is the CFM on your hood and are you happy with the Broan? Thanks for the feedback! I'm sure you can tell how inexperienced I am.

About the servicing, I live in a medium-sized city (my hometown) about 1 hour from the closest major city (Syracuse, NY). There are several small to medium sized local appliance stores in my immediate area which will order anything and service what they sell, as well as the major big box stores L...s, HD, BB, and also a smaller sears in a local shopping mall. So, I have always gotten my appliances serviced in this way (through the stores or local appliance repair shops) in the past w/ no problems. I will, however, be sure to ask specifically about servicing Bosch when I make the purchase. About the induction-I have heard of induction, read up on it a little to at least know how it works, read rave reviews (especially on GW) but do not know anyone personally that has one, and frankly have had my hands full researching all of the other modern features common on ranges today. I make a heck of a lot of cookies at the holidays and am told put on a terrific Thanksgiving spread, too! I am really looking forward to using all of the bells and whistles that come on the new ranges. I am not really a trailblazer, and I would be making a huge step up with the purchase of this Bosch range (or Cafe) as my current stove is a 27 year old Hardwick "Classic 100" electric coil top (one of the best in the day, never had a service call except a burnt out baking coil which we replaced ourselves in about 2 minutes for $40 about 3 years ago). It is still going strong otherwise but looks the worse for wear and does not have any of the newer modern features such as convection, smoothtop, probes, baking drawers, instant buttons, self cleaning, etc.,etc., so getting this Bosch model would be a big step for me, which I am really looking foward to. I actually am hesitant about even going with convection, but at least know people who have this, including relatives, and it seems tried and true and very helpful. Not to say that induction is not tried and true and would not be helpful--I am sure it is a wonderful advancement in cooking and probably will be the way of the average cooking world in the not so distant future. It makes sense and I sort of equate it to the new "microwave oven of the 2000's" in cooking advancement, but at this point I am not willing to take that leap just yet. (Actually the saleswoman at sears threw the idea past me, stating that it would be her next dream stove.) But for one thing, I am not willing to give up my old pots and pans which I know will work on the smoothtop just fine. I guess you could say I am just a good old home-cookin gal and I don't want to overwhelm myself with all of that at this point, especially at the price it comes at. I am not new to change as I was brought up with gas cooking with my mother (and grandmother) and would prefer gas, but gas was not available to us until about 10 years after we built our house, so had no choice then. I also have run into a sticking point with my husband on that issue as well. He is used to electric and fears fumes from the gas since we do not have the ability to vent to outside w/o a huge renovation project bigger than we are planning at this point, even though we do have other gas appliances, including a gas furnace, hw weater and dryer, and I realize that gas stoves today do not have pilot lights anymore (like Mom's did). It is just something he cannot get his head around, and since I am used to electric now and has done me well, I will continue down that road and not have to deal with his ultra-sensitive sense of smell! I actually do like the baking part of electric ovens better, and I am sure that the advancement in electric cooktops has been great compared to 25+ years ago, so I think I will be very satisfied with this. So there, I have now bared my soul on why I have chosen electric over gas or induction! All I ask is for a good quality stove with a good track record and some nice features to make my life a little easier. Hope you can understand my reasoning, but thank you for bringing it to my attention :)!! Oh, and also about the knobs, yes I agree, it is not a deal-breaker and I'm sure I could live with not having solid metal knobs, just don't want to have to keep replacing them, tho.

Have no idea why anyone would choose old electric for cooking when induction is really the choice now for so many reasons. I prefer gas but if i had to induction would for sure be my choice.All stoves get dirty when cooking so look at cooktops that are easy to clean . As for the controls that is personal choice.

I have a 60” dual fuel range, we got a great deal on a floor model, so I wasn’t looking for an indoor grill but it came with the grill and a griddle. I use the griddle all the time... the grill... not so much, and we grill a lot too. It just doesn’t get as hot as my Weber, plus, it’s just not large enough for our needs (we are a family of 7). I use it here and there in the winter, mostly for grilling things like vegetables or pineapple because it does just fine for that. The clean up is a real hassle (though clean up for my griddle couldn’t be easier) and I just hate that part of it, it does keep me from using it sometimes. I do have a great vent and system that takes care of the smoke and odors, but I wanted that anyways because we do a lot of high heat cooking even without the grill. If I could do it again, I’d rather have double the space for the griddle and not have the grill at all. I much prefer my outdoor grill, we use it almost year round even though we live in a cold climate as well... it just doesn’t heat well for me on the coldest and windiest days, so a more sheltered location for my outdoor grill would be higher on my priority list than an indoor grill if we ever have to move again. Hope that helps!