So
I posted around the net some months ago about perhaps replacing my 18 year old GE
range that has started occasionally smelling of propane, that may have a
leaking valve that would cost $350 or more to fix. At the time I was
leaning towards another on sale GE from Lowes. Well, a couple things
happened.


1 - the smell went away after the tech looked at it, so I figured I could wait till the issue came back.


2 - I went and physically looked at the current GEs, and they were
the cheapest feeling things I've ever seen. Ideally, I'd like the "Speed
Queen of gas stoves" and those aren't it. I've never seen such thin
sheet metal - it looked like I could accidentally dent it with an
aluminium pan.


So I went back to looking at Blue Star, but quickly realized there's
no dealer closer than 50 miles, so service might be an issue, forget
about getting to physically see one on a weekend or after work - I'd
have to take a day off or leave painfully early on a weekend to get to
some far out of town dealer that's open till 1pm on Saturday. Not
enticing.


I went to my local appliance store where I bought my Speed Queens,
and they don't sell Blue Star, they claim because of reliability issues,
but maybe they just don't have a deal with them. They do sell Thermador
and Wolf that compete (at a higher price). They really talked up
Thermador - but it had a tiny oven. Like 2-3" shorter than the current
model GE (that they had in store that we compared). As my main interest
in Blue Star was build quality as well as oven size, a smaller oven is
right out. I also don't simmer - if I did need to, I have an electric
induction cooktop I can set to any temp in 10 degree increments. So
while the Thermador simmer was "cool", I might use it 2 times in my
life.


After talking about the desired quality but also desired good sized
oven, they pointed me to a Bosch hgi8054uc. It's an 800 series but I
don't know if that still means made in Germany or if this was also
outsourced to china. While not made in USA like Blue Star, and not quite
as solid as the Thermador, it seemed closer to that than the modern GE
and an solid improvement over the current ailing GE in build quality and
features. It doesn't hurt that it's like 1/2 the price too of a Blue
Star or Thermador.


I have had really good luck with Bosch in the past, I love my 800
series dishwasher, I love the power tools I have, and I like their
Universal Plus Kitchen Machine. But I really don't know about
reliability in stoves - I didn't really know they made them till I
started looking this time around. Like everything, there seems to be
mixed reviews online. My local appliance store does have a contract with
a local service person, so I know I can get it worked on, but I'm
hoping I never have to ;)


My concerns are around the electronic touchpad for the oven control -
I did go electronic on the Speed Queen, but for an Oven it doesn't
really seem necessary, and a potential major point of "stupid failure".


What do you all think? Should I stay cheap in the GEs even though
they seem like crap - the last one did last 18 years. Should I step up
to the Bosch as it will feel nicer to use, and might bake more evenly
and is sold by a somewhat trusted local dealer with service? Should I go
with a different, more simple "pro" brand even if I have to hunt a bit
for a dealer and service and trust to the internet to get someone, even
if it's potentially from 50-100 miles away? Should I wack my current
stove and hope it stops leaking propane smell again for a few months?