We recently bought a house with an older Amana downdraft gas range. After cooking on electric coil then electric glass top for the last 11 years I was excited to have gas... until I cooked on it. For an old piece of junk range, the downdraft was remarkably strong. Therein was the problem: the downdraft sucks the flames inward so cooking was horribly uneven. I really wanted to go induction but there wasn't room to do an induction range plus pop up downdraft and the cost of relocating an oven to a wall and doing an induction cooktop and pop up vent was cost prohibitive, so instead we bought a new gas range and are installing (in the coming weeks!) an overhead island vent, since our range is on a peninsula. Sorry this got so long, but I have strong feelings about the darn gas downdraft after being stuck with it for the last 6 months. Funny PS - we got our new range Thursday, ahead of doing our countertops early next month. It can't be installed right away due to an issue with the location of the gas outlet thingy and also the existing counters are in the way by about 1/4 inch. I'm happy cooking with a two burner hot plate, a toaster oven and a 12 year old convection oven combo microwave. That's how much I loathe the gas downdraft.

I appreciate all the replies on this thread. I liked the Viking 'designer' line gas cooktop, but it's performance specs are not as good as DCS or Monogram. Oddly the specs on their "professional" cooktop weren't any better. I want power and simmer. The dual burners on the DCS and Monogram seem to offer that the best. Also their burners have cast brass instead of steel. Even the pricey Thermador doesn't use brass, and it 'clicks' the burner on and off to maintain a simmer. So now it's down to choosing DCS or Monogram based on their layout, reliability and customer service. This is where I really reply on the postings here. I'll take some of my big pots to the good store next week and verify I can use them with both. I'm going to have double ovens installed next to the cooktop. I want big drawers beneath it. I'm planning on the Electrolux (not ICON) ovens because they have the best mix of features I really want, and I like its styling better than Monogram. I also looked at Viking "Designer" ovens and a Bosch. I really like them for their looks and using knobs instead of an electronic interface. They have the features and power that I want, but I'm too concerned about reliability. I haven't heard ANY complaints from the owners of Electrolux ovens! So I chose better reliability over knobs. Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm still in "planning" phase with my remodel. Tear out begins in a week. It will be about 8 weeks (I hope) before I installed mew equipment and test it out.

Our rangetop has the same power on all burners, so I'm not limited by the number of BTUs I want...Only by what else I'm using on the stove at the time, and what I'm cooking. If there's nothing else, and the food is not spattery, I might run it side to side on the front half. When I do steaks on the grill side of the pan, I like to run it back to front or keep it on the back burners. If I'm using other burners, it depends on the size of the other pans, how many, and how much attention the food in them needs where I place everything. The things that need the most attention...additions, stirring, flipping, etc....get the easiest to reach locations. Things that spatter stay at the back when possible, so I don't have to wash the floor! Hope that makes sense.

Chanop - I am not familiar with the Capital ranges. I will look into them. cookncarpenter - It is not a tract home. I did ask the builder if I could buy it myself and also gave them the name of the local dealer, so they could buy it and charge me a little extra for their efforts but they won't do it. If their distributor can't get it then they won't deal with it. It is a bit frustrating. Other options I am considering... a) buy the Wolf through the builder and then switch it out later for the Blue Star. It would involve having to sell the Wolf and I don't know if I would find a buyer or how much of a hit I would take on the price. b) let them install the 36" whirlpool cooktop that comes standard in their homes and then get the Blue Star. It would involve cutting the granite countertop after it is in place and also possibly modifying the cabinets to fit the Blue Star. I am not particularly keen on either option but I think (a) might be the least hassle and the most expensive route.