I have to admit, it was the looks of this range that got me. It took 1-1/2 years of service with almost all of the parts replaced before it worked correctly. The LP conversion was not complete, the technician did not install a fitting on the broiler and the flame was WAY too big. This could have set the wall on fire and may have been the cause of some of the service problems...hard to say. Yes, a lot of heat blows at you from the oven, will try putting the vent fan on prior to cooking! I have a 400cfm Maytag microwave over the range that come on automatically when it senses too much heat. It’s only been about a year since installed. It does take about 20-25 minutes for this little oven to preheat. I would highly recommend the pro series just for the built in thermometer, even for $500! The 30” oven is small for entertaining or for a family. I can’t seem to fit anything but a cookie sheet on the second rack. Love the infrared broiler, although electric is always preferable for baking. The 30” is fine for two people, and since the conversion was corrected everything works great. elaine

My feelings about the oven are kinda mixed; like the oven performance. There are really good things about the oven and some of the other. The good things: (1) Seriously, the door design is really good. The doors is flat and doesn't have gaskets - the gaskets are on the oven body. It's pretty thin but also feels heavy and stays where ever you put it. The door has vents near the top, but not on the top. Those vents align with some on the oven body. I guess you could manage to drop something into the vents, but it would take some work. (2) Although it will not fit a full sheet pan on a rack, it will fit a half sheet plus a quarter sheet per rack. Or a chicken roaster and two sides on one rack. It comes with 3 racks, but 4 or 5 could fit depending on how many were glide racks and what you were making. (3) Once its made up its mind about temperature, it's bang on and will not move at all unless I leave the door open for a while (but see 3 below). (4) The porcelain color of the oven is just a few shades off from burned. That means that stray people who look in the oven aren't going to be able to tell I haven't cleaned it. I do wipe it down every couple of uses but haven't done a big cleaning yet. Most stuff wipes out. I'm considering steam cleaning the sides. (5) The broiler works fine and has a lot of coverage - like a half sheet pan, centered. And, the instructions say never to clean it. If it looks dirty, just run it for 10 minutes to burn the stuff off. That's kitchen gear I can support. (6) Hugeosity! Many loaves at the same time, many dishes at the same time like 3 pans of lasagne plus 3 other casseroles. (7) Gliding rack. If they didn't want a small fortune for extras, I'd have three. This is one of those things that you didn't know you wanted until you have one. (8) It's thermally cool. There isn't a lot of waste heat pouring at the front or through the top or sides. The heat is channeled to the rear vent and it goes right out the hood. (9) The convection fan is protected by a grease filter that goes into the dishwasher. It should keep the fan working well for a longer time. The filter is easy to take off and put back. The bad things: (1) Parts of the oven floor and upper oven back have sharp edges. (2) Only one light - kinda cheezy when the oven is that big and its color that dark. (3) I bought an oven thermometer and learned to use it. The oven has something of a mind of its own when it comes to temperature. First, results improve a lot if you give the oven 45 minutes to preheat and ALWAYS use the fan while preheating. Even then, occasionally it will decide to use some other temperature - and that temperature will be as much as 75 degrees off in either direction. To "fix" that, I open the oven door for a while then close it and it will most likely be at the knob temperature when it recovers and then will stay there. Strangely, turning the oven off briefly and then on again will not reset whatever is causing that. If you don't use the convection fan, try prayer because anything could happen. In my tests, only one in ten oven starts are the correct temperature. Whatever they use as an oven temperature controller, it doesn't seem to be able to figure out what's going on in the entire oven. I wonder if the controller used just can't run an oven that large. Or maybe I gotta busted thermostat or something. Someday, when the weather is better, maybe I'll complain. I have two years and 10 months left on the warranty. As many people know, if you have a sporadic problem, it ain't getting fixed until they can reproduce it. (4) The gliding rack is difficult to remove. It's easy to put back in. Overall, I still like it, even with the goofy oven temp thing. At least I know how to get by until I want to get it fixed. And I know the old nxr ran pretty hot and the stinkin' GE profile ran pretty low - from my trusty oven thermometer. Best thing so far was lemon-blueberry cake, slightly dense with sweetened, beaten cream cheese between each of 4 thin layers. Made me wish I had a tea table.

As a Thermador owner, I will make sure to check out fan noise FIRST when I look for my next range. White noise is the bane of my existence, and SVCMGR's advice about listening to a "live" appliance in a home kitchen setting is so true. I've had my Thermador for a few years and I've not noticed the air blowing out of the front--but this fan noise is absolutely maddening. I figured all other gas ovens with electronics also had loud fans--and I wouldn't have thought the DF would have had it too! I now have a Wolf electric wall oven and consquently go out of my way to use it and never use the Thermador oven. It has a fan, but it's not as loud and it's also situated further away from where I stand (plus its enclosed underneath the counter, to be fair, so maybe that dampens the noise). Once you realize that it doesn't have to be that way, it makes you sad you're listening to all that racket, esp. if you went out of your way to get a quiet hood.

I also wanted a 48" range for my kitchen, having never had one, I really looked for a Wolf or Viking at a discount...but found nothing I felt comfortable shelling out the money for. Even on Craigslist/ebay....found some, but still, IMO the deals were very risky due to no warranty or fall back if something went wrong. We did purchase a 48" kitchen aid range...granted I have never had a wolf or Viking.....but I absolutely LOVE my Kitchen aid range. We purchased it at Sears outlet/discount for about 60% less than retail (small scuff mark at bottom) and we did get an extended warranty. I love the way this range cooks!!! I love the convection oven and the fact that I have a smaller oven to cook in most days. I am not sure if you have ever had the higher end appliances, I have not and so this is a total upgrade for me and I have a peace of mind knowing I have a warranty. Also, we purchased the Sharp microwave, 24" I was able to get this for 70% below retail from Sears outlet also (not sure what was wrong with it, it was still in original packaging) ...we love it.!!!..total space saver and my DH who is 6'4" can even use it with ease. The controls tilt up so NO bending over to use it. I highly recommend getting the Sharp microwave, everyone who comes into our kitchen raves about it! Also, don't rule of 48" kitchen aid range, you can find some good deals.