We'll start our run-down of professional ranges (available to retail consumers like us) with the Thermador 30" Pro Harmony All-Gas Range with 4 StarŽBurners, mostly because our mom has always said "Thermador is the best, Thermador is the best!" (she's in the biz), plus, its little blue knobs caught our eye.
We like that it has a relatively large oven capacity (4.4 cubic feet - no sense in not fitting in your Thanksgiving Turkey in), and four very powerful burners. Many professional units have burners that range in power, which seems a little gimmicky. Why not have them all be rock-stars?
I love that you are doing a rundown on stoves. I am in the midst of looking for a new one myself and can't wait to hear the thoughts of others.
I just purchased a new commerical Wolf Challenger series and two thumbs down. Their commander series rocks but they bit the big one on this. They only gave three pilots to light six burners that means you never get ian instant light. Not to mention week output. Go with old school equiptment from a rest auction it isn't complicated equiptment.
I have a 36" Thermador with central grill. I love it for a number of reasons, but I did have a problem early on with one of its thermostats. It took several visits before the technician tracked it down. In the process, he told me that a number of repairmen he knew hated working on Thermadors the most.
In the future, before I ever spend that kind of money on an appliance, I think the first people I'll contact are the REPAIR MEN. Of course, I highly recommend Consumer Reports, too. I might have gotten the same functionality without the very expensive repair bill.
Just found this site, good work! Just bought a new Kitchenaid S/S stainless steel refrigerator from a couple who just bought a house in Santa Cruz, Ca which came with the Kitchenaid appliance package. The refer was too small, they went with a Maytag H20. Paid $600, even though they knew it was worth much more. FYI, if you're shopping for appliances, look in Craigslist, awsome finds.
If you live in the Bay Area, check out the high end appliance store across the street from the building department on Mission Street. The salespeople are tremendously helpful, many of them are pro chefs, and they even have a display kitchen where they demonstrate the ranges and some of the refers. The chef there recommended DCS for all gas ranges, and the fact they can never keep them on the floor. Back ordered for 6 months. He also said Viking had repaired a nagging problem with the oven line, and would definitely recommend the 2007 models. Wolf was number one in his book. The Gaggenau gas cooktop was his sweetest baby, incredible control over the flame, and superior wok capabilities. Ditto for the wall oven, although he also recommended the Bosch.
He said if you want an overall dependable range, the Thermador Harmony Pro line was an award winning design that pretty much pleases everyone who buys them. Of all the ranges in the showroom, and they had just about everything ever made (including Jade and Delonghi, the latter which BTW, is a pretty sweet apartment range) the Thermador 30" dual fuel is the most attractive counter-depth range I've ever seen.
I just wish they weren't so expensive!
Cheers.