Will you mom consider induction? I would recommend looking at 30" induction units but I think that she will have to stop using the drawers and put some hole in it to facilitate airflow. I think this will be true for the newer electric cooktops too but I am not sure. You need to know the size of the Corian cutout. Can the cutout size be increased?

Good luck!

Induction would require replacement pots so that's not a go.

The hole can be increased in size.

The ceramic units are deeper in the front than the current cooktop, which is less than 2" deep (!) where the ceramic controls need more space, so with any ceramic she will lose at least the two drawers and with a 36" might have to cut into the frames for the adjoining cabs, but not necessarily lose any more drawers.

Gaggenau also makes Vario ceramic units that would fit the cutout (the current one was a Vario model and is three strips), but then my mom doesn't get the perfect smooth glass cooktop she covets because those would be three strips.

Did you look at the Miele electric cooktops? I think several people on this forum also have the Wolf and have been quite happy with it.

Good luck!

homepro01, I see you are in the DC area, as are my folks (NoVa).

Do you know who the area sales rep for Gaggenau is? I couldn't get that info from BSH but I know my mom will need his/her help.

There are several places to purchase Gaggenau in the area and see in installed. The Expo in Bethesda or NoVa has them on display. ABW in silver spring also sells them. I know ABW has some close out models of the older style. If you are interested in Miele, Brothers Sew and Vac in Bethesda is a really great resource.
Send me an email at the link if I can be of any other help!
Homepro01

I have a 30 inch GE ceramic cooktop with the touch controls and I have full use of a drawer directly below except for a small section in the back that had to be cut out for the heat sink. My kitchen contactor modified the drawer and it works just fine.

nunmobile could you tell me the model of the cooktop you have? Still haven't found the one that I want and it is important to me to be able to use the drawer under it.

Babbie, It is model number PP980. Don't know if it is still current as it was installed December, 2007.

thanks nunmobile!
I found th pp950 which looks to be the same in picture to the pp980.

Babbie, According to my manual, the pp950 is a five burner, 36 inch model. The pp980 (mine) is a four burner, 30 inch model. Don't know which size will fit best for you.