I had you covered till you said "straight towel bar" :( You can get a KA with hidden controls in your price range but the towel bar is curved. The racks in my KUDE model are incredibly adjustable! I can't tell you how many times I want to post "I L-O-V-E MY DW!"...like every time I use it (lol) I'd love to be on the inside to see how in the world it cleans SO well no matter what I put in there or how I put it in there. So, if you can live without the straight towel bar and the inside capacity is as large as the model I have and the tines are as adjustable, I think you'd love it :) Oh, one big difference would be mine has a third rack. I use it for all my silverware and am able to remove the silverware basket, giving me more room for larger items.
Monica

monica, that is exactly the type of response I was hoping for! Thank you!

Off to look up your model...

Sandy

sandy-
I am in the market too and debating between a Miele and a mid-level kitchen aid. From the comments i have read, both get good (and bad!!) responses on the brand. It is hard to follow on the exact model #'s. You prolly want to make sure whatever you get will have: moveable tines, moveable silverware basket, adjustable upper rack, pot scrubber feature?? The kitchen aids come in an architect series as no doubt you know, so you can get the look for a miele, although it will stick out a little further. If you are still toying with a Milele, you no doubt have heard some complain about the drying of ALL european styles. I have been assured that if you run your dishes at night and leave the door closed, they should be dry in the am. ( that and Rinse aid!!)

Never heard of KUDE-- will have to check too. I am interested in your thoughts.

Karen

The JennAir dishwashers are KitchenAid, there are just 2 or 3 models and are almost the same as the top KA models. They have multiple handle options, the Pro and the Euro handles are larger then the KA handles and would both allow hanging a towel. The 3200 model lists for 1200, figure $960 or 20% off as possible, frequently 10% off at Sears. For KA I was quited more like 25% off.

Some diffs....The JA's have steam, the KA's have pot scrubbers. The JA's have a split flatware basket, the KA's have 1 long basket and a 3rd tray at the top. JA controls are hidden on top, KA are front or top depending on model. The JA's have a china/crystal cycle not found on KA.

For $1300 I got the 3600 model, mainly because it was 42 db quiet. It adds a top rack only wash I don't care about. Won't install until March. Got the Euro handles, I like them a lot. Plenty of room to hang a towel but has rounded turned in ends that would be nicer to run into then the ends of the Pro handles.

Kenmore's seem to offer a lot for the money.

JA DW
http://www.insideadvantage.com/catalog/category.jsp?form_state=refinementForm&categoryId=37&typeId=&brandCode=JEN&showImages=

CookingKaren,

KUDE is the beginning characters of a KitchenAid model number.