then cancel the order. Not sure if the DCS is in your price range but I love mine.

if you are unsure - cancel now while you can, then do more research . You can always go back and buy the KA anyway

You say nothing about your budget, needs so its hard for anyone to recommend anything

If you are happy with the range then maybe you could use a cold oven cleaner to clean it. Seems like most of the issues I read were about problems when the self clean has been used. Not sure if there are other issues. If you are really in doubt about the range then as said above, probably best to cancel it and relook at ranges that fit in your budget to make sure you are getting the best one to fit your needs and cooking style.

Would not be a deal breaker for me if a range I like had or did not have self clean. The one we have now is manual clean and the cold oven cleaner worked a treat getting horrible ham spatters off the inside.

Cheers

It looks like I can budget for around $3,000. Since I can go up to $3,000 would I be better off trying a DCS, bluestar or Viking? I have 3 small boys, who will eventually turn into teenagers. I cook now and love to cook. I want a range, I won't have to replace in 5-8 years.

Well, Viking will be way out of the $$$ range, and so will DCS, and BlueStar.

Honestly, Kitchen Aid makes a darn good range. We have little service issues with KA, and we do a lot of service work.

And for the record: Appliances are made to last 6-10 years. And that's about it.

Now, you MAY want to look at Bertazzoni? Within your price range, VERY solid range, nice triple-flame 15,000 BTU burner, made in Italy (126 year old company), also features a really nice infra red Broiler system, AND convection.

NO Self Clean.

And, as much as we cook, I never self-clean. Uses WAY too much energy, and not always necessary. Simple clean-up after you bake, and you never really need to S/C as much as you might think.

But, I'd look into Bertazzoni, just for the heck of it.

We sell a ton of them, and all our customers absolutely LOVE THEM!

But, again, Kitchen Aid is still a decent range.

Viking ranges have more issues than many other brands! hehehe

Chris

OK, if your budget is $3,000 I think you aren't quite in DCS / Bluestar / Viking range. However I think you have 2 good options.

If I were you - I would look strongly at the American Range. This one is priced at $3200 and its top burners hit 17K BTU with a 140 degree simmer:

http://www.acitydiscount.com/American-Range-Residential-30-Range-w-4-Burners-30-Convection-Oven-30-Broiler-ARR-3041.0.77750.1.1.htm

If you go this route, I would also ask pricing from:

http://www.americanstoves.com/

Note - it comes in colors besides SS if that interests you.

The other option if you need to stay under $3K is the Electrolux Icon Pro Style. This one is one option:

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/E30GF74GPS.html?mv_pc=fr&cm_mmc=Froogle-_-00278-_-Electrolux+Icon-_-E30GF74GPS

however that's top burner is 15K BTU. If you could stretch - there is this dual fuel available with 18K BTU burners for $3599

http://item.express.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ExpressItem&item=110194080813&FROM_MERCHANDIZING=1QQssPageNameZKP_Merch_CLOSED_ITEM_SIMILAR_LINK

I don't have a KA range. Given the problems with the oven-it's cleaning issues and the fact that KA seems to be missing in action as far as dealing with this long standing problem, if it were me, I would not reward this kind of behavior by buying their range.