The one in which the contractor is best at looking out for your interests. For that kind of money I'd do a heck of a lot more research into the contractors and worry less about the brand of equipment.

Both brands can perform excellent or poorly depending on the entire installation and capacity planning/matching.

Both are excellent brands. We've sold both for 15 years. I think Ruud is probably my preference. The 90+ Modulator has incredible comfort, something the 2 stage furnaces can't touch.

I think checking out the contractor IS the key here. If they butcher things, you'll never be comfy. So many cut corners on new installations, usually leaving people with horrible duct systems that can't begin to do the job.

Questions to ask: How did they come up with equipment size? Do they use the Manual D for duct design? Metal ducts or ductboard & flex? Zoning? 3 complete systems? Why humidifiers, aren't you building a tight home?

I am researching units for our new home and came across a comment about Rudd's saying they are not user friendly, whatever that means. Personally I'm going with an American Standard.

Don't believe all you read. Rheem/Ruud designs their products to be about as easy as you can get for service.

Take our office. Downflow A-S/Trane. Had to replace motor module. Take flue & intake pipe out, take all controls out, pull metal plate over blower housing which is easier said than done. Then can pull blower housing itself.

On a Rheem/Ruud 90% downflow, the flues are off to each side so don't touch them. Pull the board aside and slide out the blower housing. That's it.

My HVAC guy was adamant about RUUD although there are others out there that cost more. My house is large like yours and in NJ as well. I am not in there yet, but based on postings I don't think you will be disappointed with choosing RUUD.