I think you can compare offerings and opinions on quality, but price varies by region, dealer, etc. so you will have to get apples to apples bids for clarity on the price difference.

I gave Marvin windows that are wood inside and aluminum-clad outside. I've had them now for about 8 years and love them. They are not cheap - at that time, including the cost of the inside-painting, they were about $1000 each. I'm sure they are far more today, but they are well worth it.

The term you want is "aluminum-clad wood windows". Marvin Ultimate series is my favorite.

If you are looking for prices yourself then you must not have a contractor yet therefore I recommend getting prices from window dealers. Keep in mind the prices will be a little higher than if a contractor or architect was askng for the price (that's why the prices are not advertised).

Just send the dealer the list of the Marvin model numbers and what features you want and they'll give you a price. It would help to also show them the house elevations so they can determine iwhere tempered glass is needed and which panel operates in sliding doors., etc.

We've usually arranged to meet with the window dealer for a given brand (sometimes with our builder, sometimes just us), get a primer on the product, and then turn over a copy of the plans/window schedule. About 3-4 weeks later we get a bid. That bid has to do with which lines each company has to use to do what we want. (With Pella, some of the windows had to come from the Architect line due to special features, but not all of them). It also depended on who even HAD specific features. And, in at least one case, a window rep who really REALLY wants my builder to use his stuff in the hopes of future business and therefore submitted a bit that was more reasonable than I expected it to be (Marvin). And another whose bid came in about $17K higher than the Marvin bid (Windsor). I'm still scratching my head about that one. I have not been able to shake a bid out of Kolbe at all for love or money. Which leads me to think I don't want to go with them, anyway, if they're not more responsive than that. What do I do when the inevitable mix-up or damaged window shows up?

Marvin, Kolbe and Loewen would top the list of available manufactured windows. There is always the 100% custom route and there are many quality custom shops out there but these come at a considerable price upgrade. Those 3 are in my opinion the best commercially available wood windows on the market. E Series Andersen (old Eagle) are from what I understand a decent product but I am not as familiar with them.

Holly, the issue you are having getting Kolbe pricing sounds to me more like the dealer/distributor end of the rope than Kolbe but there is still no excuse for that. I personally would let Kolbe know (even if you discount them), as I am sure even a bad review of their dealers/distributors is useful.

What type of operator are you considering — double hung, casement, slider? That can make a difference in which manufacturer to go with. Also, why wood? You may have a perfectly reasonable reason, but some people are steered away from fiberglass or vinyl for misconceptions about durability or efficiency.