<p>Check out Miele dishwashers. Pricey but oh so worth it. I see prices now start at about $1000. I bought one 13 years ago (the cheapest one) and it’s still going strong. German built, exudes quality throughout. I love Miele stuff (have a vacuum cleaner too).</p>
<p>A word about quietness: I think they measure noise during the wash cycle not at peak. That means the thing can run with very little noise but you still hear the pump for a short time during part of the fill/drain cycle and of course you can hear the water running into the sink drain pipe. </p>
<p>I think choice is about which layout inside works for you. Back when we selected a Bosch, you had to pay a lot for the heating element to be hidden (so you can put plastic in without it melting). I assume that’s more standard now. Ours is getting older and has broken twice, which is why the internet can be helpful. First time, I researched the symptoms and eventually found detailed instructions for taking apart the control panel so I could solder the heater connection (which can burn out). Other time I bought a new control panel and stuck it in. </p>
<p>OP here. After talking to both Sears and a local retailer (Bray and Scarf), we went with another KitchenAid. Bray and Scarff met the Sears price (Sears has a friends and family thing going on today) plus we got $100 in rebates, and their warranty is much cheaper, and the delivery is a little cheaper. I think we got a good deal. We got the 354 model, which apparently is number 1 on consumer reports or some other list, but it doesn’t have the third rack that I was considering. </p>
<p>bosch dishwashers do not have a heat cycle for drying…at all. I think the older ones did, but not the current models. </p>
<p>We wanted quiet because our dishwasher is in an open kitchen/breakfast room/family room area. </p>
<p>In our old house, the kitchen was pretty self contained, and the family and living rooms were not adjacent. The old Maytag was probably noisy, but it wasn’t a problem because we weren’t in the kitchen chatting or watching TV when it was running.</p>
<p>Sounds good, 1214mom. We barely escaped a dishwasher fire years ago – a few weeks after Sears had installed our (then) new dishwasher, I started to smell burning wires, and turned it off. Sears sent another install guy out who pulled it and found it hadn’t been installed properly; various wires were melted and charred. SO glad I was home and noticed it. </p>
<p>The tines or whatever you call them are also close together on the Bosch. I took our plates and they did not fit in the slots. But Bosch is also a very nice dishwasher. I kind of like that KitchenAid is American made. </p>
<p>My Kitchenaid is 25 years plus and I love it. Have never had a problem but I know that one of these days…</p>
<p>I just bought a new dishwasher earlier this year, did a ton of research and went with a Bosch - with the 3rd shelf. Love it. It is so quiet that I have to look at it and make sure that the timer is on. </p>