Choosing an oven is making me want to put my head in one

[MotherBluestocking]

Ok. Here's the story. I am having a Rangemaster range cooker (Professional FX - haven't even started to think about colour yet), a built-in single electric oven, a built-in microwave, and a warming drawer. (Essential as our dining room is on a different floor and I can't possibly have a hostess trolley, obvs.)
(I know some very helpful people here advised me, very wisely, against the range cooker, but I have decided to go for it, for not entirely daft reasons.)
Right.
I can't afford Miele. I've read some dreadful things about Neff here, which was my first choice; and it looks as though it's increasingly difficult to get one without slide and hide doors, which I neither want nor need. My current ovens, which I like, but are very very old (like 30 years) are AEG. Bosch? Any other brands people recommend?
Then there's functions. It looks as though I want catalytic rather than pyrolitic liners. I think. Telescopic rails? Flexi-rails? Steam power? Aqua-Assist? Braising/defrost/pizza etc etc?
I do cook and entertain a lot, and bake a lot of bread, but I'm only interested in functions that I'll actually use, as opposed to low-budget imitations of professional equipment that one tries perhaps once after spending two hours reading the manual. (or should that be rtfm, which I always confuse with rotfl in any case ... )
Then the second oven. Just a microwave? Or combination (much more expensive)? I will have two ovens in the range, but my plan is to use the built-in one for day-to-day use (inc baking) and the range cooker when I'm doing heavy-duty entertaining.
As ever, I shall be pathetically grateful for any thoughts anyone can share on the subject.

Slide and hide is a Neff only feature but takes away the pyrolitic cleaning. I think a self cleaning oven is a worthwhile feature.

Siemens make some good product (albeit same mechanically to Neff and Bosch) and their HB63AB551B or HB75GB550B paired with HB84K552B is an excellent combination.

Would recommend a combination microwave but be careful. There are compact ovens with microwaves and then there are microwaves with oven and grill. The former is a better oven. The latter a microwave with a few features.

Aren't catalytic ovens self cleaning too? Or have I misunderstood?
Thank you for the Siemens recommendations - I'll investigate. Also thank you for the tip re combination microwave!
Off to do some Googling...

Catalytic ovens have liners which oxidise fat. In practise its nowhere as good as pyrolitic cleaning.

Ah - thank you for that.
I see you are one of the helpful people who advised me againt a range cooker. I absolutely take your point that built in ovens are better. The reason for the range cooker finally came down to a mix of aesthetics and ergonomics: better focal point for the fireplace than a fridge; not having two tall oven housings gives space for a big larder.
On reflection I think I'm going to go for a solo microwave. I just don't think I'll use the conventional oven enough to warrant the extra expense - and I will have three ovens even without it.

I have an AEG pyrolitic oven and wouldn't now get anything else. Pyro cleaning is worlds away from other 'self-cleaning' ovens. If you can get one with a pyro function, just do it. I bake a lot (run a cake business) and it means I can clean my oven every week by just putting it on pyro function. I know I rave about it but that's because it's bloody brilliant.

I second the Seimens recommendation !

Also strongly advice you have pyrolitic cleaning !! (Unless you really like cleaning ovens!!!! )

I had a Zanussi Pyrolitic oven in my last house and was very happy with it. Towards the lower end budget wise but I found it good. It had numerous functions..pizza etc..but they were all functions that I actually used.

I'm now looking for a double oven but I cant find any a pyrolytic function.

I've had a Bosch pyrolitic oven in 2 houses now and would never go back to just a self cleaning one. Pyrolitic ones work, 8 year old oven still pristine and I cook a lot and am no Aggie or Kim.
Wouldn't think you need telescopic rails if the oven is at eye level, possibly if it is below the work top.
I also have a combination microwave but I'm not sure if I'd bother again. I tend to just use it as a microwave - partly because it is a git to clean and it isn't pyrolitic.

Had I known about De Dietrich I might have bought one when I needed to.

OK, clearly I need a pyrolitic oven. Hadn't considered De Dietrich - that looks like a great offer. Any thoughts on Bosch/AEG/Zanussi? Or indeed Neff? Was looking at Miele ovens earlier and wondering whether I could possibly make the budget stretch.

Miele is without a doubt the best of the lot. They are larger too.

If you step down from Miele, NEff/Bosch/Siemens are largely the same product but for my money Siemens is a nicer looking product. Neff has a limited range of pyrolitic ovens. Bosch I dont know much about. AEG/Zanussi arent what they used to be.

With the microwave, select carefully - the microwave with the drop down door is not much cheaper than the combi microwave so it may be worth the investment if you are going to use it.

A range cooker sounds very expensive for entertaining only! It will be used how often? I have a Kuppersbusch 900mm wide Owen with 900 mm wide Miele induction hob. The oven is 12 years old and very solid. Not cheap but worth every penny. My other oven is a Kuppersbusch single oven where the whole cage supporting the shelves rolls out at the touch of a button. The bigger oven has telescopic shelves. I think these ovens are related to Neff but nearer professional quality as they are used by Masterchef. I would look at Siemens or Bosch. I have a new Neff combi microwave oven and it is ok but not that solidly built. I would spend the money on my every day cooker, not the one reserved for high days and holidays.

Oven not Owen!!!

I do entertain a lot. And I'm not going for an expensive range cooker. I do need (well, use) three ovens, which would mean two tall oven housings, and I'd rather have the space for cupboards. I could, I suppose, have a hob with two ovens underneath side by side; but then one might as well have a range cooker.
Tell me if that sounds daft. As you may have gathered, I'm not undithery about the ovens issue and am open to suggestion! Let me look at the Kuppersbusch.

I've got 2 single ovens underneath an induction hob. It works brilliantly for me and I'm just about to replicate the layout in a new house.
It's all Seimens ( full size ovens L & R hand doors) so much cheaper than a lot of ranges.

We have a Stoves range cooker which I think would be v basic and cheap compared to other brands - v pleased with it though, it's been in daily use for nearly 8 years and works well.

Kuppersbusch is a very good product but their service backup and support structure has been under a huge cloud for the past 4-5 years. I am not convinced that there is a reliable support structure for service etc for the foreseeable future. Very unfortunate because its definitely a step above BSH products on quality and nicely plugs the gap between BSH and Miele.

Aargh now I'm totally confused. A range cooker would definitely look better. I definitely don't want an induction hob. At least I think I definitely don't want an induction hob. The Kuppersbusch ovens look divine, but out of my price range alas. I'm thinking I might be able to stretch to a Miele though - should I? Are they worth the price hike? Anyone have any more feedback on De Dietrich?
Going back to basics, this is what I actually need from an oven.
Even heat across the width of the oven. Temperature true to dial. Quick to heat up. Quick to regain temperature when you open and shut the door. Easy to clean. Functions to include top/bottom heat and fan.Glass doors and good interior lighting. Enough capacity for a goose. Grilling - I don't actually use a grill much, except for fish fingers, so just need one which does the job.
I'm also attracted by the idea of a steam-injection function for bread.

I think Smeg now do some range cookers with pyro cleaning ? if that helps ?

de Dietrich is a good make !

Siemens here. We're also going for an induction hob - why have you ruled it out?

I've only heard bad things about Smeg. induction hob - inbuilt suspicion of newfangled gadgetry.
I think I've decided. Rangemaster Professional Plus FX - because glass doors in both ovens and storage drawer. Miele single oven - yes I know I said I couldn't afford it, but I sold my car recently and feel the money should be spent on a Thing rather than swallowed up in the general swamp of our household finances - with Aqua Assist to help with bread baking.
Anyone who thinks this is a Bad Idea please let me know before I draw a line and move on to flooring/work surfaces/paint colours/lighting.
And thank you all so much for your input. My husband is taking on a glazed expression whenever the k word is mentioned, and six-year-old son's only contribution to design so far has been to stipulate bar stools at the end of the island 'so that it looks like a pub.'