I have a little Singer circa 2005. It's had a tension problem since a year after I got it, and the problem keeps getting worse. I'm ready to spend some money on a nicer machine. I'm willing to budget around 1500-2500 on a new machine. I eventually want to get a long arm quilting machine, but for now I just need a new sewing machine.

I've considered getting a vintage Singer, but I'm concerned about maintaining an antique machine vs a new one. I know things used to be made better "back in the day", but I don't know how to take care of something like that. :( Whatever I get, I want to be able to depend on it for a long time (and take it to a dealer or someone for maintaining when needed.)

What would you recommend and why?

I have a Gem Janome that I use for taking to class and have never had a problem. I also have a Singer that is a workhorse and has never given me trouble.

My Babylock Espire is a dream. The newer model is the Babylock symphony or the Brother Laura Ashley NX-2000. You won't be dissapointed. Got mine as a floor model so it was discounted to 1800. Check your dealers for deals. It is very user friendly, stitch quality is good, lots of stitch choices. I have had mine a year and am still learning new things. I went to the dealer, and asked him about them, and comparable models of other brands he was selling, he said they were best bang for your buck, and had far less issues than more expensive machines from other brands that did the same thing. If you are going to spend the money, just go to a dealer and test drive machines to see how you like them.

My janome D C 3018 is a workhorse! I would like to get a bigger machine though. No Plastic gears. That was a problem I had with a singer only a few years back. The Older singers had the metal gears. I guess you have to ask..

You could get a great used Bernina for your price range. They are fabulous machines. If there is a dealer near you I'd check it out.

I reccommend you go to the dealers in your area and test drive the machines! I personally love my Janome 6600, but you may love something else.

Janome or Brothers, I have 2 Janomes and 1 Brother INOV is80,never had any problems with either one. My attachments for Janome fit my Brothers. I also have a Singer that is 48 yrs. old still going good,they just don't make them like they use to,too much plastic.

You could try for a used, floor model, or sale-priced Bernina Aurora 440QE for that price. I can't imagine you'd be disappointed. You'd have money to spare or spend on a vintage machine if you got a Babylock Quest Plus, or one of its cousin machines: Janome 6600, Elna 7300, Pfaff Smarter C1100 Pro. The Quest Plus has been on special for $999 because it's going to be replaced/upgraded by the new Serenade. I have both a Quest Plus and a 440 and LOVE them both. I got the 440 used. Ooo, almost forgot the Janome Horizon.

I love my Babylock Espire which is now marketed as the Symphonie. Too bad she doesn't have a built-in walking foot, but that is the only negative (and the add-on walking foot works well).

I'll put in a vote for Pfaff. I have three of them and love them all.

Btw, I sewed for 20 years on a basic, crappy Singer and never realized until I got the Quest Plus, how much a machine can help or hinder ones best sewing efforts. Suddenly, accurate seam allowances, points, matching points and patterns, ripple-free curves and waveless borders became much easier! Best of luck in your shopping. Test drive thoroughly, haggle HARD, ask for things to be thrown in (like the Quest workbook and set of 9 extra feet), and read the manual and take the machine training classes.

Check out the Janome Horizon 7700 QCP. Several of my friends just got one, and I am green with envy. I have a Pfaff 7570 (which I love dearly) but would buy the Janome Horizon 7700 QCP if I had the money.

Having logged over 4.5 million stitches on my Bernina, guess what gets my vote. They never wear out!

My recommendation is a Janome. You can probably get a 6600P which has a 9 inch throat or maybe the 7700 (Horizon) which has an 11 inch throat. They are made to last, the feet are affordable (read as in NOT with Bernina!) and sew like a dream.

Good luck in your search.

I second that motion, third it, and fourth it(LOL)! I have had my Janome 6600P for 5-6 yrs and it has never given me a moments grief. The Janomes are real workhorses...but, I do drool over the Janome Horizon alot because of the 11" throat.

I have the Janome 7700 also but, nice as it is, I would part with it before any of my Pfaffs.

I have 3 Vikings and highly recommend them!! They also offer classes so you can learn your new toy!

Wow thank you ALL for the great responses!

I found someone local who says he can probably fix my Singer today (I have a commissioned quilt to finish by the end of the month), which is good because the dealer says 2-3 weeks.

Once this quilt is done, I'm taking the money and adding it to my savings for a new machine.

I will go to a few of the local stores and try a bunch of machines, but now I have some place to start! I do think eventually I'd like a vintage machine too, because they are so gorgeous and I think it's true things used to be made better. :)

Thanks again!

It can't get easier then to maintain a vintage Singer machine.
You can get a Singer 301 under $100 and it will be a perfect back up machine to the new one you buy.

I love my Janome 6230, but also love to sew on my vintage machines. One thing about the newer machines, that I miss on the older ones, is the needle up/down feature. Have sewn for many years without it, but now that I have that feature it is the one thing I miss on the older machines. When I went to buy, friends told me that feature, plus the dropping feed dogs were the 2 things to look for. They did right by me!!

I found an old Elgin machine on craigslist for $50. I can't find much info about them though. If the seller responds to me I'll check it out as a backup - That's a good price for the decor value alone!

I have had Janome's for the past 5 years and love,love, love them. I had a Pfaff for 18 years that still worked fine when I traded it in on an Elna. I bought the Janome 2007DCLE and wouldn't trade it for anything. It is great for anything I do. The 6600 is a workhorse. It is built, all metal gears/bushings and has the thread cutter which is priceless and the best needle threader. I don't doubt the Janome Horizon is a dandy machine but for all the bells and whistles, I would go for the 6600.