I have a Brother LX-3125 from good ole Wallyworld that is exceeding my expectations for a good cheap basic take-it-everywhere-with-you machine. Have had it for about six months now and it has done several quilt tops, couple of renfaire costumes, miscellaneous mending, a zebra costume and a reindeer costume for school plays, a couple of coin purses, checkbook covers, etc. Highly recommend it!
I've been disappointed too many times with yard sale machines...the price is right but most times they have some sort of problem either right off the bat or not long after, and a trip to the fix-it man is not worth the trouble (none local, so who wants to go 30 miles to find out a plastic gear is broken and it will cost as much or more than a new machine to get it fixed).