If you do alot of piecing, the Auto Thread Cutter and knee lift. If you quilt on your machine, the Accufeed built in walking foot is to die for.Needle up, needle down for all kinds of sewing. Since I piece, I use the Auto thread cutter all the time, infact, I purchased a Janome 3160 to take to class...bought it becasue it was light weight and had that thread cutter....I have a Janome 6600 that is a dream machine and you can't beat the price. It does all the above and has the Accufeed. Too heavy for class, but wouldn't trade it for the world. Test drive several and I think you find the features on the 6600 and the price to your liking. Of course they have the new Horizon for about $3,000 that has all the same features of the 6600 with more decorative stitches and more light and two more inches in the harp area. The Janome 6600 ranges from $1000-1200. There is a yahoo group for most machines, check them out. The group for the 6600 is Janome
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Diana in TX