Hi! I have two Pfaff's which I love! I had worked with Singer machines before that and just got fed up with the plastic parts breaking. My DH took me to the LA County Fair and made me try EVERY machine. The Pfaff 1471 had everything I thought I wanted. As the years went by, I just loved it more. This year, (after trying the Hobby Lock, Janome, and Brother) my DH bought me a Creative Vision, which I'm just beginning my "love affair" with. :-)
So, I would suggest that you go someplace (like a county fair) and try all different kinds of machines to find a good fit for YOU. Or, if that's not an option for you, visit different dealers and take lots of "test drives". You'll find the perfect new machine JUST FOR YOU! Best of luck!