The biggest recommendation I can make is be sure it has a walking foot, what ever type of machine. This probably is really obvious to most of us but I sewed on a machine without a walking foot for years. What a difference when you have one, expecially if you quilt as you go. I have a Janome, which I really enjoy, although some of the comments on this thread re the Juki have really caught my attention. I would really like a work horse type machine with a larger space under the arm.