If you find one you think you might like, call the manufacturer and see if anyone has one near you. Call them and get their opinion and ask if you can see and test machine. I think most quilters would be happy to find someone else interested in quilting and in their machine. I know someone that has a long are and she knows others that have them too. Once a year they schedule maintenance at the same time as the person has to come some distance to do it and it makes it easier to do several in one area at a time.