My little trooper is an Elna 1400, small but sews through anything I have asked it to. Fits into the bottom of my shopping cart and goes with me when I leave the house to sew. MyDD has a Riccar that she takes with her when traveling.
If you only want a second machine for sewing away from home, look for a used one at a dealer, they guarantee it will work and it will not surprise you with a breakdown. Try it out before buying.
Carol J.