My go to machine is a 1974 Elna and in the last month I've bought a 1952 and a 1956 Singer. The Elna does everything except embroidery and the other two are just straight stitchers. I'm hoping the 1956 301 will be my FMQ machine. I like my solid metal machines, obviously. I've heard the 1952 128 will be good for piecing, but she's not clean enough to work heavily yet.
The only machine I'd want to buy is an embroidery machine, but the budget says no and my reasonable side questions how much I'd use it.
I would lean towards used unless your budget allows for one of the higher priced new ones. Mine did in 1974, but not now.