I have the Janome 6500 purchased in May 2004. Initially I had a few problems with it compounded by the fact that I had a dealer who thought it was operator error and not a defective machine. It was finally replaced by the company a year later (not by the dealer). Now that I have all the issues corrected, we are ok. I still don't like the way it will veer off at a seam intersection or balk at the beginning of a seam and chew up the fabric unless you use a leader. It also needs a drop of oil in the oil wick hole under the bobbin case (doesn't tell you this in the manual) or the bobbin jumps and rattles. I don't think there is a perfect machine out there. Go shopping, try them out and buy the one that most closely matches your list of needed features. I love the thread cutter on my Janome, the wider harp and the needle up feature but my much cheaper take to class Husqvarna Prelude 370 sews a much better stitch and doesn't balk at thick seams or munch fabric.