I would check out Sears Kenmore machines, which are made by Janome. They tend to be great values and reliable machines.
Also check with local dealerships for a used machine. Some people trade up regularly, so it's possibly to get many more bells and whistles in a used machine than new.
Decide which features are the most important to you. For most quilters, needle-down is a must, as is needle adjustability to left and right (useful for machine applique).