I lent my DIL an old beat up but serviceable Singer 503 to see if she would sew at all - she LOVES the ugly thing - I told her she could trade up if she wanted - she won't part with it - her mom said she wouldn't sew before - says it works great - DIL named her machine Margaret after her grandma. She said Margaret may be old but she still gets where she is going. Margaret was quite stylish in her day too. Oh and she said GM & Margaret both have parts missing and damaged. DIL also is happy to go green by using an old beat up but very serviceable machine.
You might find something nicer that that on CL. The Singer 500 seems to be a fav of college design students. You can put new foot controls on the old machines.