The old saying is true, especially for sewing machines, "You get what you pay for". I bought a Bernina 930 25 years ago. I have never taken it to the dealer for repairs, only cleaning. I have never had to adjust the tension, and I have sewn enough clothes on it to pay for itself about three times over, throughout the years. It is the machine I take with me to quilting (My husband and son pack it to the car when they are around) because I can leave it in the case and I know I will turn it on and it will not give me one bit of trouble. My husband pitched a fit because I paid $1,000, for it, but bought my second Bernina for me and did not blink when I paid $6,000 for my last one. I agree with the idea of looking for a vitage name brand. They are work horses. Good luck, though, because they don't get traded in and everyone else wants one too.