I bought a Lily 545 floor model maybe 17 years ago.....paid $1200. for it and I love it. Before I bought it I had a brother machine from walmart and I also had a white. At the time I worked for Hancock fabric and a customer came in after getting a Pfaff. She said you think you sew pretty good now but when you sew with a great machine you will see the difference so I started shopping around. I was always having trouble with the brother but the white was good, when I got my Lily I kept the white for a long time and recently passed it on to a friend. One day I may upgrade but I think it will probably be another Viking. I would think 400-600 would probably be about right but I could not imagine getting rid of mine.