Try the Juki's. No doubt the strongest motor in the business. The piercing power is awesome. In case you need to repair something they will do it, while your Vikings, Janome's, Pfaff's, are doing the motor shut down thing. And the fmq is wonderful, all under $1,000.
I have two Juki's - the 98 & the F-600 - I've owned every brand and Juki is by far the strongest and best - that's mho.