Well, there are so many good ones out there, that it is hard to say. When I was growing up, I learned to sew on a Singer 66 which was a workhorse. Much later I discovered that "Nothing sews like a Bernina". I have returned to the older, vintage, all-metal machines for piecing (Singer 66, 201, 301, Pfaff 1222E, Viking 6570), but quilting is a joy on my Bernie.
"A chacun son gout" = "To each his own"