I have the Pfaff Ambition 1.0 and love it. However, it is more than the $500 you want to spend. Pfaff has a new machine called Pfaff ambition essential (I think) that is on special now for $599. I don't think you can go wrong with a Pfaff. My older machine is also a Pfaff and is 20 years old, just repaired and it runs like a new machine.