I think it depends on what you want out of your machine... If you want piecing speed, I'd consider a Brother 1500 series machine. It's a little above your limit but you might be able to score one used. A lot of people buy them to use on a quilt frame and then figure out that there isn't enough throat space to do much of anything. It's doable but you have to really learn to cut your quilting motifs down and turn quilts, etc.
I have a friend who purchased this machine through Walmart.com and it is a good machine and came with all that she needed or wanted for an entry level machine...
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Brother-Co...S6000I/4764726
It even has a walking foot and the table extension. I *think* she had to buy a 1/4 quilting foot but it was very cheap and available at Walmart, Joanns, Hancock's etc.