I bought a very nice machine-Singer-with bells and whistles at Costco-very inexpensive. I use it as a backup now but started quilting on it to begin with.
Also check out local dealers for machines traded in and refurbished. Check out Overstock as well for refurbished and Amazon for new. Both have good prices.
I would try to sew on any machine you buy as not all machines are created equal-and I am not talking about bells and whistles. Hight-weight-smoothness of stitches-jumpy or moving when sewing-the usual suspects.