Congratulations ! I just bought a Janome 8200..it also has a 11 inch throat. I also have a beloved Designer 1 that even after 14 years still does anything anything I need but the 7 inch throat was too small. Red is also my favorite color but I had a chance to get the 8200 at a small quilt show as a demo machine that had been only used for less than 1 hour but at a great discount with full warranty. I've had a little problem doing free motion because the machine sews so much faster that my timing between my movement and speed. The 1/4 inch needle position was wrong with the O foot but figured that out as well. Hope we both love these machine for years just like the D1.