For several years I used a Pfaff, but it was very tempermental. It seemed I was always taking it in for repair, and the shop was several miles away and the price kept going up. I finally decided I needed to do something different so I went to Costco online and bought a Brother machine for just over $100. It came with a 1/4" quilting foot and automatic needle down. It also has a top drop-in bobbin so at a glance I can see how much is left. I don't make extremely big quilts anymore so the throat size isn't that much of an issue for me. I absolutely love the Brother machine!