I have a Brother LS2125i That was a walmart "$99" special around 10 years ago. The current comparable model is around $85 now. Honestly i hate it but i continue to use it. I had a day where i was so angry i was ready to give up sewing all together and i threw some serious temper tantrums. Since then it seems to be working better. It refuses to do anything other than a straight stitch. Doesn't like thicker fabric.
With all of the negative stuff said, i have been hearing really good things about the newer brother machines. I have even considered upgrading to a new brother with some of the prettier stitches. If you purchase one from a store like walmart, keep your receipt and try it out right away. Test it like crazy. If you hate it then you can take it back and simply tell them you hate it because it isn't what you thought it would be.