I have the 830 Bernina, not the new one but the old one. Mine is over 36 years old and still runs like new and it's sewn millions of miles of thread. I got the mid range Pfaff 4 years ago and it is sewing like a dream. At a yard sale I bought an old old Pfaff for 30 dollars. The guy who does sewing machine service says this old one was probably made in the late 1940's. It is a heavy portable but still runs great. For real heavy material hubby got a Thompson. Have fun picking out your machine.