The advice from PaperPrincess is the best you can get. Make sure the dealer knows that you are interested in quilting versus clothing construction, and that you are looking toward upgrading later on. Don't try out just one or two machines, go back more than once to try them with scraps of fabric you choose, perhaps scraps from an old garment. I hated it when I first went to test machines and was given some stiff fabric they use for a final test after servicing a machine. No one sews with that stuff. My personal favorite is an old Singer Slant 301 for piecing because it has a narrow foot and narrow feed dogs, no bells or whistles. One of my obsessions is old machines, but I do have a few of the newer ones with needle up/down function. Ask about some classes at the shop or adult education at the nearest college. Most fabric stores offer classes.