I had a Gem Gold and I really did like taking it to classes where I did not need the fancy stuff....I had a little fabric carrying case for it and it was easy to fit my accessories in it too if I took just what I needed. I could carry everything in one load...unfortunately, I gave it to my nephew. So, I bought a Bernina 215 (red machine). That one is lighter than the 440 but heavier then the gem gold was. Also it has some computer boards in it although it is a simply machine. I would hesitate to leave any modern machine in the car in a Michigan winter...I live in Minnesota and my understanding is that you can damage screens in old weather and also you need to let the machine warm up for a couple of hours if left in a cold environment before using.