I have a Viking Designer 1 and really like it for both sewing and embroidery. I have had it since 2003 and it was a floor model. It has seen many hours of use. I also have a Husky C10 that I like. It is a sweet little machine.
If I were in the market for another machine, I would like the Bernina 820 with the wide throat space. Both dealers are more than an hour from me.