I have the 830. I would suggest you keep your other machine as a back up. Service time for annual maintenance can and does take up to a couple of weeks at many dealerships. I kept my MC9000 (TOL for its day) as my back up and it will come in handy. Of course, you're justified for getting 2 machines.

I sort of think it was 'meant to be'. Get it, love it and don't look back. My advice.

One thing my 830 dealer will do is let you book your machine in for service and then call you to bring it in the day before they are ready to start working on it. Works out great!

If you don't mind my asking, how much is a Bernina 820? Our shops won't give out pricing over the phone (Bernina policy I guess) and I haven't had a chance to get in and look at it. There is some kind of special financing offer good only this Saturday and I wondered if the 820 was at all feasible. We just bought the 6600 in March but the Bernina sounds so much nicer.

I definitely think you should get the 820. It will be the machine your aunt gave you, even though she didn't know it. Keep the Janome for the reasons Lively Lady mentioned. Also, you can still have one to sew on while the other is in for cleaning.

Buy the Bernina you really want and enjoy it! After that you can decide what to do with your 6600 - keep it and use both or sell it on ebay - find someone you feel really needs and would make good use of it. It's up to you. I would definitely spend at least some of the money on somethying you truly want and not just let it go into your daily accounts. Just my HO.

Get it. Don't look back.

I own a 6 yr old 6500 and have no idea what the 820 does or is but I would sell the 6600 and get the 820 with the money you inherited. It will be a special memory to your aunt too instead of it dissapearing. I always have that happen with money that gets gifted. :-(

Now that would be the ultimated, two machines. :wink:

I would buy it, but keep teh other, cuz' the 820 isn't portable.

That is one drawback to the Bernina machines - if you want to call it that. I love mine but it is a very heavy machine, and even though I have a rolling case for it, it rarely leaves my sewing room. My ideal machine would be a newer Bernina with a BSR and the 12 inch throat sounds like a dream - I think mine is 6 or 7 inches and it can be a bear. Maybe I should have held onto my old Babylock for traveling - but I chose to pass it on to my niece who didn't have a machine.