OH My....sorry to hear of your problems but .....I have to come to the defense of the 6500....I have had mine for 3 years now and have never had any problems with her at all. I use her just about every day and although she is not an embroidery machine she does make pretty decorative stitches.

LOVE my 6600! also had a Jem that was superb-lightweight for classes, but upgraded to 3160 for the increase in stitches as well as a cutter! Love the cutter feature. Go for the best you can afford. Pegeth

I got the 6600 four years ago when I retired and I love it. I have the Jem 760 for classes/retreats. I also have an older Janome (still working perfectly), a Janome serger, and a 300E. No problems with any of them.

I just received my 8900. I love it. Set the machine for FMQ according to the book, did not change bobbin case, needle, nothing...it FMQed like a dream, no eyelashes on the back with my curves.... The machine is so quiet....
Beautiful decorative stitches with the 9mm. If you do not want to spend this much, I would opt for the 6600 for quilting. I have two of them, one for home, one for cabin....they are real workhorses....never in the shop. I love the Accufeed on the 6600 and the Accufeed flex on the 8900.
I have: 8900/6600/3160/4900/11000SE Another Janome gal....
Diana in TX

I am 100% Janome sold. I have embroidery, 2 Jems, 1 Jem Gold, & now a Memory Craft 6600 - if I were younger I'd go get another top of the line embroidery too.
What to do when shopping for a machine. I can't stress enough to go to a reputable Janome Dealer. Call ahead and lit them know you want to come in and "test drive" their machines and you plan on being there at least 2 hours maybe longer. Hey these are expensive! Don't you test drive a car? Okay now do some homework and take a stack of stuff with you. Take your threads, take your fabric, do you do jeans? Do you mend? what weight of fabrics do you sew with? Take em all.
At the dealer let them go through their explanations then tell them you have your own fabric etc and get to work.Have a list - what do you want the machine to do for you? Quilt piecing only - well you sure don't need the bells and whistles. Do your own quilting - get that built in walking foot - like to do Stitch in the Ditch well they have a really great foot for that too.
Take your time.
My Janome experience has only been great no kidding. Largest amount of thread in a bobbin bar none! Quiet, solid. Oh by the way speaking of the extra "feet" they do not charge an arm and a leg for them. I know, I've had a V and a B and never would again.
Have a great day when shopping.

I love my Janome 4800 memory craft. Janome makes several other machines, so be sure to Google Janome to see what the other brands are. Some of them are really high dollar machines. froggyintexas

I had a 6260 & just loved it, then I visited the dealer & saw the 7700 Horrizen. I fell in love with that one, so I got that one, thinking I'd get rid of the 6260, but so far it's so handy to have both . I use both of them. When I first got my 6260 I packed away all my cheap junky thread, thinking this new one won't work with it. Well one day I needed a certain color I had in my junk, so tried it, & it works like a charm. I still try to mostly use a good thread, but it's very handy when you need a certain color. I have never tried it in the Horrizen though. I was so shocked to hear anyone being unhappy with a Janome. A couple of years ago I was at a quilting retreat & almost everyone had a Janome.

I hate to admit it but I have 14 machines--shhhh!
Most are vintage that I've picked up for the price of free or up to $35. (except for my little FW)
But my Janome 9000 memory craft is the one I FMQ on 99% of the time. I've had her over 13 years. Bought her new and have never had the slight problem where she's had to go to the dr.
Sewing machines aren't "one size fits all" so I applaude you for doing research. Before I bought my Janome I did that too & tested a lot of models & brands. The only thing I don't like on her is the embroidery. I bought a Babylock Esante several years after getting the Janome 9000 because the Janome was just not "user" friendly for me.
Good luck

Janome 6500
 

I would have to ditto everything you said about your Janome 6500. It is really a love hate relationship but it is 100% better than my Bernina from hell.[



QUOTE=Shelbie;5723022]I have the Janome 6500 and it has been the most expensive machine that I have ever bought and the one that I have not liked! I'm sure that I got the one made at ten to five just before a long weekend. It's had a lot of problems and so have I. I definitely have had a love/hate relationship with this machine. There are some features that I really like, needle up-down, needle threader and thread cutter. I haven't liked the feed dogs (set in at an angle and have never fed fabric in correctly), bobbin case that rattles and bangs unless you oil the oil wick under it, a machine that veers off at any seam junction, dislikes thicker fabric and growls and sometimes jams or knots up for no particular reason and all of these problems were caused by "operator error" according to my dealer. I never want another Janome and am presently looking at the Juki Exceed 600 and the Juki TL2010Q. I could buy both of these machines for what I paid for my Janome 6500. I really think that there are no perfect machines out there. It's just a matter of finding (hard to do) the best one for you and a dealer that is willing and able to work with you to resolve any problems.[/QUOTE]

Honestly, you may be right about the manufacturing date and time:) I have had one for years, still love it, had no problems at all!