Hi everyone I have a problem-- my Janome 9000 is sick I think it may be time to replace it so I looked at and realy liked a Viking sapphire 850 then I read some realy bad reviews about it on some other sites. I have been reading posts on this site for years and have a lot of respect for your opinions. does any one have experience with a sapphire 850and is it good or bad? or should I look at something else , I only want it for general sewing and quilting. thanks

I don't have that Viking machine but the Viking I have is about 12 years old and has been great to sew with.

My Viking is much older than the one you are looking at (20 years) so I can't help you with an opinion on the model, just the brand. Mine is as solid and reliable as anything I have ever owned. I can only offer you a source of machine reviews written by real people who use them. Have you read the reviews at Pattern Review? http://sewing.patternreview.com/SewingMachine/Viking/ Best of luck to you.

Hi there, if you go to the search at the top of the page & type in sapphire you can see where we have had previous discussions. My machine is the 870..... it's best feature is that it has a 10" harp (opening) area. If I had the money I'd put it into a Bernina or a Pfaff. I have had the Husqvarna Lily 540 for 10 years and it's great for regular sewing. My best advice to you, is take some samples with you to the different shops & try out the machines doing exactly what you want it to do. I wish I'd taken a little more time, as I'd really like to have a nicer alphabet, I find mine doesn't always make the smoothest lettering.

I have the Viking you're asking about and I'm very happy with it. I don't use the fancy lettering or stitiches (just haven't learned how yet). I really like the fabric thickness sensor feature-it sews over anything. The only thing I wish was different is the space under the arm--is that the "harp" area? I do wish that was larger for easier quilting. If you go to the HusqvarnaViking website they do a nice comparison of their machines but remember they're selling their machines. If you have access to other brands, I agree with the others-try as many as you can before you make your choice. I would choose the Sapphire again even if I had other choices. Of course if I could afford the new Viking, I'd get that but I'd rather buy a new car (very expensive!!) Good luck and enjoy the hunt.
Peace-Jan

Oh I have a Janome 9000 and love it..... sorry yours is sick.
Don't know to much about the new machines..... haven't had a reason to check them out.

Scrap

I have had my Viking 830 for a few months now and I love it! It's got a few less stitches than what you are looking at, but otherwise almost identical. It is different than any machine I've ever used, so it did take a little more time to get acclimated. There is no presser foot lever (I do still reach for it occasionally). The presser foot has 3 up positions - you can use the buttons to lift, or the foot pedal. When you are threading, you need to be sure it's in the uppermost position. Also, if your thread breaks, you need to do the same, put the foot all the way up. As long as I do that, I don't have a tension problem. Be sure to get training on the basics of this machine as it's different. I did have a problem that I couldn't use my old Viking's free motion feet on it. I believe that has to do with the automatic foot sensor. The dealer let me try a new one and I loved it! She was kind enough to give it to me free of charge. One nice accessory that is available that I have not splurged on is a walking foot that has a few snap in feet like a stitch-in-the-ditch foot, so you can use both at once! It's over $100 (probably worth every penny), but I'm using my old walking foot for now and hoping Santa will get me the new one for Christmas. :mrgreen: If you do buy it, just be sure to take whatever lessons are offered! My dealer offers unlimited "know your machine" classes. I think Joann's offers 2.

what is wrong with your 9000, I have one that is 13 yrs old and still going strong. Marge

[quote]

coming from inside the machine the upper right side by the wheel there is a grinding noise and it is slower or maby thats just me not wanting to do any more dammage I was just sewing along and it started making the noise

[quote=Sandra Craig]Any chance you can take it to a dealer and have them look at it. Of coarse the 9000 are considered old on the market these days so maybe its a good excuse to get a new machine. What ever you decide good luck. Marge

i have my viking for about 15 years and it's still as good as new.

the people who like their machines seldom bother to put in reviews. only the people who are dissatisfied and angry do that. i think there must be 1000 people who like, to 1 person who doesn't like anything. you never hear from them.

I tend to agree with you I will be using some of my retirement funds to buy whatever I buy so I would like to be as sure as possible I'm not buying a defective machine however I think viking would stand behind their machines

I havn't ruled out repair I'm just weighing the option of the repair expense against a new machine.

Well, had the Sapphire 870, and the stiching on the stippling was terrible. I brought it back and the manager adjusted it , and still left a lot to be desired. So having the designer SE, I returned the sapphire and bought the Mega Quilter. I am so happy with that one. For less then a thousand, I have a super machine, and can do my own quilting, I would assume to a king size.

[quote=mic-pa]if you're satisfied with it in all other ways, why not just have it repaired. it won't cost as much as a new anything. if the repair isn't that expensive, and you have your heart set on a new machine and can afford it ...then shoot! fix the one and get another anyway.

I have a Sapphire 870--and I love it! I was doing some FMQing with it yesterday and it turned out beautiful. I also have a Viking Designer SE, which I also love. The extra space in the harp with my 870 is so nice to have. My husband was adjusting my 870 and needed it for a day, so I went back to the SE to do some of my FMQing. I felt so cramped in there--couldn't wait to get my 870 back. I used to use the SE as my primary machine, but am thinking it will be the 870 now. I will use the SE for my projects that need embroidery.
You might be able to get a pretty good deal on an 850, as they are coming out with a new updated model, the 855. The only difference between the 850 and the 855 is the 855 has a decorative tapering stitch. I chose the 870 (instead of the 875...) because I doubt I would use the tapering stitch anyway and I saved a lot of money.

I'v made my decision I will get the Janome fixed if it is a reasonable price because it does every thing I want and need, if it is reeeal expensive I will take my time and look at other machines thanks for all of your help

you may already know this, but you can 'drive' a viking at some joann's stores.

I have a Bernina Virtuosa 153 Quilters Edition and it is about 6 years old. I have never had a problem with it. You can probably find one at a dealer where someone has traded up for a very fair price. Have no fear, just do a little research. Google this one, as I did today, and you will be surprised how the price has dropped!

I have an older Viking also and it runs great. However, I have heard that the new Vikings are not all that great since they are not made in Sweden any longer. This is true of almost all the new machines today...so we are going to have to adjust to that as we have to replace our great old ones!

This site is good for reading reviews on machines. http://sewing.patternreview.com/SewingMachine/Reviews

I love all 3 of my Vikings. I don't have the 850 but someone posted yesterday on where she just bought it and loves it. She also has the Lily and it's a good machine too. If you look around, even on here you'll always find someone slamming a certain machine because unfortunetly they or someone they know had a bad experience. That doesn't mean they are all bad and some get slammed because someone is a die-hard Bernina fan or other machine and so therefore thinks all other machines aren't as good. I love my Vikings but know there are some other great machines out there including Janome. Good luck, have you test drove one at a LQS.

My Sapphire 830 is a great machine. No repairs and love the auto lift feature.
10 in throat area but do not like how low it is. Hard to thread and replace feet.
Never a tension problem. Drop in bobbin is a must for me.