Need advice on Bernina Virtuosa 163 sewing machine
 

Does anyone have the Bernina Virtuosa 163 sewing machine? If so, can you tell me how you like it? Plus is this a good deal?

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/for/2748032840.html

Any advice you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks

I think this is an excelent buy. Go for it. You don't see very many Bernina's for sale. They are tireffic, because I know, I have one. lol

I have a Bernina 150. It looks similar to yours. I love mine and have been sewing on it since my daughter was a senior in hs (she graduated in 2000..) so i guess its 12 yrs old! I especially like the knee lift. Included in that list was an insert you can use on a horn table or similar. I have mine in a table and LOVE that is all at table level. I don't think $900 is a bad price.

I have a 153QE which is basically the same machine but with fewer embroidery stitches. It's a fantastic machine and I read somewhere it tops the list of machines that owners most regretted not keeping when they traded up. I paid $800 for mine two years ago.

My question is...why do all the parts have prices on them? Are you absolutely sure they're asking $900 for the whole package? Make sure they still have all those pieces! Also, you may find that Bernina dealers will no longer add stitches to the 153/163 machines due to their age, plus the software runs on Win 98, nothing newer.

I talked to the owner and the price for the entire package is $900. I do have concerns that the software runs on Win 98 and I'm not sure what to think about that. She said she would go down to $850 and I'm going over to her house tomorrow to see it and try it out. Thanks to all who replied.

Don't worry about the software issue. Buy an older laptop computer that has a win98 operating system on it and use it specifically for your Bernina. It won't take up much room and is portable if you want to transport the machine. Win 98 still works. I'm writing this on a win 98 desktop. :)

I have a 153QE and it's the best machine I have ever used. I own a 640 and if I had to pick only one it would be the 153.

LOL It's not a question of Win 98 not working...even my Win 95 computer still works just fine. It's simply a question of knowing that's what the 163 requires before purchase.

I think that is a very good price, assuming you can try it out before you buy it.

I ended up buy it for $825. It works great and she even included a Bernina walking foot. Love it.