I did a lot of research before buying my Pfaff last year and I love it :-)
However I did something unusual, mine is an older one, a creative 1471
I bought it off of Ebay from a sewing machine dealer in my state so I could go there if I had to. Hasn't happened yet tho. Mine was totally reconditioned and had a warranty too
A friend who quilts got a new sewing machine from her DH and he went to the store and asked which machine never came in for repairs and that's the one he bought. :-)
You can also get Pfaff manuals on Ebay.
Marybeth