Hello Kate,
since you are the Machine Tester I thought I'd ping you. Of course I'd welcome other opinions, too. Every little bit helps. ;-)
I know it depends on what you want to do, but I'm so fed up with the old machines. Mom's Elna isn't half as good as I remember it. Might be that I've been spoilt by my neighbour's Pfaff and I'm definitely out of practice. The Husqvarna still isn't back from the repair man. When I called him on Friday, he excused himself with having buried his mother last week. OK, but what did he do the weeks before? He promised to attend to the matter right on Monday... Well, that's fine, but I think I might like something a little more reliable. Perhaps the gadgets of the Husqvarna are a bit to old.
So, what do I want? Something with a feeding dog (I think that was the correct term for the little gadget that pulled the upper fabric through). Nothing too fancy, and nothing perhaps with electronic stuff like a display. I'm afraid that might be a bit too complicated for me.
It should deal as well with heavier fabric like denim as with fine stuff, and of course I'd like the eyelet stitiching thing. I'm prepared to spend up to EUR 800.00 on it, provided the thing lasts a while and doesn't blow up at the first opportunity. If necessary, I'd bite the bullet and spend a bit more.
What I plan to do with it: Patchwork and household sewing, a little clothing for the family, definitely no tents, no leather.
I still haven't tried the serger so I'm not sure if there will be one in future. Here: