I looked at several machines and thought I would get a Pfaff or Janome since I own two Pfaffs and David owns a Janome 6600. The machine I settled on was the Baby Lock Crescendo. What sold me on this machine is the massive lighting system (they call it Enhanced Stadium Lighting) that is adjustable in 5 steps, a very large throat area and the auto needle threading. This machine has a wonderful stitch and feels great when free motion quilting. I tested this machine at several dealers and it was consistent through all the tests I did.
I spent a little time learning all over again how to wind a bobbin, thread the machine, adjust tension and all those things I didn't have to think about on the Pfaff. Hopefully muscle memory will kick in and I won't have to concentrate on these little details in the future. I am looking forward to learning this machine and putting it through its paces. I will be blogging about this machine and what I learn. I may decide that I do not need a mid-arm machine for the size of quilts I make.
I purchased this machine at Sewing Machines Plus in San Marcos. They were fabulous and really treated me well. If you are looking for a new machine, check them out. There are several great shops in the Temecula and San Diego area so you should be able to find a machine that is perfect for your style of sewing.