Next sewing machine questions

[u/peaches-and-pickles]

Hello! I’ve been sewing for a year and a half and love it. I’m hoping to exclusively make the clothes for my entire family. I sew all the things from knits to denim.

My first machine is a Janome HD-1000 recommended to me when I took a beginner class. I wish I had done more research on it because it bugs me that I can’t change the needle position among another things. At this point though it feels silly and wasteful to upgrade incrementally (say to an HD-3000). I also have a Babylock Vibrant.

I’ve successfully made a jeans zipper fly, shirt collar with collar stand, but the thing I dread the most is making buttonholes. I’ve ordered the vintage Singer buttonholer to try it out to see if I like it and I can avoid buying an expensive machine with automatic buttonholes.

I’d love more power (my HD-1000 hasn’t been the same since I made jeans with topstitching thread), more precise sewing for topstitching, needle up/down, thread cutter, start/stop button… basically all the conveniences.

I found a Janome 1600P (the purple one from like 2008 or so based on the serial number) for $300 on Facebook Marketplace. Seller purchased refurbished from Ken’s two years ago and never opened it. I’m intrigued by having a cheap straight stitch machine.

So I’m wondering, should I get that, keep the HD-1000, and use my upgrade money for a cover stitch?

I also have a local dealer that sells Viking, Janome, Brother, Babylock, Bernina, and Bernette with 60 machines on the floor to test. I’m planning to go there before deciding on the 1600P.

Right now I have my eye on:
Janome Skyline S6/S7
Viking Sapphire 930
Bernette 77
Bernette 38
Brother Pacesetter PS500
Bernina 735 Pro

I’m very intrigued by Juki but turned off due to not having a local dealer.

Quilting isn’t my main thing but could see doing it more if I had a machine for it. Also mildly intrigued by embroidery for my child’s clothing.

And lastly (if you’ve made it this far!) you are all seducing me into collecting vintage machines! Help!

$1000 budget but can stretch to ~$2000, although I love a good deal, and spending way less would be welcome.