Sewing machine review - Bernette vs Singer Quantum L500

I've been meaning to review my new sewing machine for a while and I'd rather be sewing now, but frustration has driven me to review. My first sewing machine was given to me as a present by my parents around my 24th birthday. It was a very basic Elna. As I got more into quilting, a few years ago, I decided to upgrade, and went with my first computerised toploading machine - a Bernette 92C. It was a revelation. The toploading bobbin is fantastic, the needle threader fool-proof (had never had one before - wow!). I actually fell in love with the little drawer you can see bottom right, which is a cute little cushioned tray for the different feet. And it's very pretty :)

McKenna Ryan Block

This year, I determined I was going to do a lot more freemotion quilting and I wanted more space to bundle big quilts through. And a decent sized extension table.  The jumpy up and down metal ring darning foot really isn't the best. And I wanted to do some pretty intensive FMQ-ing, like my McKenna Ryan quilt. So I started looking.


The two machines that seemed to fit my criteria were the Pfaff Quilt Expression and the Singer Quantum L500 (which is new on the market in Australia). I spoke to a couple of salespeople who said they couldn't pick between them. The Singer was almost $1000 cheaper and came with an extension table, so I went with that.

My Singer Quantum L500

Love the clear open toe, spring loaded darning foot

Good

• Extra long arm for fitting large quilts through (LOVE)

• Knee-lift for presser foot (LOVE)
• BIG extension table (Fabulous)
• Open toed darning foot (LOVE and you can adjust pressure of presser foot - wow!).
• Feed dog switch - really easy to find and see where setting is. :)
• Lots of decorative stitches to 9mm wide (I honestly don't use a lot but the alphabets are pretty cool).

Mediocre

• Auto thread cutter - I WOULD love this but it only works about 50% of the time.
• Integrated Dual Feed - this SOUNDS like a great idea - it's supposed to replace the walking foot - but no way does it substitute. A lot more movement of fabric, a lot more bunching. I was hoping to sell the Bernette and just use the Singer, but instead, I'm getting it out to do any straight line quilting I require. Thinking about it, can something that hits the fabric AFTER the stitch (as opposed to before, during and after with a normal walking foot) really work as well? (Would be interested to hear from Pfaff owners on this one).
• 1/4" foot - not really very precise, no guide on it - a bit off 1/4" which is annoying. And the smoother surface of the machine seems to make the fabric slip around a bit more. (I know a poor workman always blames his tools, but I haven't had a problem with this on the $500 Bernette or the $120 Elna).
• Front loading bobbin - I'm putting this as mediocre because people swear it is a personal preference but in my experience, there's a lot more tangling with a front loader.
• Bobbin warning noise - it warns you when the bobbin is low. Nice in theory, but again, sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes there are metres left on the bobbin when it warns you. The thing is, it also stops you sewing (unless you leave the door open). 
• Tension problems - it may be me and I've tried playing with it but still stuffs up quite a bit. Thread breaking, bottom thread very tight pulling top thread through..

Annoying

• Auto threader - I didn't realise how good I had it with the Bernette. The Singer's is not lined up very well, takes a lot of fiddling, and cursing and a lot more time.
• It's a pain to thread. It seems a lot easier to misthread and things keep catching or not catching. The 'slippery' case doesn't help and the 'down and up' bit is not quite far enough protruding to make it easy here.
• Computer - sometimes this machine has a mind of its own. It's not a question of age or use - it has from day 1. Eg. It will start sewing at 0.8 instead of 2.8. Sometimes, when you turn it on, it starts sewing BACKWARDS. I took it into the shop, but of course it wouldn't do it in front of anyone. It saves its capricious nature to torment me.  But just to prove it, I videoed it. I'm putting it here just so I can show the shop people that it was not set to go backwards, it just decided to of its own accord. The good news is, if you do the old computer trick of "turn it off and turn it on again" (sometimes multiple times) it self-corrects. Sigh. But for what it cost, it really shouldn't be doing this.
• Top thread breaks A LOT. (Tension problem? Have rethreaded 8 times and cleaned and oiled and changed needle and lowered tension...)

Now I don't know if it's just me that's got a faulty machine or if it's standard across this line. What I'd REALLY like is to try a second hand Pfaff and see if that performs any better. Then I'd try and get over the price difference and go for that. It's still under warranty and I can't see it being replaced or refunded - they'd only try to fix it I suspect. But it is erratic about when it misbehaves, and I have sewing deadlines for Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine that mean I can't be without a good free motion machine. Even one that I have to keep stopping, rethreading and adjusting... :(


Conclusion
If you don't want the extra space and aren't really going to do a LOT of free-motion quilting, I'd highly recommend Bernette. If you do want that extra space and this machine is in your price range, FMQ in the shop. Thread and rethread and rethread the needle to see if the needle threader works for you.

Any advice welcome!

NEWSFLASH: I just cleaned, oiled, rethreaded, changed needle etc and what a difference. I managed to get a whole THREE MINUTES SEWING in before the thread broke again. (I am NOT using cheap cotton).