I have just replaced my 40 year old Jones with a 2nd hand but barely used New Home Memory Craft 7000. It is a dream - press one of the computerised buttons and it does any one of dozens of fancy stitches, a variety of hems, alphabet, a buttonhole etc. This company is Janome now - a current comparable machine would be high hundreds. I'd look at ebay for a good deal with a warranty on what you fancy. My first machine in my teens was my gran's Singer treadle.
My Jones is up for grabs (free) if you pay for a courier (under £10). It does straight and zig zag stitches, goes back and forth. NOt much to go wrong.