I think you can get sunbeam one's for $100-160. Remember,a KA can be used for more than mixing. You can get different attachments. Maybe a pasta one that you can use for rolling out Fondant....
If you decide to buy a KA I always tell people to Buy KA from wILLIAM sONOMA.. [u]They have a life time guarantee[u][/
Sorry but I have to agree... KA all the way. Honestly the summer is coming up and so is lawn sale season!! Believe it or not but I got an older KA (the color is a mint green) with all of the attachments for $30.00 AND it works better than my brand new KA that I had gotten from the previous x-mas. Plus all the attachments will work on the new one as well!!!!! Just an idea for you!!
I love my KA too! It's worth the money I think. THe only thing is make sure you buy bigger than the 4.5 qt bowl size because it really helps to have the bigger capacity. I'm having trouble with mine right now, (I have a 4.5qt) in that I have to make several batches when making large cakes.
It's KA all the way!
If you buy directly from KA, their website has a "outlet" store. The refurbished and closeout mixers are a steal. Lots of people on their discussion board have refurbished ones, and rave about them. I'm waiting for the UPS man right now to deliver my refurbished 6-quart mixer. It retails for something like $500, and I got it for $237. No tax. No shipping. The smaller refurbished mixers can be had for similar savings. The closeout mixers aren't quite as inexpensive, but still great buys. They just might not be the color you're dreaming of.
I burnt out 3 cheaper mixers before I gave up and got my first KA nearly 40 years ago. It was still going strong when I inherited the one I'm using now. And it's still doing fine,too. I'm just adding a second, bigger one. Once you've used a KA, you'll never go back!
Chocomama,
Looks like I'm in the same thought-train you are. 
I, too, want a stand mixer, but really have to question whether the occasional-use hobbyist (as I am) needs to invest upwards of $300 in a nice-to-have-but-not-a-necessity kitchen appliance. I don't make gigantic cakes to feed 300. But, on the other hand, I don't want to buy a Classic KA and have it burn up/out in a few years.
I've researched and read everything I can find, including searches on a couple of forums, and here's what I've gleaned:
A basic KA seems to be okay as long as we realize it won't hold up to continuous use with stiff doughs. (I don't do breads, so not an issue for me.) As far as MMF goes, it will do the preliminary mixing, but adding the final sugar to make the fondant stiff and doughlike should be done with elbow-grease, not the KA. But, it sounds like even the higher-end KA Artisan can't handle final MMF very well. Go Accolade (400 watts) or higher if you absolutely insist on not having to stick your fingers into the MMF until it's ready to wrap. Of course, this opinion is based on research, not hands-on usage.
WalMart (I know, love or hate) has a white KA Classic for $168. About the BEST price I've found around the D/FW area for an Artisan is still in the $250 range, but those colors....ahhhh.....
Costco has a Heavy Duty KA in the showroom right now that is a heckuva deal; check Costco.com for details, but our local Costco has them in stock. (But do I really want a KA that huge???)
Intriguing: Kitchenaid.com has a close-out area where you can pick up a brand new Artisan (NOT refurb) for $199 and it has a $20 rebate, PLUS free ground shipping. Colors are somewhat limited to discontinued hues, but what a deal!!! They also have an Accolade for $209 - $20 rebate + free shipping.
They also have refurbs available at attractive prices, and more colors available.
I am seriously considering either the basic white KA Classic at WalMart, or a discontinued color (I really like the grape and the Meyer lemon) Artisan from KA.com. All I gotta do is figure out how to convince DH that, after 30 years of cooking, I suddenly cannot survive another month without a KA. 
If anyone else can offer words of wisdom, I'd love to hear them!! 
I have had a sunbeam for a year, but just got my new KA mixer YESTERDAY!!!!! I'm so excited because it has the paddle!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!
I'm pretty good at getting a lot of the air bubbles out when I ice my cakes, but now I'm hoping to have even less b/c of this paddle!!!!
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