TAF and TZ are great options in my opinion, I take it you have played them before and enjoyed them? If so, it is a no brainer.

How much room do you have? I ask as there are several great early to mid 90's titles you could pickup and be able to get more than one machine for 4000 and still have fun doing what you talked about above but to more than one machine.

I don't know what sort of game play you like, so it is hard to make recommendations. Have you tried either White Water or Star Trek: The Next Generation? They can be found for about $4k in reasonably good condition (don't know about the market in Canada, however).

My advice would always be to stay away from this. IMO it's juts money throwing away that could go to another game. I mean modding is fine and a lot of things can enhance a game, but if you're going in to mod "the hell out of" a game that's a lot

Depends on how your doing on space. do you have room for 10 games or 2? Makes a big difference. What have you played that you really enjoy? Tips for buying games.

1. Look to buy only what you've played extensively
2. Only buy what you can look over play and pickup in person
3. take your time and look for the right deals. More in a rush you are, the more your going to pay.

If you have room for 5 more games. I'd go with 3 or 4 B or C titles that are just as fun, if not more fun than 1 A title. Jurassic park is known as the poor mans addams family. Because it's mode based like TAF, and layout is very similar. you can get a JP for 2k or less, and have 2k + for another title or 2.

I'd stay away from modding a game as well. Your usually just throwing money out the window at that point. Because when it comes to selling, you lose your ass on mods. It's like selling a used car. The guy buying it, doesnt' give a shit if you just put in new ball joints last week. He's not paying $500 more because that's what you just spent.

The thing about those two machines, and any other A title I may be able to get, is that since I pay a premium on pins as a result of living in Canada, the only TZ or TAF I could afford would be one that's literally falling apart. Of course my local pinball community is forever having new container sales of re-imports and so there's no short supply of terrible condition games

I picked up the Addams Family below a couple of weeks back, right around the top end of your budget. It was dirty as all hell but I could see the potential beneath the grime.

After cleaning it all up (which, like yourself, I enjoy doing) I'd like to think I did pretty well.

Point is, if you're patient, you may just find those games in "routed" condition from a local operator or something within your budget. Don't be afraid to ask around.

Cleaned-up-2.jpg

1st choice - Pick any two:

JM, WCS, HS2, DM, JD, JP, SST, T2, BF, DrWho.

2nd Choice - Pick one:

STTNG - nothing else comes close at 4k (IMHO).

Absolutely go for the STTNG.

Find a X-Men or Spiderman-may need a little more coin-My personal favorites

There is a Creature for sale right now for $4,000

Buy at least two machines under your budget, do not go crazy with mods, just get new rubber, balls, LEDS (if that is something that appeals to you,) coil sleeves etc. If you buy one it will not be long before you want two. Its also best to save some cash in case the machine needs parts or needs to be repaired down the road.

Ok. Even if you buy just one machine, I would not spend the entire 4k on a machine. Save some for things that you might want to add or do to the machine. Whatever you buy, if you decide that you want something else you could always trade or sell and get a new machine. I am torn between tons of machines, but there comes a time when you have to pull the trigger on one of them. I wish you the best with any machine that you choose. TZ, RS, WH2O,STTNG and AF are all winners in my book.

T2 or T3

WH20

Buy a Demolition Man in good shape and save a grand or 2. I'm thinking about declaring this a 3k game soon so get one now. Keeping mine forever, but declaring it 3k. The pace, layout, modes, fun and challenge make this a fantastic game. Seriously, if you gave this game a more popular theme, it would be a classic fetching 7k. Also, if you like drinking lots and playing pinball, you can grab the gun handle flippers to prevent you from falling over. I'm still not sure why the flipper handles were not included in more games.

If you are only getting 1 (so you say - I said the same thing), then I say find one that is hard to "beat", and one that you are going to enjoy playing and looking at and hearing- honestly!!
Watch a ton of youtube videos and then watch them again with your back to the screen. I know it sounds stupid and I will get ribbed - but if you are only going to have 1 game, you better love every aspect of it!!
Maybe there is a theme you like??

A good B list title you could add would be a BSD, you'll thank me later.

Well... its always easier to give recommendations when its someone else's money.

I would look for a BSD... wish I never sold mine or maybe a T2. Put some mods in them and bank the extra cash...

IMHO there is no better $4k pin than ACDC pro. Its by far the most addictive pin i have ever owned, but you'll need to love insane speed and getting your ass kicked. The bell mod is a necessity as it greatly reduces SDTM's off the bell target.

Try and find an owner that sold one for any other reason than to "upgrade" to a Premium/LE. There's very, very few. And there's a reason for that. I've got a STTNG, I recently sold a Spiderman. Both are great games. ACDC pro is better.

There aren't a lot of keeper pins out there, but if you are really looking for your keeper pin then you won't find it by asking for suggestions

Chances are if you don't have your keeper in mind already then whatever pin you pick up will be just a 'next pin' since you are space constrained.

Just curious, but say you found a golden ticket and could pick any machine... what is your grail pin?

no good gofers

Gofers is damn good. You can have a 2 minute game or 15 minute game. You can get 20 million on one ball, then drain the other two immediately, or suddenly wind up with 3 extra balls and play for 20 minutes.

STTNG is a great pin, but can be a ***** to maintain.

Tron is a nice pin too, but it's above your budget.

I think Whitewater is great, if you don't mind the advance river class repetitiveness. Still pretty fun. Lots of right flipper.

Buy a boat instead.

That was my first "thumbs down" ever. Sorry, man! Just had to!

Boat? Fish from shore. I like ACDC pro. Tspp. But as neo said. B c titles for less too.

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Hey,

I will say The Simpsons Pinball Party. You might blow your whole stack of cash at once, but if you decide you like it, it'll stay for a LONG time, and if you don't, you'll get your money out of it.

Luke

Fish Tales is a great pin for under 4K, I own one and it has good game play and fun theme (even if not a red neck, I'm not)

If you can come up with a few hundred more, why not buy a NIB AC/DC or Metallica? They're both awesome pins and you will not have anything to worry about on them.

You are in a bit of a gray area. 4K is quite a bit of dough, but you are almost in Pin limbo, you could get several FANTASTIC "B" titles but are a little limited on A.

As much as I hate to say it (since I'm trying to clear room and $$$) I would say go for the Creech. Unbelievable pin and you can score one for 4K with some luck, just dont be luckier than me

Well I'd swear I posted but don't see it. You won't be happy with just 1 pin. Try to play some system 11s and see if they get it done for you. I have 5 pins and still haven't cracked $5K. I even have an RS, but the rest are system 11s. I've got speed and flow (Taxi), shaker and great theme (ES), great call outs and artwork(Cyclone), one of Lawlor's best (WW), and a RS (has pretty much anything you would ever want in a modern pin, but for ~$2.5K). Don't chase a pin. Wait for the deal to come to you. It will happen. I'd get bored to death if I only had 1, but they are all great pins.

Chris

Creech is a nice game but watch the hologram. I would avoid any game that a main integral part is made from unobtanium. I would go for a game that is flat out fun to play. I sold my TZ and I really do not miss it and a Whirlwind sits in its spot. WAY more fun and not an "A" list. There are fun and undervalued games like WPT and WCS94 ( watch the ramps ). Going up in price WH20 is a great game IMHO and I always like GNR but never managed to drag one home. It really comes down to what you really like. I also avoid games without pops like JY or TS. I owned them both and not a big fan of either one.

I just sold my boat today. I'm planning on funding a new pin!! You know what they say about boat ownership. The two best days in a boat owners life are the day he buys his boat and the day he sells it.

if affordable with your budget, try:
ACDC Pro
X-me Pro
Simpsons
LOTR

or a less expensive one (WPT, WCS94, BSD as suggested before...I would add Stargate, BBH, WoF, RoadShow, Shadow, JD, and Funhouse - the later is not a DMD, but as good as one).
but I would not spend too much $$ "to mod the hell out of it". Might be difficult to get your money back when you sell it.

If you have space for only two pins, make sure you like the theme and gameplay first!

I owned TZ and WH2O at the same with no other pins. I had the opportunity to buy a CV, but needed to make room so one (WH2O) had to go. That was 2.5 years ago.

One year ago I sold TZ as it wasn't getting played anymore. I originally thought that machine deserved respect due to how unique it was as well as the depth. Who cares? I still didn't play it anymore and that's what mattered most to me.

I missed WH2O ever since I sold it and thankfully I have a nice one being delivered tomorrow. This will be the most $$ I ever spent on a machine in the 7 years I've been doing this and it will be well worth it. It won't go anywhere this time around.

My opinion is if you have beginners in the home go with WH2O. TZ is difficult and gets unfun very quickly. Keep in mind TAF has no ball save so it's also tough in the home environment.

You already have that in spades with Flash Gordon. Purely my own opinion, but if space allows for only two pins, I would want them to be completely different from one another. From my experience, WH2O and Flash Gordon go pretty great together. One makes me smile -one makes me scowl- I love em both.

Oh, and WH2O has plenty of 'one more game' addictiveness to it.

My dumb 2 cents is buy the first game that has at least some appeal but more important has intrinsic value. The kind of value that if you wake up tomorrow and want it gone, all it would take is a CG ad to do it and you would not lose money. Since space is a premium for you this appears to be the best strategy. The important part is to be patient and ONLY BUY if a good deal! Either you hit a keeper the first time out or you are able to flip out of a few pins along the way until you find your gem and not lose money while doing it

Just my dumb 2 cents

Ok whatever. My point was that you are so, so, so undecided that you are seeking advice here. Well, if that is the case then protect yourself and flip until your finally playing the one you really enjoy and know is the keeper. While doing so try to protect your "core value "since erosion of it will reduce the amount of times to flip and ultimately reduces your potential to "Land the one" that you really want to keep!

Peace