I don't really think there is any "true" substitute for Centaur, but there have been some great suggestions in this thread. I would put Fathom, Embryon, Flash Gordon, and Medusa at the top of my list of pins I enjoy from this era. I also think that Vector looks really cool although I have yet to play one.

I'm also really digging my new Black Hole right now. The game is just brutally tough and I can only manage to get multi-ball about 1 in 10 games. You'll have to stop over soon to try it out!

I looked for a couple years for a regular Centaur. The low end beaters with bad SIA boards were $900-1000, pretty nice one's were $1500-$1800. I eventually settled on a Centaur II which I found at last years Midwest Gaming Classic for $500. Same game but much more reasonable in price! I hardly see either one for sale anymore though....

Yep. That was me It won't be a $500 game for long though. I've already spent around $1200 in parts for it with more on the way I'm sure. CPR Playfield and plastic set, drops, bumper caps, legs, flipper rebuilds, etc. It's going to be my Winter project which I'll be likely start a thread on soon!