I would buy

2 Pro's
AC/DC Pro
Choice of another like Transformers, Metallica, Xmen

Then buy with the left over
a 1200-1500 System 11 game, Like Fire, Mousin around

Double Post

i am restoring one right now full cabinet restoration and for the playfield i only do a restoration that keeps the old looks, not a brand new playfield or so, with a satin clearcoat on it
ond some nos parts, will look fine

after this one, a Eclipse but i don't do the cabinet, like the faded look of the purple color

I would personally look to get in on an airplane/pyramid type money investment game or swamp land

Very simple, get on the waiting list for RAZA and Jpop....10k

PM Sent...

I'd go for a Hollywood Heat and a Hardbody, and maybe a bugs bunny.

Story of my life.

OT: I want to clarify that while most leagues have rules preventing friends and family from attending meets, our league (North Georgia Pinball League) is at the discretion of the host. Also, they will be welcome to play before the league play begins, but we're going to ask that they leave the league games for people to practice. They can play anything at the conclusion of league.

Now you're talking!

id take a look at the IPDB site and make sure whatever I was about to buy had a 7.8 fun rating or higher or I would pass on it. otherwise im taking that ten grand and id want quantity ( 5 or 6 )

They've already been mentioned in separate threads but for my 10k it would be easy. Theatre of Magic, Creature, and Centaur. Turn the lights down low and these games are stunning.

Sheep...What's fun to one isn't fun to another...I would NEVER purchase a pin based on ratings alone. By your criteria, some of the best games produced would be passed over:

F-14 - 7.7
Black SM - 7.5
Grand Lizard - 7.5

That's just a few of 1000's.

WOZ and Tron pro partial. Tron LE only, ( club exclusivity), mb and BSD.

I would get the lower priced AC/DC and pick a couple of other pins to round out the 10k. Fish Tales, Shadow, Nascar, ngg and hs2 would be my suggestions.

Agree 1000%. It's all about personal preference!
TZ and MM are two machines that do NOTHING for me personally.

METLE and an EM or two to round it off at 10k.

After spending more time last night I would like to have a Creature in the collection some day, though AFM is still way up there. I might even add RFM to the Wishlist now. Thanks again Al.

An Eddy: Shadow ( people are valuing and game play more and more. See the latest Brian Eddy poll threads)

A Lawlor: RBION ( deep game that requires time to truly appreciate)

A Ritche: HS2 ( speed /flow game. Great toy and ZZ Top)

A wide body: JD,JM or DM ( cannot be replaced by todays manufacturers for close to the NIB price of todays modern games.

A few dollars left over for LED's and speaker upgrades.

GNR, W?D, and A.G. Soccer-Ball

I'd be keeping a sharp lookout for warehouse raid opportunities...

Doctor Who is one of my personal faves. I've owned mine for 16 years now!

None. I have my ultimate line up.

I'd definately have a Twilight Zone and an Addams Family.

If I had anything left over I'd look to any one of these:
BOP
Super Mario Bros
Taxi
Diner

10 Shaq's. Kazzam. Wish granted.

As for an honest answer.
Taxi (1200)
Funhouse (3500)
HSII (2200)
Fish Tales (2500)

Along with the NGG I already own of course. Otherwise, switch out FT for NGG.

NIB I would buy tron pro and x men pro

All the money on a vintage pin would be monster bash
Really like scared stiff too

I would go for games with different personalities.

Earthshaker ($1750)(all time favorite, alpha, traditional multiball, third flipper, target-heavy Lawlor)
NBA Fastbreak ($1500)(sports theme, fan, combos, ramp-heavy Gomez)
Wheel of Fortune ($3500) (I love game shows, bash toy, very open Nordman)
Pin*Bot ($1750) and
Space Shuttle ($750) (more simplistic 80s games that I think it would be easy to get rookies into)

That would leave me $750 to help fix things up, if needed. I wouldn't go for a newer game, not because I don't like them, but because I don't think they're the most cost-efficient right now. As I would be just starting my collection, I would look to build it up quickly around a couple of my cheaper favorites.

ME?

Haunted House
DESW
JM
FH
SST

Popeye!

1x ~late 80s alphanumeric: ES/WW/Taxi/etc. (<$2k)
1x ~"affordable" 90s DMD: NGG/HS2/T2/etc. (<$3.5k)
1x newer Stern: LOTR/POTC/BDK/ACDC Pro/etc. (<$4.5k)

Obviously you would be limiting or expanding choice in each bucket based on how much you spent in other buckets...E.g.: Could maybe get CFTBL/TAF/CP in bucket 2 if you got a good deal on a Taxi...Or could maybe snag an AC/DC Premium or equivalent if you get a good deal on a T2 or HS2.

...Try to have at least one "deep" game and one that's easy to pick up...Second on having one that appeals to the significant other and none that makes him/her want to throw up.

Wow... if it were me, I wouldn't dump $ into a NIB Stern. I'd go directly for multiple classic Williams machines starting as early as Pinbot, going as late as possible. The names have all been tossed around already... Funhouse, Taxi...WW... WH20, HS2...TAF, AFM...pick the ones you enjoy the most... look for a seller that has multiple ones and negotiate.

If you don't have room, keep some in a storage room and rotate

OK-here we go.
The Shadow: $2300
Centaur: $1800
Swords of Fury: $1100
Johnny Mnemonic: $1800
Terminator 2: $2000
Dirty Harry: $1000

Games I was looking at plugging in, but didn't make the cut: BSD, WPT, WCS, JD, DM
My prices per game might be off a little, but I think $500 either way is about right.
If not, the DH doesn't make the cut.

I'd save up a little more & get AC/DC LE & Metallica LE. Nothing more,nothing less.

I personally would go for a Metallica Pro (NIB), and then EATPM, EBD and either Mata Hari or Playboy 1978 to round out my $10k, all in working condition, but those are just the machines I personally remember playing and liking most back in the day.

Congrats on the STTNG, it's a great pin. If I had $5500 I'd go for an ACDC, Metallica, GNR, or IJ.

Can you get an ACDC Premium with $5500? That would be my choice.
Otherwise, WPT + something else (plenty of good suggestions above)

ACDC and Metallica

I still love Sorcerer. Out of all the others, that would most likely be my first pick. It would then be followed up by a Seawitch and Meteor, and most likely a few EMs like Sky Jump and Target Alpha and/or Centigrade 37.

Nice choice on the STTNG. That was the game that began my love affair with pinball. With 5500 left you might be able to swing a Centaur and a Creature. Just looked at your profile and Creature seems to be pretty high on your list.

I've not played one but from what I've read you're going to have fun with Tron. As I was reading your last post and saw that you were back to square one, I was going to suggest you spend all of that 10k on one of Jpop's custom games. Course, you would have had to wait for it, but I believe he's going to come through with some awesome pins. Hmm, for 4100 you could probably put your hands on a nice STTNG if you are still considering it!

Awesome scores. Especially nice price on sttng. Have fun with em.