I wouldn't be too stringent on the $1500 thing, that doesn't get you as much as it used to.
But no, a good working 2K machines isn;t going to cost the asme amount to maintain it for a few years. The only major money drain you could have is boards going bad (somewhat unlikely) and if you start modding the thing and throwing monies away.

First thing, go into your user settings are make sure people can see your location. Then maybe we can find some stuff near you. I wouldn't be looking for anything shipped for machine #1, shipping is going to take a huge chunk of your budget,

And also, you might want to call them "machines" and not "tables," some people are anal aboot that

That's what I was thinking, but hey i just read a thread that apparently people will just deliver the game to you for free and it's no big deal.
I've been doing this wrong the whole time!

Son of a bitch

CL is a war zone. You gotta be ready all day with the cash in your hand and the car keys in your pocket to get one. Regularly prices get upbidded also.

I'm just saying be flexible with price.

Where do you live?
A/S/L

10 hour day?

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/for-sale-whirlwind-56

Head to the classifed section and enter in your location to check near you

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds

Yes, any machine fitting your criteria not involving themes. Some of the greatest machines ever have the dumbest themes.

You're sort if coming into it backwards.
If you have a strict budget, you need to deal with what machines are available to you.
When you got a stack of lawyer cash and can afford anything, then you can cherry pick which machine you can get.
I'm not saying that cant be looking for machines having everything you want of course, just that you have to be a little fluid with the whole thing.
A lot if it is seeing what is for sale near you, then watching videos/reading reviews if you're not familiar with them

He has a wishlist, but without owning a game I don;t think he has the handy dandy icon to the collection section
https://pinside.com/pinball/community/pinsiders/hydrogenhuman/collection

"Random person;" it's used in Michgan too.

Agree with Chuck. Besides the obvious playing the actual machine etc you're going to miss out on how the game breaks down, how to load it, move it etc.