Try here

http://pinside.com/pinball/top-100/bangforbuck

I would buy a Judge Dredd and a Waterworld with $2700. Both would have to be player quality condition. I actually liked the Waterworld movie. If I could spend the money on something other than pinball machines, 5 minutes with Ursula Mayes. Thats all it would take.

First time I saw this, great reference

I really don't like the top 100 bang for buck list. The concept is awesome, but far from realistic from what I gather from other pinsiders and browsing craigslist, and ebay.

Sorry. I don't mean to come off as a jerk.

I really like World Cup Soccer.... beating Germany can be challenging.
The kids like it too and it is under $2000. you can use the extra cash toward the next pin.
Yes- there will be a next pin.
P.S. I like what is on your wish list.

The idea is more of the games than the price. You at least know those usually go for cheaper.

I really like the way the OP asked the question. What would you buy with $2400-$2700? I've been asking the wrong way this whole time. Much better question!

I'd recommend just finding some machines and playing them. Whether on location, at a store, or a local Pinsider's place. See what appeals to you and is in your budget. You probably won't keep the machine forever, and in this market you probably won't lose money on it.

I second ignoring that bang for buck list. If someone listed a WCS for $900, more than half the people here would say "I'll take it" without even glancing at a picture.

Good luck and have fun!

If you wait youll find a CFTBL or Whitewater in that range. Players quality but somebodys broke with one or both and eventually like fate youll meet.Bring cash.

I have not really found a better list to use for bang/buck machines. No list is going to be perfect, but it is pretty good for ideas.

If you look around there are several ranking lists. There is an EM list, staff ranks, specialist (those with more than 50 ratings) rankings and others.

Yeah, somewhat. However, one might be unpleasantly surprised, and quickly deflated by expecting to see a "cheap" The Shadow" (currenrly on top 100 bang for buck at $1,500), but finding it between $2,500-$3,000.

One of the many brilliant pinsiders needs to reform the method currently used to get these prices. We also need to stop being so desperate, and be patient. The prices are getting too high.

I'd try to snag a good system11, like a Whirlwind. It was my first pin and its definitely a player's pin that will keep you coming back for more

If you want Sterns T3 and WPT can be had in your range, Creech can be found for 3,000 but WH2O is going to run you 35 out here for one that needs a rebuild.

Hey,

What I'd recommend: if you want just one game for the money, The Shadow, but it's a pretty difficult machine. Two machines? I'd try to swing a cheaper DMD and a PinBot or High Speed. Cheaper DMDs might be Johnny Mnemonic, Terminator 2, World Cup Soccer, Demoliton Man, off the top of my head.

Luke

I just sold a Baywatch for $1250. I finally let it go after five years. I don't think you can get a better playing DMD pin for that price. You'll have enough left for a nice system 11, too

wpt

I think I said this in the other thread, but a nice Judge Dredd for home use is a the perfect pin for that price range, as long as you think it is up your alley. Great for an only pin or in a small collection.
I personally think it is every bit as good as Whitewater & even better than CFTBL.
Demo Man would be good, just not at $2550. Shadow is good, but people don't seem to sell them very often. BS Dracula. T2. BK2K. Really you have a nice budget there as you have so many options. Too many to list.

A few years ago I could of got a nice Whitewater for $1800. If they are now going for well over $3k, then I'll gladly give up on getting one of those. Its a nice game but if that pricey there are plenty of other good ones for cheaper.

I would buy a game that has a great resale value in case you don't like it or get bored of it quickly.

I would pick up whatever comes up locally that is fairly priced. When you tire of it sell/trade your way into another. Rinse and repeat. Looking for specific pins is an excellent way to overpay. Put together your "want list" but enjoy others while you wait for those to come up for sale.

+1

Select a wide array of possible choices and then just keep your eyes open. You can always check with fellow pinsiders if a deal is worth it. Best of luck to you!

Yeah I missed an 1800 dollar WCS that was bought from a pinsider to a non pinsider on craigslist. I was the first to call and lost to someone that ran over and bought from under me. I was from out of town and wanted some extra pics but sold it for convenience. I don't think I would do that...

I'm going to say it: If you're browsing eBay for Pin prices, you're doing it WAY wrong....unless you're looking at Completed Listings. Take a look at some of the more popular titles here at Pinside.

Demolition Man: NOTHING has sold for over $1257, and that goes all the way back to December 16th.

BSD: One listing sold for $2700 - ALL OTHERS sold for $2k or less.

HS2/Getaway: One has sold for $2222 - ALL others have sold for under $2k.

TFTC: FOUR of them have sold for $2200 and up - all others are below $2k. [Sarcasm] It's got that nasty lil Data East badge on it, so it's really worth about $1400 [/End Sarcasm].

What I find interesting is the money some games go for here and they're cheaper on eBay... THAT makes me nervous....

Mr. Pinball's Classifieds and the upcoming pinball shows = way more accurate pricing than eBay.

[sarcasm]

But I'm an American - I am entitled to and demand instantaneous and immediate gratification!

[/end sarcasm]

$1500 pin
$250 parts and upgrades
$250 2 kegs of beer
$100 large pizzas
$100 cups, plates and napkins
$100 gift card to PBL as a prize
$000 Free invitations to your new pin party with your pinsider friends.
$2300 total

Fun with a bunch of hooligans. Priceless.

Hey, you did ask what would YOU buy, right?

Oh, TS is my vote for a pin if you get only one.

Lenses. Nikon lenses. Maybe a couple memory cards, too.

You can get a nice Whirlwind for that price, likely a bit less than your low end. I think Jurassic Park would be a fun one too, also can be had for a bit less.

I'll put in a second plug for WCS.

Spend the extra money on some tools, spare parts a variety pack of LEDs to play with the inserts and a really nice date night with your wife for letting you buy a couple pins.

I started looking at spending $2500-$3000 on a pin as well.
I held off to make sure I truly had the silver ball sickness and played many pins and now I'm sitting on $5000 plus and thinking about getting a NIB Tron.

PLEASE consider that the OP and myself have no experience in fixing pins.
That is why NIB is appealing to me.
I know they all have issues but NIB seem to have less issues on a regular basis once fully setup and dialed in. I could be wrong.

Cheers
PCE

I used to always say go for The Shadow in that range. However, the nice ones I've seen in the past 6-8 months have been up to an average of 3200. Glad I have a nice one, because I think that it will continue to go up as more collectors seek it out and holders begin to set their "let go" prices higher.

Michael

This is a no-brainer...BS Dracula. One of the best games out there, and you should be able to find a very nice one in your price range. If you're looking for something you can work on, there is a guy in NY selling his BSD under $2000. This would leave you with a few hundred to make it really nice.

Definitely more realistic... having $2500 or so to spend gives you so many more nice options. You could find great examples of PM, Congo, I500, DH, WW, ES W?D, Dr Who, NGG, RS, WCS, JY, FT, Diner... the harder part is finding really nice examples of these.

I have seen a lot of great machines mentioned but I would try to get 2 decent middle of the road machines for 2700, maybe add a few hundred if you have to. If you only want one then how about a huo rbion or wpt for that price.

I was gonna say a high priced hooker or two, but there are definitely good games to be found. What are your priorities? Do you care about looks? I know you mentioned you aren't great with fixing them, but do you want to learn?
If you don't care about looks, you can probably find a machine like a FT or a BSD that's got some cabinet fade, or even a machine with some playfield wear...or you can take a step back and get some older 80's games. For that price you can get a paragon and a pinbot

That kind of dough buys me about 10 project pins!

But I like the older solid state and EM pins...

I would buy a Funhouse. Immediately...

That dmd "PRICE" list is funny to look at: 3850 for IM? Good luck. 1500 for shadow? 900 WCS? Have fun looking for one in nice condition. This list must assume parts bin or heavily routed, lots of stuff needs repaired list.

The one thing you are forgetting in your price observations is huge:Condition of game sold. Lots of nice games/restored games in collectors game rooms now.

Here's my under $2700 list: Jackbot, Flintstones, either of the Pin2K games (SWEp1 or RFM), Judge Dredd, Demo Man, Goldeneye, Party Zone, Monopoly, WPT, T3, T2, RCT, Avatar (might be a stretch on that one for under 2700 but they are going for cheap), Mon.NF, Whirlwind, Earthshaker, Star Wars Trilogy, Rescue 911, Tommy, Tales FTC, Elvira ATPM, Dr Dude (loving this on the Andriod Pinball game), Getaway: HS2, WCS94, Jurassic Park, Fish Tales, and Dr Who

Thats all I can think of off the top of my head that are good games
I'm sure I am missing a ton

I would buy the Doctor Who that Pinsider Jeffspinballpalace just listed for sale. Its a fun game and his looks to be in great condition. Nice price too.

Here you go, great thoughts in here.

I would go for a World Cup Soccer, Who-Dunnit, Jurrasic Park, and or a Tommy

I would buy a Whirlwind and Pinbot.

I'd be looking at a rbion, rfm, or a tommy. But thats my opinion

OP... I see you're in Calif, I'm in Northern Calif.

I have a 94' WCS & 91' T2. I'll be selling them in the upper teens, soon.

Also, have a 93' JD will let that go in the low to mid $2's

I guess I would buy an RBION or an NGG. Both are pretty sturdy, RBION is probably deeper, NGG has more flow and both have good resale.

Isn't NGG going for 3K plus now? Not sure he can get a 100% functional NGG for $2700 or under...

Please list some games you like so i/we can suggest some games that might be similar.

TFTC

Yep, that's what I was going to say.