Rancilio Silvia still cuts the mustard.

Dry_bean.

Well it did in this preliminary review by Mark Prince in June 2007.
http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/firstlook/ranciliosilvia/details
Always have had a soft spot for Silvia and according to Mark my feelings are well and truly justified.

Koffee_Kosmo

Never had a Silvia However I was looking at getting one before changing my mind and got a Galatea instead Out of all machines its the Toyota of the espresso machine world They work well and retain there value KK

Dry_bean.

on 1310460672:

Never had a Silvia However I was looking at getting one before changing my mind and got a Galatea instead Out of all machines its the Toyota of the espresso machine world They work well and retain there value KK

Obviously the Silvia and Galatea are at opposite ends of the spectrum price wise however if I were in the market for a first machine I suspect the Silvia would would still be very high on my list.

beanflying

I think the new Lelit PID looks the goods in this area, for similar money for the Silvia http://www.jetblackespresso.com.au/shop/p/lelit-pl41tem/ As a tough rugged little machine the Silvia has been a great machine in the past if you can live with the quirks and tamp surf issues. I started off with a similar Swiss machine in a Solis SL90 fine for one or two but otherwise a real pain.

Brett H

I started with a Krupps and quickly went to a Silvia. Almost 10 years and a flogging later i sold it for more than half (more like 2/3's) it's purchase price. Yeah she can be quirky but what machine isn't? They are a great machine but if I was starting again forget Breville and Sunbeam, I'd check out that Italian job you've got there BF! Under a grand slim and sexy... looks promising.