My Marquette oldie (in an OLD post) 15/30 worked fine with new consumables but really woke up after I bought the standoff loop that keeps the tip ~3mm from the piece. It takes time to make good cuts as its all in the 'speed of the feed' and angle of attack. Too fast and it doesnt clear the work, too slow and you get gouges in the walls with thicker stuff. Would work great on sheet metal that you need to grind the edges for final fitment anyway. I think $200 is about right for what your going to get cut wise, the new smaller inverter powered stuff blows away the old transformer stuff in portability and power per lb. but falls on reliability with fragile MOSFETs that can blow. There is nothing thicker than 1/4 in our cars that youll encounter 'cept maybe motor mount brackets and leaf springs... What are you gonna cut with it? I found its really a niche piece of gear in a home garage after I got mine working. I used it to cut some intake manifold flanges out of 3/8 and it was crude but worked. Spent alot of time shaping the cuts after words but my band saw was much more efficient at cutting long straight cuts. Plasma shined on the ports. Remember you'll need an air compressor for it and if you can use 220, wire it up for that.
i had myself talked into getting one a few months ago, but looking at all the stuff i already have, cutoff wheels, shears, chop saw, eastwood mini saw (freakin' awesome) and nibbler, i just don't need it, plus i have no room for it 
