Depending on exactly what you are going to do is going to be a big deciding factor in what kind of machine you decide to buy. It sounds to me like you plan on doing maintenance type welding & not specifically pipe, or what have you. In this case, it would be a good idea to look at a multi process air cooled machine, being if you plan on welding with 5/32 or smaller electrodes on a general basis & also want to be able to do MIG & FCAW & generate AC power as well. That said, the bottom line is really what you want & then, what you want to spend. A GOOD SA 200 is going to be around $2500 & up for something halfway descent & dependable. A really used good one, (rebuilt with a warranty) more like $6500 & up. They are great machines, but they won't do any serious CAC, true CV welding, nor will they generate any substantial auxiliary AC power. They are also PURE DC current machines & you will need DC capable motors on your grinders, etc to run them.

The Lincoln Vantage series are fantastic heavy duty, diesel driven, water cooled multi purpose machines, but you better get your pocketbook out. They start around $10,000 new. If you want an excellent multi process machine with BIG power & 3 phase AC power generation, this is the way to go. They are just BIG bucks though. Anything nice usually is.

You can buy a brand new Ranger or Trailblazer in the neighborhood of $4000. A GOOD used one with less than 400 hours in the $2500+/- area. These machines will generate lots of AC power & weld up to 300 amps. Bobcats & the older Rangers are good units, but are limited to no remote operation & cannot generate much power while welding. I strongly suggest staying AWAY from retired rental fleet machines. They have usually been beat to crap & can be lots of trouble. People can say what they want about them, but the rental places usually want only a fraction less of what a brand new machine would cost & most rental units usually have thousands of HARD USE hours on them. Of course, the rental place isn't going to tell you that, but why do you think they are eager to unload machines with high hours & or close to factory warranty expiration.

Also, please do yourself a favor & stay away from anyone offering a "totally rebuilt" machine with a really snappy paint job, but NO warranty. Anyone asking $5000-7000 for a used SA 200 "AS IS" with NO guarantee of any kind you should be leery of right off the bat. Especially when Tom Fowler at Hybriweld sells his chopped custom 200 Mainliners for around $12,000 & EVERY single component on that machine is either NEW or perfect, not to mention it comes with a bumper to bumper warranty!!!  ALL the major places that rebuild & or sell rebuilt SA 200's offer up to a one year warranty on parts & labor. These guys are usually a certified service center & won't be selling you a pretty painted machine with a motor that's going to fail 100 hours after you buy it. Bill's Welder Repair, Hybriweld, HWY 60, Stumpf's, Rann Weld Supply are ALL reputable SA 200 rebuilders & you will get a good machine from them. You'll pay for it, but you'll know what you will be getting for what you spent.

I would not go sinking a huge amount into a new machine & tools unless you really plan on making a career out of it. Start small, with a good used machine & work your way up to something bigger & nicer when the need justifies the cost. That is a lot better than footing the bill on plastic & having to pay on it even when it's sitting in the drive.

Just a few things to consider. Good luck. Steve.

you can run a suitcae mig welder off a sa 200 just reverse the polarity nad hook up the leads crank the rheostat  and pull the trigger

nope just did 2 on a 85 and a 74 chevy camper specials are the heavyest springs  gm made
mac

a sa will run cc suitcase and if you get the mig mod. 1 about then you could run it in cv welds better in cv than cc but it would work i have a 12 vs exstreme and love it its a 400 amp mig i think  but loves it
thanks
mac
ps this will get a rise   < GO BLUE >  lol

I will second that opinion. Well put my friend.