Help me choose which pinball to purchase please...Im trying to decide

[divemaster127]

Here are the 3 choices I have

BALLY WILLIAMS BLACK ROSE PINBALL -$1592.00

GOTTLIEB STARGATE PINBALL MACHINE-$1648.00

WILLIAMS TERMINATOR 2 PINBALL-$1699.00 I have heard these are hard to maintain & have lots of problems...

what do you guys think
im also considering the black knight & williams high speed

just need some opinions
thanks
dm

[Q*Bert_OP]

T2.

[clanggedin]

I really like the play of the Black Rose. The T2 is fun too. I have never played Stargate. It depends on if you want Arnie or Pirates. I can't remember if T2 plays Guns N Roses or not. If it does then get that just for that song.

[Gunstar Hero]

I'd grab T2, although I hear Stargate is a hell of a machine if it's all working.

[TheOtherBob]

I'd prolly go with the T2 as well.

I wouldn't worry about the maintenance.  Can't be worse than a Next Generation.... Just make sure you clean/wax it and replace the balls as needed.

Go to rec.games.pinball and ask what to look out for on a T2.  Once you bulletproof it you'll be set.  If this is your first pin just make sure you're ok with fixing them off and on.  If you're interested in the T2 you might ask if the cannon harness has ever been replaced or not.

But most important would be to get the pin YOU like the most.  Unless of course you're inviting me over.... then get the T2 for sure....

Have fun!

[GGKoul]

T2

[grantspain]

t2 was not a problem,black rose had a few problems with the cannon and the less said about stargate the better-go for the t2 it was a pure classis and good fun to play

[Buddabing]

Since the machine are all roughly the same price, you have to look at what distinguishes the three machines from each other.

On Pinside's top 100 pinball machines, T2 is ranked #20 while BR is ranked #51 and SG #81. Higher ranking is related to resellability.

The production run on T2 was 15000, where there were only 3746 BRs made and only 3600 SGs. Higher production run usually = more spare parts available.

What you haven't told us is the condition of the backglass, playfield, plastics, and cabinet. I would take a pristine BR or SG any day over a beat up T2.

[nostrebor]

Personally I would grab the BK and HS, but I'm a sys 7-11 Williams freak!

Of the first three, I would rank them as T2, Stargate, BR. Based on a mix of play and what Budda said above.

[Ken Layton]

Go for the Terminator 2 pinball. I've worked on lots of them over the years. Only problems usually are:

1. Wires break off the coil terminals on the ball shooter lane coil.

2. Wires break off flipper coils or end of stroke switch breaks/goes bad.

3. General illumination connectors burn up.