milling machine owners/users

I'll be investing in a mill early 2010 as i want to make a few custom parts for some of my bikes and a few hi-mount winch pieces which are not on the market.

I'll be looking at a non cnc machine with a price tag of about 3-4k. If i build up one winch with the bits wanted, the machine has paid for itself.

Just after any good or bad points on the machines you own or have used and what they cost you. I'm not interested in cnc as most of my initial work will be trial and error. If all goes well then i'll look at cnc down the track.