Looking to buy a treadmill

Consider a used one. Lots of very expensive ones just sit and are sold for a fraction of their original price with little or no use.

That's a pretty damn huge budget for a treadmill. I got a horizon one a couple years back for about $500 on ebay new and have put it to good use. Use it just about everyday.

I think an elliptical is a better investment due to lower maintenance and stress on the joints.

I bought a used one a couple years ago and have been very happy with it. Image brand from a yard sale, $100. Use it 3x per week. Had to make one repair, bolted a piece of 1/4" angle iron through the side rail to fix a broken support.

4 of the most common brands - Image, Proform, Weslo, Reebok - are all really made by the same company, Icon Health and Fitness.

Each brand has different models, some with better/worse user experience, so google the model for reviews/comments.

Look for: Auto-incline, at least a few built-in programs, at least 10 mph top speed
Most have readouts for time, speed, incline, calories, maybe steps.

Next extra - cute led display of an oval track, showing your progress.

Folds up - if space is a consideration

For more money - iFit capability - you can buy CD's with music and embedded treadmill commands to vary the speed and incline, developed by trainers for different purposes - play it on your computer and a line-in to the treadmill - or, some treadmills might even have a CD player built in. You can even use free software to create your own music/treadmill programs.

For the money you mentioned you can get a new one with all this + much more, but you can get everything I mentioned for $200 used - search your local craigslist - maybe $5-600 new. Check Walmart. If buying new, get any extended warranty available. Personally I would buy used and if something goes wrong I can't fix, just toss it and get another one.

RE: an elliptical - treadmills are not as hard on the knees as running on a track or outdoors (about 15% less), because they have a cushioning system, with the running surface supported on rubber bumpers. Also, the impact from running helps retain/build bone mass. If you have bad joints already, or are really old, that might be a consideration. I'm 56 and only feel a little knee soreness when I go 6 mph for an hour. Usually I do intervals for 4 miles, no problem with joint soreness.

by god I think he's onto something.

If he's willing to spend that much on a treadmill, I'd have to bet he's a runner of some sort...

http://www.treadmill-ratings-reviews.com/
http://www.treadmillreview.net/
http://www.treadmilladviser.com/

I personally like Sole treadmills.

I second the suggestions for used. Generally they come from small office gyms or apt. complexes were people use them but don't run them into the ground. You can also get them very cheap. A friend recently bought a $3,500 treadmill for $900 (cash) that sat in a bio pharm companies gym and was barely used.

But really, buy an Concept 2 rower for $1000, get a good used treadmill for $1000 and spend the rest on clothes or some other sketchy vice.