To start with - i know almost nothing about mills or lathes. I entered this hobby 8 months ago by purchasing an RF45 bench top mill from Modern Tool (got their MD45).
It’s pretty much the biggest bench top available.
I decided (right or wrong, not sure yet) that i didn’t want a Bridgeport type machine. I also decided, that due to my inexperience, I’d avoid used iron.
There is a very slight chance a lathe might be in my future, the CX 707 would make the short list.
When mill shopping i was very close to getting a Precision Matthews (PM) offering - then
@SomeGuy suggest i should take a look at Modern Tool (MT). I looked and liked what i saw.
I’ve learned that with metal working machines the cost of the machine is the small half. I also learned that big is definitely better.
Back to lathes. Finhead’s PM1236 is a good suggestion. In that price range and foot print the PM1440 is only marginally longer (72” vs 66”) but has lots more included features and is 1800 pounds vs 1000. MT’s smallest lathe is a clone for the PM1440. It’s the MT1440 and I’d have it at the top of my wish list.
PS - I was extremely satisfied and impressed with my MT experience.