When I look with jealousy at the low prices for used toolroom lathes in the UK, I would recommend you ignore the chinese one's and buy used.
I started with a chinese 7x lathe here as it was the only thing I could fit on my balcony. I did a zillion mods to it, till it looks like this.

... but as soon as I got a basement, picked up this 1970's Boley 4L for €950. Havent even looked at the 7x since.

Sorry about the crappy photo. That was the sellers picture. It looks better in my basement.
If I had space, I would love a DS&G 13"
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dean-Smith-and-Grace-Type-13-x-42-Centre-Lathe-/121355674857?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item1c415ca4e9Although the bed has some significant dings, and the slides are worn, it is a amazingly accurate for most jobs. It is a deam to work with a tool which weighs about 4x as much as the equivelent Chinese 9x. Look at the length of the slide ways on that saddle.

The standard spindle speeds of 71 - 1800 cover almost all needs. The back gear engages with a single lever, which feels silky smooth. Remember that the Boley, Colchesters, Leinen, DS&G, Brown & Smart, Monarch, Hardinge etc were engineered to a certain performance. They were sold to the tool rooms of the finest tool and die makers with a guarantee to turn accurately, with excellent surface finish. The cost a small fortune new. Today, you can pick one up for about the same price as a chinese 9x through 12x lathe, but even after year of use, they will in most cases still outperform the chinese stuff out of the box.
The other advantage is that you can normally get the accessories as part of the package. I got both the fixed and travelling steadies, plus the lever and normal tailstocks, a drill chuck, plus a bunch of band new metric machine taps and a huge trepaning tool which I'll flog on Ebay.


I think if you moved from the Boxford to a chinese you might well regret the step back.
Mark