Thanks so far for the opinions. I compiled the entire list and after consulting with my wife I have organized all the pins into 3 lists. Top Choices, Secondary Choices and Long shots.

Now I need your help and expertise. If you are so inclined please look through the list and provide: (Thx to all that take the time)
1. approximate price range of each or any that you know. PS I have a mr pinball price list but I find your numbers more accurate.
2. How easy it will be to find (1 being easy 10 being hard) (I will drive almost anywhere in Ontario and Quebec and into the US (3 hours from the border at most)
3. How easy the game is (1 being easy 10 being hard) (Or if you know one for sale where.)

Please note there is no particular order in each group and they are definately not in any order from a pin owners perspective. My wife has watched...and listened to you tube video on each and has picked those that appeal to her. I need to ensure I have a pin that makes my wife happy "Happy Wife...Happy Life!"

Top Choices

Austin Powers
Jurassic Park
Flintstones
Gilligan's Island
Monopoly
Tee'd Off
Wipe Out
TOMMY
NGG

Secondary Choices

STTNG
Hook
Batman Forever
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Funhouse
Sharkey Shootout
Roller Coaster Tycoon

Long Shots

BSDracula
Ripleys Believe it or Not
Terminator 3
Dr.Who
Judge Dredd
Diner
the getaway
White water
congo
WorldCupsoccer
No Fear
TFTC
The Shadow
Dr. Who
World Poker Tour

Quoted from Jester

Now I need your help and expertise.

....and after consulting with my wife

Expertise rule#1: I don't know your wife but do NOT buy for her unless she is actually putting money down to buy it. You're the one paying? you're the one picking and you'll be the one playing!

Quoted Text

Top Choices

(really?! see rule #1  )

Austin Powers  (yuk,SKIP)
Jurassic Park (1500-1700, 5,6)
Flintstones (don't...you'll be stuck with it.  1700, 1, 2)
Gilligan's Island (another one you'll be stuck with but I kinda like it... 1500, 7, 5)
Monopoly (????$, 8, 4)
Tee'd Off (1700, 4, 3)
Wipe Out ( stay away, 1300, 3,3)
TOMMY ( 1800, 7,7)
NGG ( 2000+, 8, 2)

Secondary Choices

STTNG (move this to first choices, 2200$, 7,10)
Hook (yuk, skip)
Batman Forever (2000+, 6,?)
Rocky and Bullwinkle (yuk, skip)
Funhouse (2000$, 8,9, fun factor: 11 )
Sharkey Shootout (skip)
Roller Coaster Tycoon (double skip)

Long Shots

BSDracula (1300, 5,10 (awesome game))
Ripleys Believe it or Not (unknown, skip)
Terminator 3
Dr.Who
Judge Dredd
Diner (1500, 10, 7 ..a beauty... long shot indeed)
the getaway (1500, 1,1)
White water (1600, 9,10)
congo (1600, 5, 7)
WorldCupsoccer (1500, 3,
No Fear (1800, 9,
TFTC (1700,7,9 (good one))
The Shadow (1700, 9,10)
Dr. Who (1200, 4,5)
World Poker Tour (skip)


Expertise rule #2: buy a williams/bally first !

Do not move STTNG to the first choice. The thing is a drain pig and may ruin your whole pinball appreciation in a small collection.

Make your long shots your first choices, add NGG in there and throw in a Scared Stiff to really impress the wife.

Not to nit pick, Phil....ok I'm nit picking...

I really, really, really doubt a Funhouse will come up in the $2K range unless it is beat. Nice examples continue to sell in the $2K to $2.5 K USD range. I feel very fortunate to have purchased the super nice one from Enzo at $2,500 CDN.  

Tee'd Off should be about $1,300 CDN not $1,700. It doesn't get alot of love and is actually a good game.

NGG try over $2,500 for a fair example. Mint add $$$.

I agree with Necro and I have a ST:TNG. Do not add that to your list unless you AND your wife are good players; otherwise you will make a HUGE hole in the drywall when you push the damn thing through the wall in frustration.

RCT is not a bad game. I've tried it and liked it, although I couldn't recommend it as I haven't played it enough to really know it.

If your wife is into pinball, get her involved. If she will really play them that is. Perhaps you are one of the fortunate ones that has a wife that likes pinball. In that case, GREAT! Lucky you, choose a game you will both enjoy.

Even though my wife and I played pinball together in University, she doesn't really care for them. Hasn't played one in years. Only game she really likes --- MM!!!! Oh my wallet....I told her not likely to happen unless she gets a good paying job

Of the games you have listed, I think the following are excellent games and good value:

Shadow (awesome, awesome game, will be hard initially)
NF (love mine!)
Congo (surprisingly fun if you don't mind the theme. If you have kids the Gorilla will be a hit)
White Water (great game, hard to find in great condition. Normally $1,800 to $2K in decent shape. Mint expect to pay much more)
WCS (very accessible game, the announcer shouting "GOAL" is a rush and makes you feel like you have accomplished something -- even if you haven't )

I'd also add Jackbot to the list. I have one and it's really a fun game. I might have to sell it for space reasons, but I haven't decided yet. I'm really surprised how much I like the game. Simple rules, yet challenging and addictive. Casino Run is a blast. Still haven't gotten Mega Visor. Getting Super Jackbots is no easy task. In terms of maintenance, there really isn't much in terms of mechanical things so it's relatively easy to maintain. Not much can go wrong (knock on wood).

Now if you want to break the bank and want to buy a game your wife will love, go for Theatre of Magic. I used to have more frequent pinball parties and when I owned ToM, it got played by the ladies big time. For some reason, that game works for them. Plus it's a really fun game that you will enjoy as well, but it's expensive and out of your budget. The ladies also seemed to like IJ, but I think that had more to do with the translite

Duane

Quoted from Mrhide

Expertise rule #2: buy a williams/bally first !

Care to elaborate on that?  

Necro:  A Scared Stiff for under $2k?  I'll take 2!

I don't think WH20 is still a 2K game. It had a run in popularity there a few months ago and I would hazard to guess it probably top side of $2K U.S. after that period.

Not a bad game but the sound quality ruins it for me on that title. I keep wanting to pull the sound board out and cap it each time I play the game.

Quoted from machine.slave

Care to elaborate on that?  

Necro:  A Scared Stiff for under $2k?  I'll take 2!

So would I. I was just poking fun at trying to appease the wife with pinball. My rule is don't even try.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

I don't think WH20 is still a 2K game. It had a run in popularity there a few months ago and I would hazard to guess it probably top side of $2K U.S. after that period.

You're probably right. Occasionally they do seem to come up in the $1,800 CDN or so range, though. Not long ago Johnny Eh had one. At that price, though, a mountains or two will be busted, ramps will be busted, some broken plastics, etc. In the case of the ramps, they are usually hidden and if properly repaired, can work fine. The mountains can be repaired to look decent. You can live with the plastics, so a working example with physical defects, I think, could still be had in his budget, but it will be tough to fine.

A mint example would definately be in the $2,500 USD or more range. The ramps are very, very expensive to replace.

Duane

I did have a decent WH20 for sale, and it took a week or two to sell. So it wasn't under-priced or anything. If it was the 'vultures' here would've snapped it up in under an hour

Yes, I would say your longshots are your most likely pins to acquire, many of your #1's you won't find unless you pay big bucks or mine the US (and it's not necessarily because they're popular games - just more rare to acquire at this stage in their life cycle).

\\who says Austin Powers sucks?  If you like the theme then it's an ok game.  

STTNG you have to play before you buy.  It drains unless you extend the outlane guides or get good at avoiding them.

Austin powers ~ $2200.  I love mine.  Not hard, but if you like the movies or like the character, you will LOVE this game.  The audio is great !