Another thought, and it helps if you're proficient with working on bikes. Once you find a few models you're interested in, try and pick one up used. craigslist is great for used bikes. If you've worked on bikes before, I have rarely seen a bike in such disrepair that a few bucks worth of parts and a good tune-up couldn't fix. I purchased a Trek OCLV 9800 mountain bike for $500. I believe it came out around 98 or so, so it is older, but it was in awesome condition and it was light! What came next? I ripped the mountain bike tires off and replaced them with Michelin road-slicks. The handlebar neck was really low and too far out for comfort, I replaced it with a neck that could be adjusted low or high with an allen wrench and also added an additional 2" extension (I prefer to ride upright when I commute.) The handlebar shifters were cutting into my hands, so those went, replaced by trigger shifters. I was getting carpal tunnel in my wrists, so the handlebars were replaced with H-tec handlebars. I won't talk about what bodypart was aching due to my seat, but I replaced the seat with an all leather one with spring absorbers in the back (the best purchase of all my parts, it's riddiculously comfortable). Lastly, I replaced the clip in pedals with PD A 520's. These are great as one side has the clip-ins when you have your bike shoes, and the other side is a flat pedal so you can ride with any shoes. After all is said and done, my modified Trek is the most awesome commute bike I could have ever imagined. I LOVE riding it everywhere and recently bought a biknd helium bike bag so I can take it on trips and have my own bike with me. It was great tooling around San Diego and the Hawaiian islands! Good luck with your purchase.