Thought about a Rikon 18" for about $1000?
A lot more saw for a little more money. Everything i've read about them has been really good.
A friend of mine who builds custom furniture ran the wheels off a new Powermatic 14" a couple of years ago. It was soon after they had been bought, and she was completely frustrated with the quality control and unreliability of her saw. She replaced it at the time with a used Harbor Freight (practically free). It actually held up much better than the PM. She kept that set up for small stuff and now has an old Yates American for the rough stuff.
Maybe there's a decent used machine that might suite your needs. I'm a big proponent of buying used, and run a 20" Crescent saw from 1932 and an obscure "Bradley" 17" from about the turn of the last century. I've got less than $200 in them - combined. Just a thought.
Have fun with the hunt.
paulh