Looking for a New Iron

I second the Rowenta. They are hotter than average, have steam options, and many do NOT have auto-shut off features, which is super nice for quilters!

I have an ordinary Sunbeam 3030 - it's worked fine for years. It has enough options for temp, steam & spray, plus a see-through water reservoir so there's no guesswork involved. It does not have an auto shut off so it's good for long projects.

I bought my mother (a seamstress) a very narrow iron (I think at a craft/fabric store) that allows her to get into corners, cuffs & sleeves very easily. If you need to work in small areas, that might be an option.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend a Rowenta. I have owned a couple. They cost a lot more, and mine don't seem to last very long. Granted, I iron a LOT, but you would think that an iron this expensive could hold up to being used...to iron. I will never buy one again. I currently have a Kenmore iron that I like a lot. It's in the mid price range. Mine is bright orange, which I wasn't thrilled about, but it is one of my favorite irons that I've owned. It has a stainless steel plate, which is very nice, and the plate is also quite large compared to most.
If you want to try to salvage your old iron, you might try running vinegar through it a few times to see if that cleans it out. Irons do need to be cleaned out periodically.

I have a Rowenta-and as much as I hate ironing, I love this iron. My mom used a t-fal for years, she borrowed a Rowenta and then bought one. I don't know how much they are, mine was a gift. You just have to make sure you read all the cleaning instructions etc, the goo will happen with any iron-esp if you don't use the steam very often. I've used it for just ironing and for crafts-and ironing on my daughters girl scouts patches :).