Possible daft question regarding rotovators

Unfortunately budget won't stretch to a Mantis (which are almost 600€ here)

I've found a similar sized one, which isn't branded, but has a Briggs & Stratton engine.  The parts are probably made in China, but assembly would have been in France.

This is the only one I have found so far which is only 40cm wide, the others are  two and a half foot, which will be far too big for my garden (not to mention also over budget)

So when it comes to rotators, is it the engine which is the important bit, or the overall build quality?  This particular machine is just 249€, which is pretty cheap compared to most of the others I've seen (though the others are also bigger, as stated).

Does that sound a fair price, or should I keep looking?

Having used a variety of machines myself, I'd say the overall machine is more important. If you get cheap foreign cast body parts, they easily crack or break off if bumped, hit hard stones, etc, and there's no repairing them. You can't weld or glue cast parts back on.

The B&S engines are usually pretty good but my personal experience is that Honda engines are better, but I wouldn't pass on a good machine for the sake of the engine. Can you find a dealer who handles used Mantis machines? Maybe for sale listings on them?

All depends onto what you need the cultivator.
Differents soils puts differents demands on the machine.

Eninges.
B&S are made in China nowadays...

Honda Engines are said to be far better than B&S, so is their pricetags as well...

I've used my Mantis where a Howard GEM would be an appropriate machine - the Mantis is still running as if nothing.

250 quid is a lot of Money... you will get an excellend 2nd hand Mantis for that amount.
However, if all you need the machine for is soft topsoil - then nearly all contraptions will work ok and last many years if you tend to them well (oil, grease, Clean, correct fuel); should you need to work in harder soil... then your option is Mantis, Howard GEM (or corresponding), BCS, SEP, Irus, Goldini, Valpadena, etc and so on - these do however set you back quite a few bobbs more though...

Best advice:
- get a 2nd hand Mantis (since funds will not allow for a brand new)

Thanks, I actually bought a Mantis in the end   I just have the pleasure of putting it together (which could be fun), and for the ground to dry out, and hopefully I'll be tilling this weekend