check out used stuff on craigslist, ebay, and the classifieds. You can buy a whole lot of compressor for not that much money if you shop around.
For example I was looking for a Quincy because I've heard they are one of the best, long lasting and reliable, most models even have oil pumps and spin on filters. I found a nice one on ebay, two compressors capable of 10 hp (run with 2hp each at lower RPM) on a single 125 gallon tank. Won the bid for something less than $150 and gave a friend $100 to pick it up for me. I've sense spent a couple hundred more on oil, plumbing, and electrical stuff but its a several thousand dollar compressor and I've only got a small fraction of that in it. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2604060520080251109graBTh
Here's a really boring (but quick) video of it running
Check out used ones, even if you need to rebuild it you're likely to have less in it than buying new and a better quality compressor in the long run.
