What do we like for hobbyist/homeowner multimeters?

After close to 30 years of occasional use, it looks like my mostly trusty old multimeter is on its way out.  It still measures voltage and impedance well enough, which is what I use it for most of the time, but it's now switching modes on its own without anyone touching the Select button.  Not ideal.  And what manner of abuse has this poor old thing been subjected to?  Not much, really.  Checking AC and DC voltage, verifying resistance of <ahem> resistors, checking circuit continuity, that sort of thing.  Just light-duty general homeowner, hobbyist, and automotive use.

"So", I hear you asking, "what is this marvel of consumer electronics?"  Don't be jealous, people.  This is the new-for-'95 Radio Shack 22-163.  I got this as a gift and was prepared to dismiss it as an inexpensive entry-level unit until the internet told me it originally carried a retail price of $49.95.   Good grief.  Anyway, here's your centerfold.

I also have an impressively heavy old Simpson 260 (and probably enough parts to build another) as a backup, but I am not nearly familiar enough with it yet to be comfortable grabbing it for most tasks, and it is not nearly as handy.  I'll go ahead and pop the Radio Shack unit apart and look for cold solder joints to re-flow, maybe replace a component if failure is visibly evident.  Maybe it just needs a little love.

Meanwhile, it seems prudent to have a backup plan.  Considering I am not an electrician or electronics tech making my living off the thing, I do not need pro-grade stuff.  I also want to avoid outright junk and have little faith in HF or in most anything sold in blister pack plastic at Daddy Weekender outlets.  Is there a default meter, something like the Camry of multimeters, that people who just generally need a multimeter can pick up with relative confidence?

Pro tip: cropdusting a one-word response of "Fluke" and walking away is less helpful than one might think.  Although I hate the cliche, let's head that off at the pass.

I'd recommend my MAC tools meter but it was over $500 and it's a Fluke in a red case.

I've heard really good things about the Innova brand meters on Amazon but I've never tried one personally. 

In reply to ShawnG :

Oh, very sneaky...

Thanks.  I will check out Innova stuff. 

This slipped my mind last night.  The one thing my existing meter doesn't do that might be handy is measure capacitance.

In reply to DarkMonohue :

Mine doesn't check capacitance. 

It does have an inductive pickup which allows it to be used as a tachometer. This pickup also seems to be unable to work through the insulation on an ignition cable to it's actually almost useless. 

Not sure if that feature is common to other meters but at this point, I wouldn't pay extra for it.

I bought myself a Klein auto ranging backlit meter when it was on sale at Home Depot and have had good luck with it. It was about $35. I bought my dad one of the Amazon special Innovas when his meter had the leads go bad - the new meter wasn't much more than a replacement set of leads for his worn out meter - and I've never heard a complaint about it. I would if it didn't work so I'd say it's serving him well. I doubt you'd go wrong with either a Klein or an Innova. 

There are "budget" Fluke meters (sub $100, even sub-$50) which are supposed to be pretty good based on YouTube tests.  Be aware that some are 'grey market' imports (Chinese Domestic Market?) and may or may not have warranty coverage.

I got an AstroAI CM4K0R (replaced a very disappointing Craftsman which replaced a pre-1992 Micronta 22-194).  It seems okay but not any kind of transcendental spiritual experience.  I have not used it enough to tell durability, and I have certainly not used all of the thousand features it has. 

I use an Ideal brand clamp on meter at work.  I am on my 3rd one at this point in about 15 years, not because of the tool, because I'm a dummy.  But all 3 have worked perfectly.

I snatched up a used Fluke 87 from a guy close to Angry's house for $75 a few years ago.  Family member passed away and he was clearing out stuff.  Before that I used a RS unit just like the one pictured in this thread.  

A good Fluke will last nearly forever if its not abused, and sometimes even if they are abused. Best to find a good used one that any budget meter. Seems like good cheap parts like Radio Shack used to sell dont exist anymore.