Recommended first turntable?

Not to be a killjoy but I dont know if you are going to give vinyl a fair shot at that budget...its just much more costly to get fair sound. I went thru 4 tables in range from $100 to $800 used and was close to giving up because like you I dont have the extra cash, now I have a SOTA table ($600 or so used) a Rega RB300 arm ($250 used) a Audiotechnica cart ($400) and a Musical Surroundings Phonomena stage wich can be had used around $350 so that comes in at $1300 and it still has flaws, I like it but lets not fool ourselves. I and you will also need a cleaning machine, atleast I do as I buy alot of used albums. If you can double our budget you will be happy and happy longer without flipping tables...all my opinion of course but I think it is valid and I am trying to help.

If you're not willing to spring $400-475 for a Technics Sl 1200, I recommend you get the Audio Technica DD all-manual knockoff AT PL120 (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3Bvjrt9AR8i/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10500&I=057ATPL120) or the automatic belt drive Denon DP300F (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3Bvjrt9AR8i/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10500&I=033DP300F).

Both have a built-in phono preamp if you want to get up and running into a line-level preamp or receiver.

how about a vintage table as a starter? something like a nice clean Luxman PD-26x, 27x, or 28x direct-drive springs to mind. pop a new grado or AT cartridge on it and you're there. more knowledgable folks could speak to other recommended vintage tables.

If all your gonna spend is $250 don't even bother.