I'd like to hear recommendations for Turntables under $5,000

Thanks Everyone for your suggestions. I like the idea of Michelle and found an Orbe I may pursue.  

I don't think one should put the DD candidates in the same basket with the BD candidates, but I do think one can buy a superb turntable for under $5000, if one is willing to buy a used or refurbished unit.  Or any one of the current production turntables mentioned already. First, decide whether you prefer DD or BD.  Then choose among the many very good candidates in these two categories.  That's homework for the OP.

I'll just add the Kenwood L07D (about $3500, usually), and even the Denon DP80 ($1000 for a fully restored one), to the list.  The L07D comes with integral plinth that is state of the art even by current standards and a fine tonearm made for Kenwood by Micro-Seiki.  The DP80 needs a suitable plinth. By the way, I don't know why a DD with motor by M-S is per se going to be top tier; M-S never made a really great DD.  This is not to say that the Luxman is not also superb.

Nandric, You crack me up.  We (in the English speaking world) are taught that Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake".  But I suppose the starving French masses could have resorted to cookies as well, in lieu of bread.  But she was Austrian, was she not? Maybe she said "Let them eat sacher torte". That would have put a great strain on all the bakeries in Vienna, I'm sure.

Michell Orbe is a fantastic turntable.

lewm:
You make a point on DD vs BD, but too confining for what I was looking for. I did not want to restrict the audience other than the metrics I gave. If I had defined it further, no Kenwood and no Denon, but I hear you.

Although you didn't explicitly say so, it sounds like you're looking for another BD, like your Thorens or like the VPI turntables you named.  There's nothing wrong with that.