The better Tacoma mandolins seemed okay to me sound-wise, and I like the offbeat design. My guess is that you'll need to play several to find one which really grabs you, and don't forget that store worn strings don't flatter an instrument much.
I've been playing a Moon mandolin for over a year now and have been more than satisfied. It's no bluegrass banjo killer, but it's great for folk, celtic, hymns, and even a bit of classical music.
The mandolin which has surprised me the most lately is a Breedlove A style, the cheaper one in fact. Not being a great fan of their guitars I was impressed with the mandolin.
Have you done a Mudcat search? We've discussed mandolins quite a bit in the past.