I'd support boomerangben on the EC 120 as a private helicopter. Most of the negatives you hear are from people who try to run it commercially with 4 pax, golf clubs and luggage, and that will not work with useful fuel.
But for the average private owner who rarely gets to MTOW, it is a clean machine, spouse/partner friendly, and the support from EC gets better by the month. From a low base, admittedly, but there is a big effort amongst their people I have worked with.
Go for low hour post 1993, and check that all the applicable engineering SBs have been done. If you can afford a new one, then go for it, and enjoy the warranty.
FWIW