As long as you not going into competitive downhilling I'd still buy a decent hardtail mate.

Off the top of my head decent brands: Kona, Scott, some GT's (some are a bit cheap), Specialized, Orange (very expensive). There are others but without trawling through books which I can't be arsed to ! The ones mentioned are the usual suspects.

Be careful if buying used - check the frame very carefully for hairline cracks and fractures. Difficult and can be expensive to repair properly.