I'm offering a challenge. I have a $250 budget, and am trying to find a low-cost, but well performing telescope. Does anyone have any ideas?

I'm sorta looking for the same thing

Contact your local amateur astronomy group. Members might have ones they wish to sell or know of ones. There are regular trade meetings and stargazing events where you might be lucky.

Google for SA TX

http://www.google.com/search?q=amateur+astronomy+clubs+san+antonio&btnG=Google+Search&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&as_qdr=all

Thor, I might have found us a winner from Orion.
http://www.telescope.com

They have a small telescope meant for beginners that, with a little easy work, would make a great small urban telescope. It's called the Spaceprobe 3, and it comes on an aluminum equatorial tripod. The scope itself is '3 with a focal of 700mm. That's not really a bad deal for it's price / performance value. Considering too who makes it...?

Their is a clock drive available for it, zoom lenses, and with a Telrad finderscope, I bet you this little scope would meet all my needs for sure! As I see it, I would start off well on my budget like so:

Telescope & Tripod $99
Padded Case $48.95
EQ-1M Electronic Drive $59.95

TOTAL (including shipping) $220.85

A Telrad could be bought down the road for around $50 and zoom lenses for the same price. Does anyone have any input on my choice?

Wow, not bad. All I have to do is figure out howmuch it costs to ship it to England and put insurance on it. I might as well buy an expensive one :(

Thanks anyway, I'll keep looking