Yes I think I'm going to go with a gsx 100% Thank you for your opinions!
So what would be a good price for the 99 gsx 951 with 77 hours? And also for the 97 gsx 782cc with less than 10 hours on new engine?
assuming clean hulls, and nice trailer, clear title, etc
here in florida,,
99 gsx 951 $1900 to 2200ish (but i've seen $1500)
97 gsx 787 $1500 to 1800ish (but i've seen $1100)
if it has old battery, grey fuel lines, rusty trailer, then on the lower side...or even lower, if it has good battery, black fuel lines, clean trailer, then on high side... , with subtractions for hull condition.
if the "new" engine only has 10 hours, i'd love to see paperwork, was it a complete rebuild, or a top end job and a can of rattle paint making it look "new" if it was complete rebuild, new crank, etc, reputable shop, then that increases the value,
if the "new: engine ski still has grey fuel lines, assume the worst, (old crank, etc) nobody worth their salt would replace the engine w/o replacing those crap lines. a ski with 10 hours on the engine should be spotless inside the hull IMO, no dirt, grunge, oil, clean carbs, black fuel lines, yada yada... oh, and make sure its a sealed agm battery , not a cheapo wally world acid battery with the 6 little plugs in it.
flashlight test is important, take your time and look slowly and carefully thru the entire inside of the hull, compression test IMO is very important, water test as well if it can be arranged. as a buyer, i'd love to have a water test, or at LEAST have an owner that doesn't say 'no friggen way'
look over the ski and trailer, very closely, nicks, scratches, dirt, grease grime, ask owner which oil they use, and have them show you the can of oil, and make sure they used api-tc oil and NOT tcw3, ask them if they flushed if they rode salt/brackish and have them show you where the flush kit is, where the flush fitting is... hold out for life jackets, tow ropes, make sure fire extinguisher is in there etc.. trailer bearings quiet, tires in good shape, springs rusty, lights work, etc ??? if you buy it, have him show you how to flush it... etc.
Has he had it serviced, when and by whom, has he added grease into the zerk fittings ? has pump been serviced? how does prop look thru the pump, is the grate in good shape, ride plate? how about the bottom of the hull, is paint missing ?
all these things reduce the value.
if you don't like the answers you get from the owner, consider walking away,
most of the ski's I purchase are broken down ski's so maybe i'm overlooking something, but as a seller, i might suggest some other buyer "tips & tricks"
1) bring cash, show the cash, lowball and let him see the cash, all $100's,, they're pretty, if he's been selling this on CL, he's probably had a buyer or 3 already stiff him and not show up, they will lowball him over the phone, promise to buy but never come back, etc.. cash is king, he might have hit his frustration point and be willing to take money in hand. and us humans, we reach our frustration point right around the 3rd idiot that calls us about that dam ski.... (his wife is already pissed at him because on Thursday they sat around the dam house for 3 hours because some CL idiot was coming by to buy the ski)
2) show up early, try to catch the seller unprepared, at least 15 minutes.
ask lots of questions, where do you ride, with whom, how often, get a good feel.
don't ask "you flush it everytime right ? " he'll always say yes to that
ask, do you flush it? if yes, then ask, can you show me how you flush it I'll need to know, a good owner can do that in his sleep.
look around the sellers garage, is he a mechanic/flipper, with parts, stands, projects on the workbench? sometimes that's a good thing but sometime's its bad if he frankensteined a motor together with swept off the garage floor parts and painted it to look "rebuilt"
look at it in the daytime, in the driveway so you can get a really good look at it, not at night in a back yard, or a dark garage.
is the registration current? does the owners name on the title, and the guy your talking to have the same name ? ask him when he bought it then look at the title to see when was the title last transferred. does the story match ?
if he's owned it for 6 month or less, his story better be good, or i'd be leery.
phew.. i'm tired....
WOW! Thankyou VERY much Spimothy for this awesome write-up. This will help me out a TON! I'm going to print this out and take it with me when I go see the seadoo LOL. I really appreciate the help! I don't know why but the seadoos here are really expensive!
