Good buy? 2001 Seadoo XP w/bad engine

[speedster98]

I'm looking at buying a 2001 Seadoo XP. The price is $1300. Everything but the engine is in great shape with only a little cloudiness on the grey body and a small tear on the seat. The engine has been checked by a local shop and will need to be replaced, says the seals are bad and low compression, wanting to charge $2000. He has a box of parts that include new carbs and the engine turns freely in the ski with no grinding. Im thinking about taking this on as a off-season project ski. Would this be a good deal and worth it? Im going tomorrow to see this in person, anything in particular I should look at and or watch out for? The ski came from Florida, then to Dallas, then to this guy who has only had if for a month and reselling due price being so high to fix. Title is still from Texas but has been signed over to current owner. I would be the 3rd signature on it and titling it here in Oklahoma. I don't foresee any problems, but please correct me if wrong. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

his price is too high. I'm an experienced buyer.

$750 absolute max.
let me repeat... $750 aboslute max, and i'm being generous, this assumes a very nice trailer and low hours (hoping crank is good). You honestly shouldn't pay more than $600-$650 at best...

not only that, its a Florida Ski.... salt water baby.

Keep looking.... call him in the morning, tell him that IF it looks really good... you MIGHT be willing to pay $750 and not a penny more.

I can cite at least 10 examples where i've paid less than $700 for skis that meet that very description, Florida Ski's. and honestly even running good, its worth around $2500 tops...$3000 on a perfect day, so you'll have $3300 invested in a $3000 ski.

this assumes the mechanic's assesment is accurate, that engine needs to go... perhaps you get lucky and only need a top end, a 2nd opinion, maybe a 3rd, would be recommended b4 you take it to this guy. But assume the worst,hope for the best. If the seller gets $1300 for it, he's a better salesman than me AND he found a sucker.

maybe your prices are higher in Oklahama, so adjust 10% if you wish, that means $800ish max. But you can get Florida ski's that need engines all day long for under $600 down here.

 

[nammer]

i trust spim's advice, he's experienced! best of luck with your decision

 

[LouDoo]

I agree, in my opinion this ski has a couple of things I don't like, other than the price (which is way too much). Personally I don't like the hull design, and the 951 engine is not that reliable, I would try to find something with the X4 hull and a 787.

Lou

 

[ski-d00]

That hull design is great, imo, can get much deeper in turns than the X4 and the shock seat is great for rough water but we'll save that debate for another time.

but the price is high. I typically pay $750 for nice clean newer xpls with bad engines on decent single place trailers. bought a 98 xpl for $600 that needs rebuilt on nice shorlandr trailer. A couple weeks ago I bought an 03 xpdi for $650 with a shorlander trailer. It had a hole in the cases but I had a nice set of di cases on the shelf and it's already back on the water being broke in and will be for sale in the spring.

So, even if it's super clean and shows no signs of saltwater corrosion or rust, it's only worth a max of $800 on a single place and for that the body better look like new.

 

[Dr Honda]

$500 to $800 is all it's worth. But, it sounds like it has other issues, like a ripped seat, and some cosmetics.

The real problem is... even if you put in a new engine... you have have carbs that are messed up, or electronics that are burnt out. And... when you buy a "Project" ski... when you are done... you should have less $$$ into it, that the street value is, since you also have your time and labor involved.



I always laugh at the craigslist adds I see that they want full valve of the broken ski, minus the projected parts price.


Last thing... if all it needed was an engine... and the ski didn't have any other issues... don't you think that they would fix it, and then sell it as a running ski? (for maximum value) When I see broken skis... that tells me that the owner is tired of chasing problems.

 

[speedster98]

Definitely a no go then. Thank you all for your help in making a informed decision What would be a good price range to look at for 96-97 xp? We would like to get a fun ski to compliment the speedster when its just me and my wife at the lake. Right now there is a guy that is asking $4100 for 2 96 xp's on a double trailer, sounds like he is asking way too much. It seems like everyone is asking well over $1000 on the places I have looked. Where are some good places to be looking at for good deals? Would the fall or spring be the better time to be looking?

 

[seadoodoopartsofcf]

Offer him 1600.00 for both ski's and see what he says...I do it all the time...worst he can do is call you and your whole family horrible names and hang up the phone on you.

 

[Hghgrad]

$4100 would get you a lot nicer/newer than 96's in Michigan. Seems a bit high...but we can only use that stuff for a few months a year here

 

[Hghgrad]

Correction to my above post. Looking on CL, I found a pair of 96 XP's for $4000. Guess the asking price for what you're looking at isnt that far off.


Same year gtx's are going for $1200 each.

 

[dancundiff12]

You just gave him the best advice he could get 951s don't like water.

 

[seadoodoopartsofcf]

To be honest...I go with like a 98 gsx they extended the hull to take out the porpoising it's almost like an xp without the bouncing.

O'tay

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Lol. $700 at most. And only because I have a 01 seat in my basement already.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

for the record, i have no issues with lowballing.
the last ski I bought I offered half what he asked for, he said, no, I showed him the $100 bills, added a $50, and yes said yes... money talks !