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Nubie Request - Finally going to buy a Sea Doo, need Advice

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TOBASCO

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Greetings -

Our family, for years, has wanted to buy a couple of Sea Doo PWC, but was forbidden by our mother. She has finally relented and now we're in the market for a couple. Problem is that I haven't kept up with the advances and changes over the years, and am hoping you can help me with some fundamental issues. We're not looking for the top of the line luxury model, but don't necessarily want the cheapest either, unless you all think the new Spark is a great machine. We mainly want a fun, dependable, relatively quick and good maneuvering Sea Doo, and possibly even to tow a tube.

1. Any specific recommendations based on the things above?
2. Are there any "must have's" as well as "don't do/buy this"?
3. Is the Spark, with a few add ons be a good starting point?, or should we look at the recreation models?
4. Let's say our budget was $16-20,000, including a dual trailer - what would be your recommendations?

Thanks for any and all your assistance. :thumbsup:
 
The Spark is a GREAT machine for what it is. Financially it is an entry level ski. Performance, you will get every pennies worth. For its size it is pretty stable. The 4=tec engines that are in most of the newer skis are very good engines. There are a few that had know issues which are fixable. 2004 to 2006 4-tec engines had a hollow core sodium filled exhaust valve that would fail and cause severe damage. Either avoid this engine if you do not want to replace them with the update solid core. Super Charger (SC), from 2003 to 2008 they had a Ceramic Washer that would fail and fall into the engine and cause damage to the engine, or, at the very least required the engine to get pulled so you could clean out all the ceramic part.

SC's require being rebuilt every 100 hours or two years. Most go beyond the years as they don't get 100 hours hours in two years time. That said, I would not go past 4 or 5 years no matter the hours as the bearing cages can get hard and fail.

Officially, in 2008 the SC had metal washer, but we have seen many early build with Ceramic Washers. 09 and new came with metal washer but must follow the same rebuild rules as everything else is basically the same.

For the money you are willing to spend, I think you could get two 3-seater skis with some nice goodies. In 2011 I bout two NEW untitled skis for just over 20 grand. The GTX will give you a luxury ride and decent to good performance depending on the engine setup. The RX series will give you TONS of performance. So do some digging and post what you find, we will steer you from there..
 
Yeah...that is a nice budget to have...opens up all sorts of possibilities.
As CoastieJoe noted above, the newer 4 stroke engines are nice from a maintenance point of view, as well as others. Your local CRAIGSLIST should have a scad of offerings by now, but as always, buyer beware regardless of which way you go.
 
The GTI SE 130 is the best bang for the buck as far as options, stability, ride comfort, and reliability. Plenty quick in sport mode and still near 60mph top end. It's well worth the extra money over the 3 seater spark imo.
 
I recently rode a GTI with the 130 in it and I have to tell you I was shocked. I didn't expect it to perform as well as it did.

The only hting I would caution you on, the 130 engine is not one that you should modify. It just isn't desinged like the 155 for example.



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O.K., this is just my opinion, and I apologize in advance to Spark owners. I don't own a Spark but I have see several and have ridden on. I know the Spark is an entry level ski, but to me the quality of build was just not there and the hull seems flimsy, and one you get a Spark equipped the way you want it, it's not much cheaper than the GTI 130, to me the GTI 130 is just a more substantial ski. To me the choice would be clear the GTI 130.

All that being said it depends a lot on the type riding you intend to do, it's kinda like comparing a dirt bike (the Spark) to a Honda Gold Wing (the GTI).

It's not the best time of the year to do this but the other option you may want to consider is something used, either a private sale or from a dealer.

Lou
 
Thanks all! This info really helps.

Curious, if buying new, what kind of discounts, if any, should I expect from a dealer?
 
There is very little difference between all the 4tec engines. For example, the only difference between the 130 and the 155 is the camshaft and the ECU. For the SC versions versus the NA ones there are more differences like pistons but still basically the same engine with lots of parts interchangeable.

You can get great deals right now on leftover 14s, BRP has a $1000 rebate on most of them just to move them and the dealers will give a better price on top of that. Just call around and just tell them your looking for the best deal and don't mind driving to get it. Be careful of add ons that dealers will throw in without telling you like dealer prep, etc. Make sure you get the out the door price.
 
Caverjim -

I'm assuming they were 155's? Wouldn't a relatively nicely equipped GTI 130 be around 9,300? How much better is the 155? Just in top speed?
 
Unless you're talking about the GTI Limited. That is a really bad deal. MSRP is $10k on the GTI SE 130 but you should be able to get it for less than $9k and that's on a 15. You may be able to find a 14 for less than $8k. A standard GTI 130 is $9300 for a 15 MSRP. It won't take much searching to find dealers who will give considerably better prices than MSRP.
 
I think its time to make some phone calls to dealers within a reasonable driving distance and see what kind of numbers you can get, I'd still personally like to see someone spend 11-12K for two nice used models, but i'm a known cheap azz.
 
so many choices to go from here. If you want less maintenance I would go with non-supercharged 4-tecs. Those rebuilds are around $500 or more to do every 100 hours. All jetski's pretty much don't go over the 60MPH limit. They are designed like that on purpose so now with the 4-tecs the only real difference is your acceleration and options to get with them. 3 seaters are better for resale value everyone one wants 3 seats even if just 1 person rides them. Used you can usually get good deals a few year old models that someone just wants out of them. New I think you just take to big hit on them unless you need to finance. If you have cash look a few year old ones and pocket the rest of the money.
 
howie099 said:
so many choices to go from here. If you want less maintenance I would go with non-supercharged 4-tecs. Those rebuilds are around $500 or more to do every 100 hours. All jetski's pretty much don't go over the 60MPH limit. They are designed like that on purpose so now with the 4-tecs the only real difference is your acceleration and options to get with them. 3 seaters are better for resale value everyone one wants 3 seats even if just 1 person rides them. Used you can usually get good deals a few year old models that someone just wants out of them. New I think you just take to big hit on them unless you need to finance. If you have cash look a few year old ones and pocket the rest of the money.
Click to expand...

I disagree a bit here.

Isn't a sc rebuild closer to 400 and "retail" ie: you can get it done cheaper with a handy local guy or do it yourself ?

Also most newer craft that I ride with are 65+, not 60. My ski runs 62 all day and I am almost always the slowest ski in the group.

Having had a little bit of seat time on the sc and non sc seadoo models, I would never buy a non sc unless it was an absolute bargain price tag.
 
Spimothy Leary said:
I disagree a bit here.

Isn't a sc rebuild closer to 400 and "retail" ie: you can get it done cheaper with a handy local guy or do it yourself ?

Also most newer craft that I ride with are 65+, not 60. My ski runs 62 all day and I am almost always the slowest ski in the group.

Having had a little bit of seat time on the sc and non sc seadoo models, I would never buy a non sc unless it was an absolute bargain price tag.
Click to expand...

I own one of each SC'd and not SC'd. I always ride my SC'd ski and my wife and or guests ride the stock 155. I will ALWAYS own a SC'd ski. The performance is nothing shy of impressive. That said, they do come at a cost. The machine cost more whn you buy it and there is a rebuild cost every 2 or 3 years ish.. For me, worth every penny.
 
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