O.K., lets let the dust settle before we get too excited. I've actually been following this and have had a few discussions. The $5000.00 ski is and entry level ski, if I were going to compare it to a ski, I would say it roughly compares to a 95XP 720. I once owned a 95XP a nice reliable ski, but a bit underpowered.
This is just speculation on my part, but what's going to be the price when you add the options, gauges, IBR, graphics options, storage options, I guess we will just have to wait and see.
The other thing that concerns me is how repair friendly are these new SeaDoo's going to be. I work at a car dealership and I know that the new cars are practically impossible for the shade tree mechanic to work on. At least half of the fixes are a computer software upgrade. Are these new SeaDoo's going in this direction? I don't know.
This last comment is for Nick and Jess, I don't think you have anything to worry about, there's always going to be cheap bastards like me who enjoy keep these old 2-stroke ski's running, and actually like doing the work ourselves.
I'm not trying to be negative, I just like to take a realistic view about what's happening. I fully embrace the new spark and I think this is a great marketing strategy for BRP, all I'm saying is lets take a deep breath and see what happens. Personally I don't think I would buy one unless it can match the performance of a 96XP.
Lou
Added: All that being said, if I were a new buyer, and comparing it to a used ski, I would snap one up in a minute. Nothing like owning a new anything, car, truck, ski.