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OK. So I've been in 3 tubs and am ruling out the Hot Spring SX. DID NOT LIKE IT. I'm so glad I wet tested them. The jets were so strong I had to turn them down and I felt like I was yelling to talk to the salesman. Totally wrong spa for us. Now I'm really torn between a Freeflow Passport with lots of jets for about $3000 (2 year warranty) and a gently USED Marquis Mirage (from 2009) which will come with a full 5 year warranty at around $4500. It's used, but from a dealer. Honestly, I liked the jets better on the Freeflow. But the Mirage is SO much prettier to look at all around, and has some nice features like a big enough ledge to sit on if you just want your feet in, as well as the ozonator. All in all, they are VERY similar and I'm really not sure what to do. Is 3 more years of a warranty work $1500? How much do you care what the exterior looks like?This is harder than buying a car.
The story I've been told is that it was bought 3 years ago and sat in storage. Then they set it up, used it for a year, but had to move so they asked this same dealer they bought it from if he would buy it back. So he's considering it 1 year into the warranty, but is willing to offer it at the full 5 years. He's going to service it himself.Suddenly I'm nervous about it. He didn't tell me on the phone that the one he had to show me was used and an older model, and now I'm suddenly bothered by it. He had said something about "giving me a good deal on the floor model" but not that it was used. And I drove about 50 minutes to see this tub for it to end up NOT being the tub I thought I was going to see. The newer model has a lot more bells and whistles (and jets). He also says the new ones cost $6600, while over the phone he said it was in the $5000 range.It's kind of making me like the Freeflow better. I at least feel like I know what I'm getting. I'm just nervous about the only 2 year warranty, and if that means as soon as 2 years are up, the thing it breaking down all the time. I've never owned a hot tub before, so I haven't the faintest idea how much one should expect to have to "service" it.Any ideas?
A 5 year old floor model? That whole thing would make me uneasy. Also, the warranty is from him, not the manufacturer, I'd be hesitant to consider that equal. If a spa has a major issue the good manufactures take care of their customers because its a single spa out of thousands they sell. If the dealer has to cover that himself its more of an issue plus do you really know he is covering everything to the same degree?