Help I need Help

[Tom Tsagnos]

Good day all  

I have new to the sight and like what I am reading...

I have been in the market for about 1 year and cannot make up my mind.
I live in Chicago and need a good quality easy to use spa with good power. It seems that Catalina, Hot Springs, LA Spas and Coleman and the main lines offered here.

I was leaning toward Catalina until Spa Salesman said to try to get the warranty. I know that Hot Springs is probably the best but I am tall 6.2 and think that they may not be deep enough that is why I was leaning toward Catalina or even LA Spas.

Can anyone just give me one easy answer.... one all around decent spa?

My needs:
Easy to operate
Easy to maintain and cheap too
Good Quality - but not too too expensive
Must seat 5 - 6 poeple and have a lounger

ANy thoughts

[Ed]

Tom,
First (and everyone will tell you this) wet-test the spa.
Next, while deep is important, length and width is too.  A deep, narrow spa isn't any good if you're looking for a lounger.  Also keep in mind that too deep a spa will not be enjoyable for people shorter than 5'4" or so.  
And, there is no easy answer as to what is best.  You need to test drive a few models.  While I too am in the search mode, I have learned alot and have found that  going "cheap" could be quite expensive in the long run.  Chicago, like the northeast, has rough winters and good insulation (top and bottom) is important.  Accept the fact that buying and owning a spa is  fairly pricey to begin with.  Don't cut corners.

P.S.- I've narrowed my search to Sundance and D-1.

[KL Enterprises]

Tom,
This may not help much, but here goes....
There is no easy answer. The spa must fit you AND YOUR NEEDS!
Coleman is one of the quietest spas I sold through my stores. They are very comfortable. I believe they are "high end".
Hot Springs is an excellent spa. It also has a good warranty. Also, high-end.
Catalina has more "bells and whistles" than the rest.
Personally, my vote would be for LA. It has some of the bells and whistles you may have liked on Catalina. It is at least as comfortable as Coleman (maybe more!). Factory response from LA (I was a dealer of theirs) was always good. Overall I put them as good as virtually any spa made! I think LA will give you the best "value".
Email me and I'll send you my 4 page description of "value".
Remember, all the above is my opinion. I am familiar with all 4 spas.
Well, Good Luck!
Ken

[spaman--]

Thats a classic and I bet it would read differently today!

[windsurfdog]

I live in Chicago and need a good quality easy to use spa with good power....

Tom,
Be sure to check with salesdvl here on this board.  He is a dealer in the Chicago area and pops in here from time to time....and he's a great guy.....

[bulmer4nc]

I never quite understood the point in digging up 4 or 5 year old posts like this...   :-/

[drewstar]

Easy to operate.....From what I've seen  "operating" the tubs are all pretty straight forward and after a few soaks you'll  get the feel for the spa's diverereters and pumps and keypad.   Don't get too hung up on "operating"

To maintain the tub, some have more filters than others, and depending on use and your faithfulness to keeping the water clean, once again  I don't think one brand is superior to others.  You might want to read up on ozinators, and see if that's an option you want.

[wmccall]

Tom,

There are lots of good choices.  You mentioned depth and being 6'2. I am also 6'2. You also mentioned warranties.

I love my Dynasty and several models offer tubs with varying depth seats.  Do you have family or will have guests?  In my tub I move around and hit the different seats.  The seat with the neck jets is the deepest, and the lounger fits me just right.  

The warranty as explained by my dealer was 5 year, no fault, which has been good so far.  (cover and cover lifter were 1 year)


I was just in Chicago and I typed in a couple of zip codes that I remembered (Stayed in Addison, and was in Franklin Park)  Seems there are a couple of choices.

[wmccall]

I never quite understood the point in digging up 4 or 5 year old posts like this...   :-/

And I fall for it every time!  I almost never check the post date.  Chas loves to do that to me.

[shabba34]

The original post is from 2000???

[drewstar]

The original post is from 2000???

WTF? Is someone just trying to create "chatter" on the site ?

[Spatech_tuo]

Tom,

There are lots of good choices.  You mentioned depth and being 6'2. I am also 6'2.

Bill,
That post is so old, I bet Tom is probably about 6'0" by now.

[obi wan]

hey! look at the bright side. if tom bought a "less than stellar" tub over 5 years ago, he could be looking for a replacement  even as we type our responses... .

[wmccall]

hey! look at the bright side. if tom bought a "less than stellar" tub over 5 years ago, he could be looking for a replacement  even as we type our responses... .

The clue to me should be the GUEST label. I think I changed it so guests couldn't post, you have to put up an email address to post.  It would have been interesting if the email was still valid to see how he did.