1st post...1st question

[daaw]

First let me say great site.  This is my first post on this forum, and I’ve spent the last several weeks reading olds post.

I will be buying my first hot tub in the next month or so and have been looking at the Marquis Quest and the Hotsprings Prodigy.  I have not wet tested either one, but have spoke to the dealers.  These two tubs are the biggest ones that I can find that will fit my space limitations.  Any other brand suggestions?

The Hotsprings dealer is pretty laid back, almost to the point of making me think he doesn’t care if I buy a tub or not.  He answers my questions, but doesn’t give any more info.  The dealer has been around for a long time which I like.  He has not bashed the competition.  

The Marquis dealer is a more type A person, who told me why Hotsprings was not such a great tub.  Normal things I’ve read here like, the type of foam they use makes finding leaks difficult to find, compared to their insulation, which is less dense and that their circulation pump is small and runs 24 hours a day and will need replacing in a short period of time at a cost of over $350.00.  But he did answer all my questions and more, and has a “can do” attitude when I asked him about getting the tub in the recessed area of my deck which will have little clearance.  To my knowledge, the dealer has not been in business for a long time.  One thing I didn’t like was that he stated the Marquis sound system was not an option.  I don’t want it and would like to save the $$.  He seems more eager to sell me a tub.

If memory serves me correctly the Quest cost more than the Prodigy.
 
Bottom line, without wet testing I am leaning towards the Prodigy.

With all this being said and understanding I need to wet test, should I stay with the one I love (Hotsprings) or go back to the one who loves me (Marquis)?

[Ehizzle]

Sorry the dealer isnt showing the love. But don't worry the tub will make up for it.
From the website it says "Choose to add the soundsations audio system." So I dont know why he says its not optional. Also, the quest is full foam insulation too, meaning if it leaks you still have to dig through the foam.
All that said go with the one you like better. And for goodness sake, wet test em'

[Tman122]

First let me say great site.  This is my first post on this forum, and I’ve spent the last several weeks reading olds post.

I will be buying my first hot tub in the next month or so and have been looking at the Marquis Quest and the Hotsprings Prodigy.  I have not wet tested either one, but have spoke to the dealers.  These two tubs are the biggest ones that I can find that will fit my space limitations.  Any other brand suggestions?

The Hotsprings dealer is pretty laid back, almost to the point of making me think he doesn’t care if I buy a tub or not.  He answers my questions, but doesn’t give any more info.  The dealer has been around for a long time which I like.  He has not bashed the competition.  

The Marquis dealer is a more type A person, who told me why Hotsprings was not such a great tub.  Normal things I’ve read here like, the type of foam they use makes finding leaks difficult to find, compared to their insulation, which is less dense and that their circulation pump is small and runs 24 hours a day and will need replacing in a short period of time at a cost of over $350.00.  But he did answer all my questions and more, and has a “can do” attitude when I asked him about getting the tub in the recessed area of my deck which will have little clearance.  To my knowledge, the dealer has not been in business for a long time.  One thing I didn’t like was that he stated the Marquis sound system was not an option.  I don’t want it and would like to save the $$.  He seems more eager to sell me a tub.

If memory serves me correctly the Quest cost more than the Prodigy.
 
Bottom line, without wet testing I am leaning towards the Prodigy.

With all this being said and understanding I need to wet test, should I stay with the one I love (Hotsprings) or go back to the one who loves me (Marquis)?

Believe it or not, don't use your head to decide, use your butt!!!

[Ehizzle]

Mind if I asssssssssk you a few questions?

[daaw]

NO please. Ask away

[Ehizzle]

No I didnt really have any questions, I was just letting my butt do the talking. LOL

[SpaNE]

Bottom line, without wet testing I am leaning towards the Prodigy.

Interesting.  The dealer I went to told me to stay away from the Prodigy and Sovereign because they only had 1 pump.  Told me the jet pressure would be insufficient - even on a smaller tub.  However, he might have been trying to upsell me - or maybe he didn't have any Prodigies or Sovereigns in inventory.  All the move reason to wet test and not listen to everything a dealer is telling you.

[daaw]

That is a concen of mine with the Prodigy.  It has the same pump as the JetSetter.  I can't fit a larger Hotsprings in my deck recess without major, major mods.

Can anyone comment on the Prodigy lack of pressure?  

Anyone care to comment on the Quest?

Ohh I get it "asssssk me"...went right over my head

[Whiskeyjack]

Hey,

We've had a Prodigy for about six months. It's been a good purchase for us. The fact that the Prodigy has only one pump has not been a problem for us. With a single pump we can't get maximum jet pressure to all jets at one time. We use the diverter valves to adjust pressure as we like it to different jets. That's just fine with us as not everyone wants/needs to be pummeled by a high pressure jet all of the time. This was actually a selling point for us, as my wife is partially disabled and can't take much pressure on her back.

 The open and bucket seating was also  a reason we liked the Prodigy. You can hunker down in a bucket or recline in the open seating. Our previous tub had a regular recliner, which we seldom used and didn't care for. I know that's personal, but the longer you look, the more you realize what a personal decision a tub purchase is. Don't let anyone SELL you a tub. Buy one that works for you. We looked at and tried out a few other brands, but the combination of quality, service and guarantee seemed to fit us best with the Prodigy.

[daaw]

I was wrong...The Quest can be bought without the soundsation.

I just looked at the sale flyers I got from the dealers.  The Quest is significantly more expensive, almost $2000.00 more and that's without the soundsation.  

Am I even comparing apples to apples?

I might have to force the Hotsprings dealer to love me.

[anne]

Maybe his approach to "no pressure sales" comes across as "I dont love you"? And perhaps he will if he sees that you need a little more love?  

[Wisoki]

In answer to your orriginal question, here are three spa models that are of simmilar size to the Prodigy...The Jacuzzi® J-220, J-325 and the luxury 400 series J-460.

[The_Pa._Lady]

WhiskeyJack said it all!!

We also are proud owners of a 2006 Prodigy, we just love it.  Had it since August, use it almost daily, temp stays where you set it at, it has all the room we need and like WhiskyJack said,  the jets will do what you want, either strong or soothing which is good for me because I don't always want high pressure.  For us, the three back jets are the pressure jets we use for back pain etc., and the three front ones we use for soothing our daily stress, just a tad less intense then the back ones.  Seats are very comfortable.  I just can't say anything negative about the Prodigy.  

Perhaps the dealer doesn't want to seem pushy, so he seems not to care.  I personally don't like pushy sales people.  But yes, if you can, we test.  We did not have the oppertunity to wet test, but we lucked out anyway.

Whatever you decide to go with, I know you will want it like yesterday.  We couldn't wait for ours to arrive.

[Spiderman]

I don't care for dealers who put down other tubs, you shouldn't have to if you sell a quality product yourself.  Maybe the HotSpring dealer isn't giving you more info because he doesn't want to "overload" you with info.  Sometimes too much info can scare people off.  Our HotSpring dealer was pretty laid back as well.

As far as the Wavemaster 7000 found in both the Prodigy and Jetsetter, I think a better way to put it is that the Jetsetter has the same pump as the Prodigy, not the other way around, if that makes sense.  The moto massage DX in the Jetsetter is a pump hog.  We have no problem with jet power in our Jetsetter.

[hottubdan]

Hot Spring owners have said it.

I am sure the HS dealer wants your business.  I guess he just has a laid back way of showing it.  Of course it si a laid back business.