Narrowing down the options

[TLWR]

We are looking for a 3 person hot tub. I think we hit all the 'local' dealers now with the exception of 1 which we'll check out on Monday.

Looked at
- Hot Springs Jetsetter (haven't sat in it yet as it is upright on the floor)
- Caldera Kauai - super comfy dry, but we stopped by today to arrange a wet test and they sold the last/floor model while we were there and will order more on Monday - so no wet test of that one now since the floor model is now sold (but we can order shell and cabinet color we want with no extra charge if we get on that order)
- Garden Leisure Sandalwood (yes, bigger than 3 person, but seems to be a great deal - will wet test on Monday)

Have info on the Marquis Spirt and Strong Spa Monaco 31 - both from a dealer that doesn't get stock until April to keep his cost down, though he may have offered to call on his customers to let us check theirs out.
That Strong Spa Monaco is a very nice looking/sounding tub, but never heard of them.

Lesiure's Edge/Shoreline/Garden Leisure - all the same manufacturer? (we've seen all of the, they look the same, one dealer sent us to another of another brand to sit in some other models she didn't have in stock in her label)

I know Caldera and HotSpring are good quality tubs. We really know nothing of the rest of them though.
We are in AL south of I10. We want comfortable, ideally smaller (we like the size/layout of the caldera and hotspring 3 person) - but can go bigger if the price is right, we think a lounger (with jets - but not sure on that yet since neither of us have ever been in one with a lounger), and like most things, the cheaper the better, but we want something that will last. We want to buy this ideally, once.

Caldera and Hotspring dealer have been around forever. Caldera dealer offers a great service package for the life of the spa that covers just about everything for a service call charge.

What else should we be considering?
Of those we've seen or have info on that we can get from local dealers, what are the "good" ones that we can expect to have for years to come without crazy issues?

[Tman122]

You said it the best, the HS Caldera dealers have been around forever. The others, not so much.

[Jacuzzi Jim]

Don't count Marquis out, they build a nice spa!!

[TwinCitiesHotSpring]

You said it the best, the HS Caldera dealers have been around forever. The others, not so much.

x2...the Jetsetter is a top seller worldwide within the Hot Spring line, wonderful little spa

[TLWR]

I think we are leaning strongly toward the Caldera, but want to check out the Jacuzzi dealer tomorrow and maybe see if we can get the HotSprings down on the ground so we can at least sit in it.

Are there other Caldera models that have seats similar to the Kauai? They won't wet test a tub that is already sold and they won't have more in for a few weeks (quite possibly with ours if we go with that one and order it).

[TLWR]

Well, we put a REFUNDABLE deposit down on the Caldera Kauai today after wet testing the Hot Springs Jetsetter. Jetsetter was nice, but we would really like jets on the legs and DH was a little cramped at the shoulders in the Jetsetter.
Since the other dealer didn't have a Kauai we could wet test, we put a deposit on one he ordered yesterday in the colors we want. When it comes in, they will set it up, fill it up and give us a call so we can go try it out. If we like it, they drain it and deliver it a few days later. If not, deposit will be completely refunded.

[Spatech_tuo]

Well, we put a REFUNDABLE deposit down on the Caldera Kauai today after wet testing the Hot Springs Jetsetter. Jetsetter was nice, but we would really like jets on the legs and DH was a little cramped at the shoulders in the Jetsetter.
Since the other dealer didn't have a Kauai we could wet test, we put a deposit on one he ordered yesterday in the colors we want. When it comes in, they will set it up, fill it up and give us a call so we can go try it out. If we like it, they drain it and deliver it a few days later. If not, deposit will be completely refunded.

You're going about this wisely and the dealer is being very fair with you on this.

[TLWR]

and the dealer is being very fair with you on this.

Yep. He's sure we'll like it and we are as well. Since he sold the one on the showroom floor to another couple while we were there the 2nd time, he had to order more. He placed an order for 3 last night or this morning, with one of them being a color combo we were happy with. So they are out nothing if we don't end up liking it since they had planned on ordering 3 anyway.

Unless the jets blow us out of the water, I think we'll be happy with it