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Hello all, just wanted to post some new information for newbies, not once in all the forum topics here, have I read, suggesting to pull the covers off of the hot tub your looking to purchase and see whats really under the hood. Well, I did on a 2012 Sundance 780 series hot tub and glad I did. First off, its made in Mexico, 2nd, the motor was a LG, instead of the Emerson Motors you see in their videos. Insulation to me seemed poor, cables that were routed, were looped through a cardboard toliet paper roll (at least thats what it looked like.) The problem with all these manufacturers is they dont really label, whats really in the tub. I have been a engineer all my life and I know quality, when i see it, I am not saying Sundance is bad or any other tub for that matter, but if you really want to see whats inside these tubs, you have to have the dealer open them up. The individual parts that make up the tub and how they are put together will determine its worth and reliability. Who makes the motor, the pumps, the heaters and if they are truly titanium throughout, frames, electronics, it will drive you crazy, if you let it. To me, if I am going to lay out thousands of dollars, I want the tub to last more than 10 years. I was impressed with Hot Springs, when I pulled the covers off of that tub, the insulation was very well done and the fibercor on the limelight series seems to be done well. I know there are plenty of other makers of hot tubs that build a quality product . I just dont like manufactures having there work outsourced so they can charge more, make more for there overpriced executives and give the end user a cheaper made tub, without the user even knowing it.
Quote from: kurt6137 on March 12, 2013, 10:09:59 pmHello all, just wanted to post some new information for newbies, not once in all the forum topics here, have I read, suggesting to pull the covers off of the hot tub your looking to purchase and see whats really under the hood. Well, I did on a 2012 Sundance 780 series hot tub and glad I did. First off, its made in Mexico, 2nd, the motor was a LG, instead of the Emerson Motors you see in their videos. Insulation to me seemed poor, cables that were routed, were looped through a cardboard toliet paper roll (at least thats what it looked like.) The problem with all these manufacturers is they dont really label, whats really in the tub. I have been a engineer all my life and I know quality, when i see it, I am not saying Sundance is bad or any other tub for that matter, but if you really want to see whats inside these tubs, you have to have the dealer open them up. The individual parts that make up the tub and how they are put together will determine its worth and reliability. Who makes the motor, the pumps, the heaters and if they are truly titanium throughout, frames, electronics, it will drive you crazy, if you let it. To me, if I am going to lay out thousands of dollars, I want the tub to last more than 10 years. I was impressed with Hot Springs, when I pulled the covers off of that tub, the insulation was very well done and the fibercor on the limelight series seems to be done well. I know there are plenty of other makers of hot tubs that build a quality product . I just dont like manufactures having there work outsourced so they can charge more, make more for there overpriced executives and give the end user a cheaper made tub, without the user even knowing it. You realize limelight series is built in Mexico as well as their other spa's less the HS line.. From what I have seen coming out of Mexico is really no different than what was coming out of the US in the day, other than a made in USA sticker. I think the Mexicans down there value their job and want to keep it as well. I don't know what the turn over rate is but I don't think it's very high? And as long as QA is done I don't have an issue with it. Being that you are an engineer I can see your concerns, you are one of the worst customers a spa salesman can come across (I say this in a positive way) specially if they the sales guy doesn't know WTF they are talking about. Some Jacuzzis and Sundance do use the emerson motor 48 frame, they also use an LX motor made by intertech 56 frame motor. No idea who they are.. Never seen an LG motor in one.. I would way rather have a spa built in Mexico than China! Not sure it's that much cheaper building in Mexico or not but I am sure it's easier than dealing with the EPA and all the regulatory crap a manufacturer deals with in the US, pretty much why many have left to build elsewhere. Our Government pretty much sucks!!
If you want to be impressed with how a spa is put together, take a look at the Marquis Signature Series. There really isn't a better fit-and-finish spa out there, other than HotSpring, of course.
Quote from: Jacuzzi Jim on March 13, 2013, 02:31:52 pmQuote from: kurt6137 on March 12, 2013, 10:09:59 pmHello all, just wanted to post some new information for newbies, not once in all the forum topics here, have I read, suggesting to pull the covers off of the hot tub your looking to purchase and see whats really under the hood. Well, I did on a 2012 Sundance 780 series hot tub and glad I did. First off, its made in Mexico, 2nd, the motor was a LG, instead of the Emerson Motors you see in their videos. Insulation to me seemed poor, cables that were routed, were looped through a cardboard toliet paper roll (at least thats what it looked like.) The problem with all these manufacturers is they dont really label, whats really in the tub. I have been a engineer all my life and I know quality, when i see it, I am not saying Sundance is bad or any other tub for that matter, but if you really want to see whats inside these tubs, you have to have the dealer open them up. The individual parts that make up the tub and how they are put together will determine its worth and reliability. Who makes the motor, the pumps, the heaters and if they are truly titanium throughout, frames, electronics, it will drive you crazy, if you let it. To me, if I am going to lay out thousands of dollars, I want the tub to last more than 10 years. I was impressed with Hot Springs, when I pulled the covers off of that tub, the insulation was very well done and the fibercor on the limelight series seems to be done well. I know there are plenty of other makers of hot tubs that build a quality product . I just dont like manufactures having there work outsourced so they can charge more, make more for there overpriced executives and give the end user a cheaper made tub, without the user even knowing it. You realize limelight series is built in Mexico as well as their other spa's less the HS line.. From what I have seen coming out of Mexico is really no different than what was coming out of the US in the day, other than a made in USA sticker. I think the Mexicans down there value their job and want to keep it as well. I don't know what the turn over rate is but I don't think it's very high? And as long as QA is done I don't have an issue with it. Being that you are an engineer I can see your concerns, you are one of the worst customers a spa salesman can come across (I say this in a positive way) specially if they the sales guy doesn't know WTF they are talking about. Some Jacuzzis and Sundance do use the emerson motor 48 frame, they also use an LX motor made by intertech 56 frame motor. No idea who they are.. Never seen an LG motor in one.. I would way rather have a spa built in Mexico than China! Not sure it's that much cheaper building in Mexico or not but I am sure it's easier than dealing with the EPA and all the regulatory crap a manufacturer deals with in the US, pretty much why many have left to build elsewhere. Our Government pretty much sucks!! Jim is pretty spot on...its not like these are being shipped from China or being built 1,000 miles away in southern Mexico. The majority of companies that have set up shop in Mexico are doing it directly across the border in the "trade free zone" and most to simply avoid strict regulation in California esp. when working with fiberglass...assuming we're talking about the "big boys"...the same components are being used, same testing of the spas, same overall quality control, etc....I was around when Limelights were still being built in Vista, CA and I have not seen 1 difference since they "moved shop" in fact the Limelights have actually improved but that is simply because design features/cabinets/lighting etc. is continually being improved which should be no surprise to anyone (a good manufacturer is always continually making slight updates/changes based on dealer/customer feedback)