Used Hot Tub Help - 2002 Coleman 555 (made by Maax)

[jfef04]

Good Afternoon and Thanks for Reading,

My wife and I are looking into purchasing a used hot tub for our new home.  We're in Baltimore and we've found a 2002 Coleman 555, made by Maax at the time.  It's a 6 person tub with 2 loungers and the current owner has replaced all 33 jets and maintains the tub year round.  We're going to see it tomorrow evening and I've been researching for what the value may be.  The owner said they paid $7,200 new and they're asking $1,000 and we'll have to move and set it up again etc.

So my questions are, first, is this a worthwhile hot tub?  With the age, will we have trouble finding parts or will we need to retrofit anything to be able to use it for years to come?  Are there any things that we can look for to immediately make this out as a bad idea?  Second, is $1,000 reasonable?  The good old' internet doesn't seem to have any guidelines on depreciation or "trade-in" value.  We've seen some new tubs starting at 3 times this so the savings is intriguing. Third, and most important, if we do buy it, is there anything we need to know for moving it or should we call a hot tub dealer for that?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Jacuzzi Jim]

  4 or 500 at best for a 14 year old maxx spa.    You should be able to get parts easy enough, I don't think they used anything proprietary.     If it needs a cover your looking at another 3 to 400.   

[Tman122]

  4 or 500 at best for a 14 year old maxx spa.    You should be able to get parts easy enough, I don't think they used anything proprietary.     If it needs a cover your looking at another 3 to 400.   

Yea good advice and definitely have a dealer move it. That in itself could self destruct the tub. I would put the value at 0 until you have first seen it run and then run again after it's moved.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

It's FOURTEEN years old. I think Jim is being over generous on pricing. I'd be amazed it if could be moved without falling apart and needing major rehab to get it back together.

Here's someone to move it;
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/fod/5534043075.html

Here's a hot tub for FREE
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/for/5495883089.html

This looks ok for $380
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/for/5533290315.html

Very nice for $500
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/for/5531645543.html

Here's a nice Coleman, newer, with NEW cover and cover lifter, for a grand
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/for/5499381550.html

[Hottubguy]

  4 or 500 at best for a 14 year old maxx spa.    You should be able to get parts easy enough, I don't think they used anything proprietary.     If it needs a cover your looking at another 3 to 400.   

Yea good advice and definitely have a dealer move it. That in itself could self destruct the tub. I would put the value at 0 until you have first seen it run and then run again after it's moved.

More optimistic then me. I would offer him to pay me a couple hundred bucks to take it away

[wmccall]

Good Afternoon and Thanks for Reading,

Welcome to the forum. Our wonderful members have already given you some good advice. Check that cover. On a six person tub that cover is going to be good sized,  Jim was referring to covers getting water logged over time.  You should be able to remove the cover by yourself. If its too heavy for one person it probably needs replaced.  If its heavy and hard to remove you won't use it as much, especially in winter. 

There is a blessing you can give old tubs to keep them working. Walk around the tub 3 times and say, " I hate the Ravens"

[jfef04]

Thank you everyone for the advice.  We've decided against getting the tub.  We'll definitely keep this forum marked for our future purchases, but don't count on us trying the old tub blessing, we bleed purple.....  Thanks again!

[Tman122]

Thank you everyone for the advice.  We've decided against getting the tub.  We'll definitely keep this forum marked for our future purchases, but don't count on us trying the old tub blessing, we bleed purple.....  Thanks again!

Used tubs can be a value added proposition with the right tub. They are all built differently but generally if it's not a high end brand (which was likely more expensive to begin with, Coleman Maxx is not) if it's more than 4-5 years old it's a crap shoot. That's not to say a 10-14 YO quality tub wouldn't be a good buy at a grand or even 2. Seeing them functional is paramount. And looking inside the equipment bay for condition.