Ready to buy - Jacuzzi or Sundance

[SpaNE]

I was looking at hutubs a few months ago, however, I put the project on the back burner and upgraded my home theater.  Now I'm ready to buy.

My past research led me to several quality spas but I ended up focusing on Jacuzzi and Sundance.  I liked both the local dealers.  The models I wet tested and liked included the Jacuzzi 470 and the Sundance Optima.  This time I'm thinking that I would like to spend less money so I am considering the Jacuzzi 345 and the Sundance Chelsee.

The Jacuzzi dealer quoted me $6500 (including cover, lift, steps, starter chems, ozone and delivery).  Haven't checked on a price for the Chelsee yet - assuming it is around the same.

Any thoughts or advice?

 

[Alan]

Tell me about the Chelsea, I haven 't seen one yet.  I'll look forward to what you have to say.  

 

[Wisoki]

It's the old Bahia with a new name. Same spa, different name.

 

[SpaNE]

The Chelsee is a new model in the Sundance 700 line.  

http://www.sundancespas.com/700Series/Chelsee.php

 

[SpaNE]

Anyone have any feedback on the new Jacuzzi 345 or the new Sundnace Chelsee that I am considering?  Any information on pricing?

 

[Micah]

Anyone have any feedback on the new Jacuzzi 345 or the new Sundnace Chelsee that I am considering?  Any information on pricing?

Jacuzzi made some great changes to the J-300 series this year.  In addition to upgrading the fluff (new led lighting system in the cup holders, pillows and new waterfall.  the performance of the jetting package is night and day from the 06 models.  The five Power Pro MX jets are incredible.  If you wet test the Jacuzzi, I think you will love it.

 

[sonomablue]

We wet-tested the Chelsee. We liked it, but liked the Optima better. The Chelsee is not just a renamed Bahia - it has some upgraded features that the Bahia did NOT have. Still, the Optima was better for our needs. The Chelsee sat nicely, performed nicely. (I think the Chelsee had a small waterfall, and the Bahia did not. There may be other differencs.


I am new to this forum, and would like to paste a picture of the Chelsee that i wet-tested. I took the picture of it, because it is the same color outer/inner as our new Optima.

If anyone knows how i can cut and paste an image into a post, then i will include the picture.

 

[thalgas]

I'm new to this also, but i've been reading this forum since last year when i first started researching tubs.  I'm looking into the J-345 as well (but my wife mentioned maybe wanting a lounger), I was quoted $6500 on and '06 model and $6900 for and '07 model this past weekend.  So I'd say your quoted price is a good one.  We haven't wet tested any yet, but i'm looking forward to it in the coming months as I plan the site prep and start getting things in order.

My thoughts on what I've personally seen: I've looked at (at various dealers) Jacuzzi, Hotspring, Clearwater, Coleman, and D1. Basically just fact finding missions, but I ask many of the questions and concerns I read about here  and other forums and see what the dealer comes back with.  Being a business man myslef, and able to read through the B.S. and "hard sell",  I felt most comfortable and got more of a sense of honesty from the Jacuzzi dealer (25 years in the business and he didn't actually try to sell me anything on the spot).  IMO, I'll put my "bang for the buck" on Jacuzzi.

But, like everyone says, you really need to wet test and see what fits you best.

Anyone else with Jacuzzi thoughts?  Has anyone tried their new lounger set up for the '07 models?

 

[SpaNE]

Anybody else have any thoughts on the new Jacuzzi line (esp. the 345/355) or the new Sundance 700 line (esp the Chelsee)?  

If this had been discussed to death in another thread please send me a link.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Jacuzzi_Jim]

I was looking at hutubs a few months ago, however, I put the project on the back burner and upgraded my home theater.  Now I'm ready to buy.

My past research led me to several quality spas but I ended up focusing on Jacuzzi and Sundance.  I liked both the local dealers.  The models I wet tested and liked included the Jacuzzi 470 and the Sundance Optima.  This time I'm thinking that I would like to spend less money so I am considering the Jacuzzi 345 and the Sundance Chelsee.

The Jacuzzi dealer quoted me $6500 (including cover, lift, steps, starter chems, ozone and delivery).  Haven't checked on a price for the Chelsee yet - assuming it is around the same.

Any thoughts or advice?

You cant really compare the Sundance 700 series to the Jacuzzi 300s Most Sundance dealers try to and some consumers do buy into it, but apples for apples you cant compare them. They do have for the most part the same pumps, but the jets are a night and day difference between the two spa lines.  For 07 I think the only change to the 700 series is the water feature which looks like a ash tray mounted on a spa in my opinion, and S/S option on the jets. The rest is the same from 06 just called something different.Wet test them both and see what you think. and 6500 for a 07 Jacuzzi J-345 is a great price.

   If I were looking at the 700 series line I would be checking out Jacuzzi 200 series like the J-230 or in the Sundance line the Burlington now theres a good comparison of 2 spas.

 

[Chris_H]

I must disagree.  

Take a look at the 200 Series from Jacuzzi and the 600 Series from Sundance.  It is a pretty easy comparison.  Especially the 230 comparing to the Burlington and the two round spas.  They are virtually the same with different logos.

How about a comparison between the Jacuzzi 300 series and the Sundance 700 Series?  Both have the same:  Pumps, motor, heater, control box, lighting, and shell.  Differences are jets and filtration.  I would argue Jacuzzi 300 series probably has better jets, but Sundance 700 series has better filtration.

 

[Jacuzzi_Jim]

A few things different.
     
The Sundance 700 series has 1, 2.5hp and 1, 2.0hp pump
The Jacuzzi 335,345,355 and 365 has 2,  2.5 hp pumps
Sundance 700 has only 1 divertor handle versus 2 in the 345,355 and the 365.
The Jacuzzi jets are 100 times better in quality and performance then the 700s ,
the Jacuzzi's lights are nicer in regaurds to the waterfall and cup holders not a big deal but still nicer.
Granted the sundance has there microclean1 filter in it  versus 2 60sq ft filters in all of the 300s,which work great, funny thing is the microclean 1 doesnt keep the water any cleaner than anybody elses filtration does same goes for the microclean2 filter in the 800 series, you still have to add chlorine or use bromine in any spa doesnt matter what kind of filter system it has in it.  Same goes with HS or any spa brand for that matter.

When it comes down to it all spas probably have enough filtration in them, yeah you can add ozonators,nature2s what ever you want but you still have to add chlorine or bromine or other to keep the nasties away.

I am sure this will open a new can of worms

Something else that is nice in the Jacuzzi that not many bring up is the prefilter  catch bag behind the filter intake, it stops at least 95% of debris and crap/hair/bugs and other nastie stuff I wont mention getting into the filter.

 

[WHY_NOT]

FWIW, I purchased an '06 J-345 in September of last year for $6095.
My dealer has since had a $500-$600 increase on all their 300 series.
I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Good luck with whichever tub you choose.

 

[SpaNE]

A few things different.
     
The Jacuzzi jets are 100 times better in quality and performance then the 700s ,

.

JJ, thanks for the information.  Could you please let me know what makes the Jacuzzi jets 100 times better?  It has been months since I wet tested a J-470 and Optima, however, I didn't notice much of a difference in jets.  Has anything changed?  Maybe I am simply not experienced enought to notice.

 

[Chris_H]

Comparing the 355 to the Chelsee:

So the 300 Series Jacuzzi is 100 times better because of .5 HP and a diverter?  

The 700 series has lights on the air controls, diverter, and waterfall.  It is very similar to the 300 Series Jacuzzi having the lighting on the waterfall and cup holders.  It doesn’t seem like to be a whole lot different to me, but who am I, you're Jacuzzi Jim.  

Out of curiosity, when you take the catch bag out or even the filter, does some of the stuff fall back into the rest of the spa?  That does not happen with the Sundance because they have a vertical weir door that traps the debris in the one area.

Must have been the test soak you did on the Chelsee that made the Jacuzzi 100 times better, right?  

 

[Micah]

JJ, thanks for the information.  Could you please let me know what makes the Jacuzzi jets 100 times better?  It has been months since I wet tested a J-470 and Optima, however, I didn't notice much of a difference in jets.  Has anything changed?  Maybe I am simply not experienced enought to notice.

You tested the optima.  That is part of the 800 series, not the 700 series that jim was refering to.

 

[hottubdan]

How can you quantfy that 1 jet is 100 times better than another.  I don't think Term would even make that claim about the Moto Massage.

 

[WHY_NOT]

 
Out of curiosity, when you take the catch bag out or even the filter, does some of the stuff fall back into the rest of the spa?  

No, I've never had that problem.

 

[SpaNE]

From what I am hearing the 700 series Sundance is very similar to the 300 series Jacuzzi.  Possibly the Jacuzzi jets are better, and possibly the Sundance filtration is better.  A few lighting differences here or there.

The surprizing thing is that the Sudance Chelsee is being quoted over $1000 higher than the Jacuzzi 345/355.

 

[WHY_NOT]

From what I am hearing the 700 series Sundance is very similar to the 300 series Jacuzzi.  Possibly the Jacuzzi jets are better, and possibly the Sundance filtration is better.  A few lighting differences here or there.

The surprizing thing is that the Sudance Chelsee is being quoted over $1000 higher than the Jacuzzi 345/355.

The Chelsee

My J-345 + $1000

It's a no brainer