r1elkins

So I wet tested a Marquis Epic, Sundance Optima and a Jacuzzi J-470. The Epic was nice, no complaints, price is $10,214 top of the line, fully loaded, dealer seems really good and has quite a few stores in the Denver metro area. Only thing I didn't like was the corner seat jets don't work at the same time. It seems the top half will operate, then you have to turn the diverter valve to get the lower jets to work. The only way to get an entire set of corner jets to work is to divide the flow. The Optima and J-470 are from the same dealer and I'm getting nothing but attitude from the store manager (very arrogant and impolite). He's not willing to budge on prices and has the attitude of "take it or leave it...I don't care". He wants $12,400 for the Optima fully loaded and $13,200 for the J-470 fully loaded. He has 2 used 2010 J-470's he's selling for $11,000 and again, isn't willing to negotiate. By far the J-470 is my favorite but I'm not willing to buy from a douche bag. I went to the local Maax dealer, super nice guy and the owner of the store. Got a great feeling from him and I could tell he was a genuine person. I didn't wet test the tub as I was short on time, but they seem OK cosmetically. I only say OK because after seeing some of the nicer tubs, Maax looked a little "cheap"...but I'm willing give them a shot. He wanted $9700 for a 480 series. Any advice on prices or other models I should be looking at, by all means, let me know. So far I have ruled out Coast Spas, D1 and Arctic Spas. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Jason.

At what price would you consider it to be too good to pass up? $13,500? And yeah, he said they don't move them very quickly. So they only order them on request.

From what I've researched, it's on the highest end of the spectrum in both luxury and price (that doesn't necessarily make it a better tub, but I would consider that to be in a different class). I consider D1's Reflections Collection to be more comparable to Sundace, Jacuzzi, Hot Springs, etc. I guess I just view the Bay Collection to be top of the line. But I'm no expert by any means. This is just my own opinion based on what I've seen and read.

So I've done a lot of reading on this forum (great site btw) and have narrowed my choices down to 3 spas. The D1 Amore Bay, Jacuzzi J-470, Sundance Aspen (was considering the Arctic Summit, but there's no dealer local to Fort Collins Colorado). I know the D1 is in a class of its own, so it'll be hard to compare apples to apples. I will be wet testing the 470 and Aspen this week, but no one has an Amore Bay in stock. I'd be taking a gamble on the D1 but I'm fairly certain I will love it. The Amore Bay is priced at $14,500 and that was given over the phone...no negotiating whatsoever. That is the tub without the stereo, taxes, cover, lift, stairs and delivery. The other 2 are priced similarly through a different dealer, again no negotiating just the sales guy volunteering numbers. I know how important it is to wet test and I will definitely do that, but the Amore Bay really has my attention. I love the layout and think it would be perfect for my family. The 2 captain's chairs will face my nice view that I have from the back patio and the flat bench will be great for my kids (7 and 5) to play on. But it's fairly pricey. I found a new, fully loaded 470 (stereo, lights, waterfalls, cover, lift, stairs, etc...) in Vegas for $11,700. I thought that was a good deal considering my local dealer is selling used 470's for about the same price. My grandma lives in Vegas, so a roadtrip is totally doable. Anyways, what's your thoughts on all this? I know I'm a bit premature in narrowing down spas without having even wet tested any, but really there are only a few good options in my neck of the woods. Thanks in advance for your advice. Jason