Mattie

We just bought an Optima last night...we had a special deal thru a local Home and Garden show (9100.00 included 3 months supplies, lifter, steps ..all the normal inclusions but no stereo option). Anyway I asked about the Sundance special...thinking I might do better with that. The sign said "No Interest until 2009". It didn't indicate any slashed prices. The dealer was talking about a "Tent Sale" but I am thinking he was selling showroom spas 2007 models) that he'd be offering in the next few weeks. Which after attending the Home and Garden show...getting there on the 1st day....many floor models were sold some were marking their spas down by 2000.00 (manufacture deal) and then another 500 off on the show model. We went the last day of the 3 day event. If you can wait...check w/Sundance to see if they will be at a Home Show in a major city near you. Good Luck.

We just purchased a Sundance Optima (after many weeks of agonizing research)! We would like our cover to be the least obstructing system using a lifter. We are choosing not to do it manually. The CoverMate II appeared to be the lowest obstruction (clearance is not an issue). However, the dealer mentioned something called the Cover Rock-It. It looked too good to be true and one of the warehouse sellers has it listed as "light-duty" not for heavy spa covers. I believe Sundance covers are fairly thick. Any recommendations on a low obstruction cover lifter? Possibly lower than the CoverMate II? Thanks!

Hi, we are looking at an Sundance Optima as well. We went to a local Home and Garden show on 8/11 that our city sponsored. The asking price for an Optima is our area was approx. 10,599 however at the Garden Show the manufacturer (not the retailer) was giving show deals....that price came down to 9100. If you can wait...you may want to check if your city conducts these shows. This isn't to be confused with one of the other BIG shows that comes to town that only shows their Spas. Our show had about 4 different manufacturers. Good luck with your search for a hot tub.

Yes, we did. I loved the foot jets among other things and the stainless steel jets...okay the shiny factor is nice and I could get those on Jacuzzi for a mere 350.00 more...then the prices are even closer. Jacuzzi makes a big selling point about their ABS solid bottom......who knows. I can't find any topics about whether it is better or not. Thanks!

If the 400 series Jacuzzi is not financially possible and the Optima is, then you must be getting a good deal on the Optima because it is generally priced above the 400 series Jacuzzi spas. If it were me, I would be jumping on the Optima vs the J365 if they are close in price. If the J365 represents a good savings over the Optima, then I would have to consider it. The Sundance Microclean II filters down to 5 microns which is as small as you can get with the high flow circ pump. As Ciderjack stated, it has the ability to filter an awfully large volume of water...much more than the J365. The Jacuzzi dealer is giving a little bit of misinformation. The therapy pumps in the Optima, as in the 400 series Jacuzzi spas, are separate from the filtering pump. The filter is not bypassed...it not designed to be used by the therapy pumps. IMO, the 880 SD and 400 Jacuzzi will filter better than the 300 series which is an older design. It seems like you are asking good questions and are making choises with your eyes open. Best of luck in your decision.

Did you purchase the Sundance tub? How do you like it? How about operating costs? Do you like the filtration system? We are considering the Optima. Thanks.

Thanks for your response. I agree we aren't comparing apples to apples. The 880 series is top of the line Sundance and you are right the Optima is bigger by about 100 gallons. The seating in the Jaccuzi appears lower creating the feel of a bigger tub. Unfortunately, going up to the 400 series of Jacuzzi isn't financially possible. We got a great deal at a local Home and Garden show with many vendors competing. The Jacuzzi dealer told us that his filtration system was superior over Sundance because their pump filters 24/7 where as Sundance the filter is bypassed when the pool is occupied and the jets are on. Sundance says that this allows them to move more water. Jacuzzi says that their spas are the clearest and cleanest through their process. Do most use the same as Sundance? Thanks. I agree you should buy the spa that works and feels best for you. However, you a choosing between two different levels of spas by essentially the same company. The 880 series Sundance spas of which the Optima is one of, really is equivalent to the 400 series Jacuzzi spas. The features on the 880 SD and the 400 Jacuzzi spas are the comany's top of the line. A lot of this may not mean a whole lot because the J365 is an excellent spa, but the LCD controller used in the 880 and 400 lines is far superior to the LED controller used in the Jacuzzi 300 series. The 880 and 400 series also utilize the newer filtration system using a high flow circ pump vs the low flow on the 300 series. The J365, also, is 100 gallons smaller than the Optima. As far as the plastic bottom goes vs the plastic sheet on the Optima, both spas should last 20-30 years. The plastic is more a sales pitch item, IMO. Since Sundance created the 2002+ Jacuzzi spas in their own design, if it were so much better they would install them on Sundance spas. The strainer net is not necessary. All the top companies do a good job at filtering. The bottom line is that you are looking at two excellent spas built at the same place by the same company. The quality will be identical. The price on the Jacuzzi should be a good deal less than the Optima. Its all about what is best for you.

Thanks for your response. I agree we aren't comparing apples to apples. The 880 series is top of the line Sundance and you are right the Optima is bigger by about 100 gallons. The seating in the Jaccuzi appears lower creating the feel of a bigger tub. Unfortunately, going up to the 400 series of Jacuzzi isn't financially possible. We got a great deal at a local Home and Garden show with many vendors competing. The Jacuzzi dealer told us that his filtration system was superior over Sundance because their pump filters 24/7 where as Sundance the filter is bypassed when the pool is occupied and the jets are on. Sundance says that this allows them to move more water. Jacuzzi says that their spas are the clearest and cleanest through their process. Do most use the same as Sundance? Thanks.

My husband and I have placed refundable deposits on 2 tubs, Sundance Optima and Jacuzzi J365. We have wet tested twice, and listened to the dealers. Both have been very professional. Possibly someone can enlighten me: 1. Jacuzzi uses a plastic solid bottom. Thus blocking critters and hopefully ants from getting under the hot tub Sundance does not...both use pressure treated wood. The argument against the solid plastic bottom is if there were to be a leak of some sort it would sit in this bottom vs the Sundance product. My husband feels that after sometime the bottom will rot out of the Sundance Optima. Sundance does use a plastic barrier and the bottom 2x4 that surrounds the tub is supposed to be 2inches off the ground. How long can I expect pressure treated construction to last? We will put our tub on a concrete slab and build a deck around the slab. What is the life span of a quality spa? 2. Jacuzzi has a strainer net that catches much of the particles prior to even going in the filter...is this necessary? We like both tubs...I am leaning towards one of the two. Any help or insight on either of these tubs would be great. Thank you.