liftapint

What's the deal with these? Are they the way to go? I bought the Hot Springs Vanguard, which has 5 filters. Should I replace any of them with the Tri-X?

Yes, as others have stated, delivery time completely depends on the timing of your order, and your dealer. I ordered my HS Vanguard last Thursday, and it will be here this Saturday...9 days total wait! Hardly enough time to prepare the site!

How about turning the tub off completely for a month, and seeing if your bills return to their formerly low level? I'd want to isolate the problem before calling for repair. If your usage returns to the previous level, you can be confident it's the tub that's causing the problem. But if it doesn't...

I don't think I really meant "cheezy". I retract. OK, moving on...

Oh, yes, definitely. There is a cheese-continuum scale! And Marquis is not at all cheezy compared to MOST tubs. In fact, I had an impossible time choosing bewteen the HS and marquis. marquis jets are hard to beat. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Marquis...I just decided that the two tubs were very equal in my mind, and I liked the look of the HS more because of the lack of the wavy stuff at the water line (and liked the dealer better). Totally a personal preference thing...and who really gives a *** what the tub LOOKS like...it's all about how it feels and dependability. But I thought HS and Marquis were tied on most things that mattered...so I let something insignificant (my opinion of tub appearence) be the deciding factor.

To be completely honest, despite how awesome the jets are in the Marquis...I thought it looked and felt a little cheezy. I hated the wavy design used for the fill-line, the textured area above the therapy pillar, and the area where the waterfall is located (water intake?) looked cheezy as well. I just didn't like the look of it. I thought the HS felt like it was built like a tank, and didn't have anything about it that I didn't like...visually. The jets are very good. I didn't like the lounger either, so I decided against the Envoy and Vista. I really liked one seat in the Vanguard that had the rotating jets on my back (not the moto), and really strong jets on my feet. That was my favorite spot in the tub. I like that the cool down seat can act as an easy place to enter the tub. I like the open feel to it. But mainly, I trusted the quality of construction, and loved the dealer. Also with the Marquis Epic, there was the lounger seat, 1 deep soaker seat, and 2 cool-down seats. Didn't seem nearly as versitile as the Vanguard. I was tempted to go with the Grandee, but 99% of the time, it will just be me in the tub. So the Vanguard saved me nearly $2k, and will be sufficient for my needs. All and all, I just thought it felt like it was the highest quailty tub. And looked nice too.

And the winner is.... Hot Springs Vanguard. Delivered on 2/9. Yippie!

Don't know about Sundance, but I have been shopping Hot Springs. In the Seattle area, the Vista and Grandee are both going for $11400 right now. The Vanguard, $9700, and the Envoy $10400. I'd jump all over a Grandee at $9000...ain't happening in Seattle, I'm pretty sure.

Thanks for the post, ivieisme. Glad to know I'm not alone in my spa-hunting-induced insanity!! Also good to know that you wet tested 3 and 4 times! I've been in the Epic twice, and was hesitating bothering the HS folks again...but I'll do it. I'll check out the Caldera tubs, as they are closest of all to my house, and from what I have read, it sounds like they have strong jets (a must).

here are the prices I've been given: Marquis: 2008 Epic, signature - $10200 2008 Destiny, signature - $9200 Hot Springs: 2008 Vanguard - $9700 2007 Grandee - $10600 2008 Grandee - $11400 2008 Envoy - $10400 2008 Vista - $11400 plus $400 for crane delivery if I choose Grandee or Vista Those two should probably be excluded from being in the running, since that puts them $1600 more than the Epic. I think ya'll are right...more wet testing is necessary.

One thing I really did like about the Epic was the foot jets, particularly from the lounger. I'm not sold, necessarily, on a lounger, but the foot jets from that seat are great. I never did find a good spot for foot jets in either of the HS models. But maybe I should go back for a second HS wet test, now that I've been in both. Also, regarding the Epic lounger, I'm just barely tall enough to brace myself with my feet...so I won't float. I floated all over the place in the HS Envoy lounger. As for dealers...LOVE the HS dealer. But the Marquis dealer is nice too. Just not quite as nice. Both have been around forever. The Epic felt roomier, didn't have any worthless jets (I thought that the calf-jets in the Vanguard are pretty worthless). You're right...price really doesn't matter THAT much. Just want a tub that I'll LOVE LOVE LOVE. I'm on my own, making this decision, as my significant other wants nothing to do with the tub (that's what she says now...). Just wondered whether the wet test did it for everyone, or if others still felt unsure after their test soaks.

I'm a newbie, first post. I think I've narrowed my search to two brands, Marquis and Hot Springs. I've wet tested both (HS: Vanguard, Envoy; Marquis: Epic). And I still can't make up my freakin' mind. Did anyone else feel more confused AFTER wet testing than before? I'm pretty sure I can't go "wrong", and will enjoy whichever tub I go with. But I simply can't decide. As for color, if I go with the Marquis, I need to make a choice. I am drawn to the blue granite color. But the salesman guy said that the lighter colors are much easier to keep clean, and look so much prettier with the lights on. Opinions? HELP! Wet test didn't make it clear. Do I just go with the less expensive tub, since I can't decide???