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hi, about 6 months ago i bought a Hot Springs Grandee 2006 GG model, which i am very happy with - i did extensive research and one of the spas i look into was the same that you mentioned. without going into detail i would advise against this brand. one thing i really do suggest you do is wet test the exact tub before you plunk down your money. that actually swayed me in my final choice, i almost bought a sundance spa. if you cannot do that on sxm you may want to wait until you come to the US. i cannot stress how important it is. seating, noise level, configuration, lounger or no lounger, etc etc are different in all tubs. make sure you go with a reputable mfg but being in sxm you should see how you would get service if needed. good luck. by the way i'm making my 5th trip to sxm 8/21, staying in maho. first stop cherries, i love the quite season. m

you are where i was 9 months ago - todat i'm enjoying my hot springs grandee. no stero but everthing possible to keep my maintenance time down. you must do a wet test, that changed my mind from sundance to hot springs. I too was impressed with the thermospa cd presentation and reading material but i'm soooo glad i backed away from them after the presentation in my home. good luck.

my hs grandee was delivered 10 days ago, that was exactly 4 weeks after giving the dealer (in nj) the go ahead that i was ready to accept delivery (had a paver patio built over concrete). still not up and running because of some weather related delays, electrician , etc. i look at it this way, it doesn't matter because i know everything will be just perfect when its ready for the first dip. good luck - the grandee is it man!!!

go with the guy you trust the most - its a one time cost "hopefully" my price was 1,000 - but the quotes ranged from 750 - 1200

i did tons of research over a 6 months period - when i started io thought i would have the tub all ready to jump in over this past winter - i found that there was so much to consider that it delayed my decsion so it is now scheduled for delivery mid april - the two primary deciding factors were the wet test and the dealers reputation, since you will need them to stand behind what they sell. i found a great dealer in central nj after deciding to go with the Hot Springs Grandee. - cost was $9,500 with some bells and whistles. i could have save about $500 in sales tax if i bought it from a dealer out of nj but i'm convinced the extra $500 was well spent buying it from this dealer who has been in business 30+ years, a real family owned business and they treat you as such. i cant wait till mid April. good luck with your research.

i dont really have an opinion on the gazego but you should give serious thought to finishong off the slab with the slate before installing the tub. this way if you decide to move it a little to the left, right, forward backward,etc. you can do so easily- i just had a 5" slab poured and flag stone cemented on top of it so its really a level patio, my grandee will sit on top of it and in still can place whereever i want on the "patio" it is schedule to be installed in April. good luck

i live in nj and the quotes i got ranged from 800 - 1500 - so do your homework. it also depends on where the electrical box in your home is located and how much work they have to do to run the line from it, like running lines in a drop ceiling if your basement is finished vs working in an unfinished basement, if your town requires permits and inspections, etc). good luck. m

by not having friends and family join you, you would not be getting the full benefit. enjoy and leave your selfish neighbors out!!!

hi, to further comment regarding the lack of power the pumps in the grandee - in my research that was a concern to me as well - with the new "GG" model HS put in more powerful pumps and a better heater. by the way i signed the deal last night. because its already snowing here i will not be able to get the site prep done until early spring so the dealer is giving me a 2006 for the price i negoiated - must say so far my dealer has been wonderful. good luck and do the wet test. m

i did tons of research and got down to the sundance optima vs the HS Grandee - the wet test did it for me, if you can i suggest that you do a wet test even if it means a long drive. maybe the local dealer knows your serious he will fill the tubs on display in his show room, one sundance guy did that for me. your strenght is the $$$$$ in your pocket that they want to seperate from you. you it as leverage. tomorrow i do my final negotiation for the grandee, yea baby. from what i learned the filtering system in the Grandee (i'm referring to the new GG model not the G model) is definately better because it filters 100% of the water, no water bypasses the filters. there is 5 tri-x reusable filters in the Grandee vs one micro fiber 2 filter in the optima and that one will not hold up in the dish washer for cleaning like the tri-x filters. i cant wait until this this tomorrow when i finally have the deal consumated and put all this research behind me. if you have any real important questions i suggest that you go to the source --> the mfg not the dealer. both companies where very helpful in answering my questions. oh by the way the Grandee needs to be on a specially made weight bearing platform or concrete slab at least 6" thick. if i wasn't so busy i could sell these things. hahaha - check out my posts for info on these two brands, some of the responses i got where very informative and helpful. they relate to questions on these two tubs. what State are you in? good luck. m

hi, i know this is a little dated but here's info i found out on the new gg directly from Watkims mfg. (i going to be buying a grandee as well - hopefully this coming weekend). 2 dx moto messages (each actual has 2 jets ) so that brings up the total # of jets by 2 2.0 hp pump #8000 2.5 hp pump #9000 5 tri-x filters is standard 4.0 kw titanium heater the grandee im looking at comes with all Hot spring mfg extra; -cover lifter -step, -ozonator the quote i got was $8,745. would you mind telling me your quote and the extra included? you do realize that the grandee must be put on a level surface of 4" cement or 115 per sq foot weight bearing decking - thats probably extra cost - it is to me anyway. thanks, Michelle

1 - some say get the ozonator and some say don't, more the former. from my research it appears that w/o the ozonator i would have less work to do but the water quality would be slightly less clean (for lack of better terminology). there would only be a 3 step addivtive of chemicals (something called baqua (spelling??)) to follow if i go without the ozonator, unlike with the ozonator which would require more and harsher chemicals (like chlorine or bromein(spelling again??)). if i go w/o the ozonator upon purchase and decided to get it at a later date that can be done (hmmm, i forgot to ask at what cost). any comments or guidance on this would be appreciated. 2 - if i make the purchase through dealer that is about 55 minutes away from my home and in another State (who i feel very comfortable with) vs one that is 15 minutes away and in my State can i expect to encounter a problem getting service (warrantee or otherwise)? it is not as if i dislike the in State dealer in any way, it's just that the out of State dealer was visited first (without any intension of try to skirt around the in State dealer), he was very imformative, helpful, and no hard sale at all, the in State dealer did a hard sell either. pice may dictate this (see #4 below) but right now they are close enough that this is not an issue. 3 - The Grandee is a large tub and i was told that it would be best if it were to be placed on a level concrete slab of at least 4". I guess that this makes sense. my questions are... Can the Level Concrete slab be made at this time of the year in Central NJ? how long before it is cured and strong enough for the Grandee to be placed on it (and filled to 6,300 lbs). I would love to have it for Xmas or New Years Eve but more important then the gratification of getting it sooner rather then later is safety and avoiding foundation problems. Also should the Grandee sit directly on the concrete slab or should something be placed between the two. i recall when i had my deck built the weight bearing wood posts holding up the deck were not put directly into the cement footings, there is some sort of metal thing-a-ma-jig between the two. a Mason i am not. 4 - Pricewise they are comparable at about $9,100 to $9,200 (even taking into consideration approximately $500 additional that would be tacked on for sales tax if i buy from the in State (no sales tax if purchased from the out of State dealer - so obviously the out of State guy is chagring more for the tub). i should mention that i did not pursue any conversation with the in State dealer regarding the price. i must say thank you to all that have provided responses to my prior posts as well as posts from others that i read. it was very informative and helpful to me in narrowing down the field. for those "newbies" (like myself) who read this, take the advise given by many and do the Wet Test. As you can tell from my previous posts i originally thought that the Sundance Optima was for me, but at that point i did not consider any hot spring tubs. There were just too many brands to consider in my original weeding out process and Sundance rose to the top of about the 8 or so that i originally considered. HS was not one of them. The grandee came into the picture only after i decided that the Optima was for me. then after reviewing the HS Grandee (its to long of a story to expain how that came to be) i was on the fense between the two. Todays WET TEST eliminatede the Optima. Thus my last 4 considerations, as stated above. i hope all of you had a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope to be in my Grandee by News Years, considering of course what i find out about #3 above. thanks, M

the HS dealer said that he heard through the grapevine that the jets on the grandee will be silver like those on the Sundance optima. when i was at the Sundance dealer he showed me some Sundance jets and some supposed HS jets (not installed in the spa) the quality of the HS jets did appared sturdier, the moving pats were less flimsy, and the jet itself was heavier. I interperted his comments about HS changing their jets to Sundance like jets HS trying to catch up to Sundance as that is how it was presented, strangely as it may seem coming from an HS dealer. thanks for responding, m

does anyone know (especially you dealers) if HS is changing the jets on the 2006 Grandee to be more like those on the Sundance Optima (silver exteriors and more sturdy)? thanks and have a happy turkey day. m

thanks for the most informative post. i hope to be joining you soon in my sundance optima or hot springs grandee. i expect to be wet testing over this holiday weekend. happy turkey day. m

for what its worth here is my opimion based on all i've learned in the past month from the research i did. 1 - the main diff is a lounge vs no lounge, tub configuration (rectangle vs square), 2 pumps vs 3, 55 jets vs 39, and size. i think its your preference on these things 2, 3 - no experience so i cant answer that 4 - based on quote got thats the price for the 2 items. if it were me i would take it. it seems the ozone reduces main requirements 5 - diffinately, the platinum shell show the color light much better. check it on a demo with water in it if you can, i did. 6 - that's the million dollar question between the two tubs i'm considerin (sundance optima vs hot spring grandee. i would think diff models by the same mfg, with the same features would pretty much the same. i love this forum too but i still cant decide. if i could rule out the hot sprinfgs and be in your position i would difinately go for #1 for $8,800, thats about $1,000 less then the quote i got on the optima. hey if you dont want to take #1 maybe i will. what color is the cabinet. if you do buy from the place becareful about giving a big deposit because what if he goes out of business. M

i was quoted $9300 for a HS grandee with pretty much the same extras - i considering that vs a sundance optima. whats making you go with HS? did you look at any Sundance spas ? i agree, this site taught me a lot but i'm still sitting on the fense. my feeling is that i'll be ok with either tub. m

Hi E, Yes your comments about the size, water fall and filtration system are correct. I read some comments that the Moto can have some problems and the optima jets appear strudier then the hot springs jets. i live in NJ so you being in Ca probably will not work out for us but i would greatly if you could ask your HS dealer if it is true that HS is changing to a sturdier jet like in the Sundance optima next year? thanks and have a great day, M

I was just about to commit to a Cameo with Sunsound stereo , sunzone cd ozone, steps, cover and lift, remote drink tray, extra micro ii filter, start up kit, delivery and set up, the total when. i was literally on my way to the showroom and in the car when my cousin called on the cell and told me that a fellow worker strongly suggested I look at Hot Springs, so of course I changed directions and went to a Hot spring Dealer, who unbeknownst to me at the time also sold Sundance spas. He said he was one of only five in ther US allowed to sell both. The main difference, as it was presented, is that the Hot Springs will require less maintenance and keep the water cleaner. It has five filters in the scimming compartment and the Tri-x filter (which the dealer included for me in his quote) does not get tossed out like the Sundance filter (which only has one in the Optima's scimming compartment). The Tri-x is cleaned in the disher and reused. Also the salesman said that there is no need for an ozonator but after i read through the Hot Springs brochure i see that they offer a few options which appear to be to keep the water clean, " ever fresh water care system", "fresh water iii High output ozone system" and "fresh ewater continious silver ion purifer". can anyone tell me if its worth adding these extras on? do any of them reduce the maintenance needed? does the cost of adding them on outweight the benefit or vice vresa? i'm not sure that the price quotes for these to are comparable because the Optima at $9,800 comes with the Stereo & ozonator vs the Gandee at $9,300 does not. For both I'm told that this is the best time of year to buy a hot tub because the final 2005 orders are being placed and delivered, which are being sold at the 2005 prices. Any comments on the price quotes. i would especially loved to hear from any consumers that purchased either one these hot tubs, what options they got, any regrets that they may have about not getting an option or getting an option and finding that it was not really necessary. and if anyone is comfortable about telling me what they paid that would be great but i understand if you want to keep this to yourself. inasmuch as the dealer does sell both brands is there any reason he was pushing hot springs (funny thing is that he was wearing a sundance shirt). are the margins or commissions higher on the hot springs? i must say that the web site - forum is wonderful and when i eventually (hopefully this week) buy my hot tub i will regularly continue to be a participant, helping others in this community. thanks, michelle

Hi, i'm considering buying a hotspring too. can you tell me anything about the one you bought and if you encountered any problems, what model, any options, prioce, etc. I'm leaning towards grandee if i can get a good year end that fits into my budget or vandguard which is a little less expensive. my budget is 8,000 - 9,000 including every thing. appreciate any info that you can provide. thanks

from what i'm learning the price of those two add ons can be approx $1,500 give or take $200. i can live without the strero but my wife prefers it which is most of the $1,500 addl cost i want the ozonator to reduce the required maint. the biggest complaint by people ive spoke to who own hot tubs is the maint, so i'm trying to deal with it beforehand. please kepp me up on how your shoppoing is going i and i'll do the same. did the salesman say anything about the 2005 pricing ending this coming week? have a great day.

thanks for your response - yes ed & heidi's 10/21/05 post indicates "Sunsound stereo system with spa noise compensation stereo and pump - remote". if memory serves me correctly the dealer i visited said the stereo runs about $1,500. do you sell in nj? have a great day

i was under the impression that showrooms really do not have much room to negotiate price. from some of the postings on this very informative web site i see that i may have been under the wrong impression. can anyone shed some light on how much room a sundance dealer has. i was quoted $9,895 for a cameo with stereo, steps, cover, hydrolic lift, sunzone cd, remote, drink tray, start up kit, $100 in store credit, set up, delivery (not tax which is an addl 6%) by one dealer in my area (central nj) and $10,311 for an optima with the same features from another. plus the cameo quote i got was for a tub already in the dealers inventory that he was trying to move before the 11/23/05 year end sale ends. I just read a post dated 10/21/05 from ed & heidi and the quote they got was $9005.67 with tax ( albeit tax % unstateted in their post) for a similarly equiped optima (still an 880 series tub). i know the showroom is in business to make a profit, and i can appreciate that. i'm willing to pay a fair price but i don't want to find out after i commit that i was taken for a ride by salesmanship. that would leave a sour taste with me. any comment are much appreciated thanks. c

spatech - you are correct - i meant pushed in a good way. thanks

boy you guys are pushing me..... - after researching tons of material in various borchures i finally got it down to two makes - thermospa vs sundance. after the salesmans pitch from thermospa i visited a sundance dealer. that left me leaning towards sundance. can you guess which way you are pushing me ?? see my post from yesterday "sundance cameo question" i'm pretty sure that is the way i'm going. m