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Ok, from all this reading, here is what I have come up with (and please correct me if I am wrong.) Small things that I shouldn't worry about are things like FF vs. TP insulation and circ pump vs. no circ. pump. Big things to make sure I worry about include reputable dealer, warrenty of brand, price (of course), and most important, results of wet test. Am I missing anthing as far as small things that I shouldn't worry about or big things that I should?

It seems I opened a can of worms just by mentioning FF vs. TP. Oh well. Let me ask this now about circ. pump vs. no circ. pump. The Sundance and Hot Springs I looked at both had circ. pumps that run 24/7 (I was told though that it's a very low power consumption.) The Marquis I looked at doesn't have a circ. pump, but uses a skimmer type system that kicks the main pump on every so many hours, or something like that. My questions is, is it better to have a circ. pump (like the Sundance or Hot Springs) or is it better to not have a circ. pump (like the Marquis)? Thanks.

Thanks for the replies. I agree that FF vs. TP should not be a deciding factor when choosing a hot tub. Let me ask this then, with a 220 line installed and running to the hot tub, what is the risk of it tripping and shutting down power to the hot tub? This to me sounds like a big concern as I don't want to be checking the GFCI every hour to see if it's still on. Is this a major concern? How do most of you handle this?

I don't want to start another full foam argument here and I have read the other posts about it. But if all the top manufacturers are using it, it must work. If there was another viable option, then why are the top manufacturers not using it? It makes sense to me that they could use that in their marketing to sell more spas (i.e. look at the 2006 models, they are better than the 2005 models because they are using newer TP technology that in tests have shown to be better than full foam.) But they don't and are not doing this, which tells me that full foam is still the best way to insulate. Is my method of thinking flawed here or should I begin to listen to Jim the Jim and his TP arguments?

Yeah, I am thinking the same thing. I checked with some local dealers today and the sound system is about a $1000 option. One local dealer told me that the Hot Springs, Marquis, and Sundance are all full foam insulated. That a good thing or not?

Thanks for all the replies. What about an option like a sound system? Would something like this be haggleable? Is getting a sound system even worth it or would it be hardly used?

Thanks for the replys. I noticed that with the Hot Springs model, it used many different types of jets. So you get a different feeling or spa massage with every seat you sit in. But with the Marquis, I noticed that all the jets were the same. Does this matter? Does this make the Hot Springs spa a better choice? Thanks.

I am in the market now for a hot tub/spa (these are interchangeable correct?) I have looked at Hot Springs and Marquis brands so far. My price range is no higher than $6300 and there are a few models from both the above mentioned brands that fit this price range. My questions are pretty simple. Is one of the above brands better than the other? Are there other brands I should look for in my area? I am looking for a 5 or 6 seater and I know I still need to wet-test in order to see if the lounger will work for me or not. One other thing, when talking with salesman. Can you haggle with them for accessories, like cd player and other things like that or are hot tubs a no-haggle business? Thanks.