Thoughts/opinions On Hotsprings Vanguard Vs. Sundance?

[suprsokr]

I'm in the market for a tub...

Wet tested 1/2 of the Hotsprings line and 1/2 of the Sundance line...narrowed choice down to the Vanguard - got a quote for $8,700 in the Northeast part of the country. Other choice is a Sundance Optima, but quite a bit pricier at $9,800. Also, should I check out Caldera for comparison? Jacuzzi?

Is this a good tub for a good deal? Only serious replies, please. And thanks in advance! Happy tubbin'.

[Gizmo2]

Also from the Northeast, we have had our Vanguard in for a week now and we are loving life. We looked at many including Sundance, for the extra $1k or so we could not figure out what we were getting for it. Of course on the other hand what were we Not getting with the Hot Springs. Came to the conclusion we could shop forever, gets to point where you just have to call the ball. I did however like the Vanguard better and the sales people were topnotch, big plus. $8,600.00 out the door, tax, startup chemicals, HS Duck, delivery and setup included. One thing is for sure any hot tub is better than none at all.

[jara97]

We wet tested several models but just couldn't get away from the Vanguard. It is an awesome tub plenty of power and I think alot of bang for the buck. You will not go wrong with either spa but personally I just love the vanguard. Bought a floor model with stereo and saved a ton.

Good luck.

James

[suprsokr]

We wet tested several models but just couldn't get away from the Vanguard. It is an awesome tub plenty of power and I think alot of bang for the buck. You will not go wrong with either spa but personally I just love the vanguard. Bought a floor model with stereo and saved a ton.

Good luck.

James

Thanks James. What did you end up paying for your floor model w/ stereo? Sounds like you got a deal by "saving a ton".

Just pulled the trigger and decided to get the HS Vanguard: sales person was truly top-notch, making the fact-finding and buying experience more pleasurable. Good support for customers with Hotsprings too. Also, in my humble opinion, slightly better quality than Sundance tubs I tested. Everyone is RIGHT ON THE MONEY when they say YOU MUST WET TEST! Jacuzzi jacka** salesperson wouldn't even fill the tub I wanted to test, saying that the wet test experience in the J-470 "has all the seats that the lower-priced tubs have in the 300 series." Uh, one look at the sales brochure and you can tell that he is wrong. It may have some of the same jets, but NOT the same seating. Needless to say, if he can't get his facts straight, and he doesn't know his product, then I ain't buyin! Sorry, but I am not buying a J-470 Jacuzzi for $11,000 just because it has water in it and the others don't!

Bottom line: Jacuzzi = great tubs, but dealer is dopey and unsupportive, Sundance = good tubs and had a good dealer/rep experience, Caldera = ??? never returned my calls for wet test appt., so go scratch, and Hotsprings = great rep, great dealer, great wet test, great tub, = great value and happy customer!

just my humble 2 cents worth. SUPRSOKR. (would make for a cool license plate, eh?!)

P.S. I wish Consumer Reports rated these things!! Such an unregulated industry with little data to go on.

[D.P. Roberts]

P.S. I wish Consumer Reports rated these things!! Such an unregulated industry with little data to go on.

Yeah, that would make a BIG difference. Even if they stuck to the big brands, it would help. Instead, they review the same vacuum cleaners and midsize sedans every other month. Fooey on them.