Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

[WaterDR]

I have two requirements. #1 - It must be a 3 seater. #2 - It must be a Yamaha.

Great deals on 2012's right now and Yamaha is trying to get rid of what they have. Looking at either a VX Crusier or VX Delux or even a VXR. Wish I could find a 2010 or 2011 model.....trying to not get carried away by spending too much money. Would like to keep it under $7k.

I currently have a 2002 SUV which we will be keeping.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

With your requirements it would be a Cruiser model, hands down.

If it were MY requirements it would be a S-D GTI. Yamis are yawn; S-Ds are exciting. More room, more comfortable seat, better ride and handling.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

I am partial to Yamaha. I have two other Yamaha's and have a dealer a mile away for service.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

If you're trying to stay under $7K, you'll only have the VX Sport to choose from. And with a 2013 model listing @ $8,399, you may have a hard time find one at your price.

I have a two year old VX Cruiser, and it's been great. 54 mph on top end, and 10 mpg average. More power than I need. My bike's never seen the shop, other than the original oil change. My dealer's the #1 dealer in many states, but he sold out of all but the most expensive 2012 Waverunners--the ones that'll get your 16 year old killed.

You might want to get on CycleTrader.com or Boattrader.com and figure out who in your area is willing to use price to compete for your business. It's not that hard to get on the phone to call dealerships.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

Wont be buying a Sport....just too cheap and more of a rental machine. No reverse etc....

Thanks for the feedback on your VX Cruiser.

I have two used machines in my cross hairs. One is a 2009 VX Crusier with 40 hours on it priced at $5900. The seller has seemed a little goofy to deal with, but the price is right. The guy traded the machine from a friend for a car, so he is not the person who actaully used it. I think the price is reasonable, though, and it will likely meet our needs. Many more will pop up over the next few months so I am not too concerned.

I did find a 2011 VXR with 30 hours for $8500....trailer, cover andremaining 3 year warranty. That one looks like a sound deal and the VXR would seem to be much more of an exciting machine.

My $7k budget is flexible, btw. Not a matter of money as it is a measurement of what it is worth to me. Also, as I look at the used market, you can really buy these things smart. For example, my current machine I paid $5,000 for it almost 5 years ago. The thing is worth $3500 today all day long and maybe more to the right buyer. I would think that even if I paid $5900 for the VX cited above, it would likely hold its value very well.

 

[Leedanger]

Re: Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

Personally I am partial to Honda. They stopped producing them in 2008, but they are just great machines.

 

[JohnWI]

Re: Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

Deals are in January as preseason orders for May delivery and after the 4th of July when most are done buying for the year and inventory needs to go. If you need a deal, you may want to wait out one more year.

 

[jafo9]

Re: Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

If your budget is a little flexible, I'd consider looking for a used FX HO. When you decide to sell the ski, you will have a much larger market to sell it to and it will likely hold its value better. Not bashing the VX line, but it seems that most folks that buy a VX end up selling it to move up to the FX line. This seems to flood the VX market a bit and makes the FX 's that i see locally go pretty quickly. I wouldn't buy a honda since they are no longer made. I'm not partial to seadoos after a horrible experience. An often overlooked fun affordable ski is the STX15F from kawasaki. Its a smaller hull carried over from the 2 stroke days with a reliable 4 stroke. Being a smaller hull, it is more fun than the current "big" hulls. I used to own an STX-R (same hull) and it was hands down more fun than either my yami XLT or my FX HO Cruiser.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

What are your thoughst on the Ultra LX? I think the 15F is a little small for us.

 

[JohnWI]

Re: Looking for a second jet ski....who wants to help me pick one?

Define small? 3 can ride on it. Has an OK compartment up front and under the back seat.

The hull of the LX will be better for big water but a bit less agile and a bit slower (probably 53 compared to 58). I'd say from not riding them that the LX is comparable, hullwise, to the Yamis that are also better in big water.

The 15F is "slappy" in rougher water. That said, my 16' StarCraft is teeth jarring in chop, even more so. The tradeoff is mostly in "fun factor." They are all fun. But one is closer to a "sedan" than the other.