OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

[oceansbreeze]

Ok, ok, I've asked a bunch of questions lately, was pretty set on what I wanted (outboard) and went to see a few dealers today with my fingers crossed....<br /><br />Well, the one place had a fresh trade in. A 1995 Four Winns 170 - the boat is in excellent to mint condition, with the bimini and mooring tonneau. AM/FM/CD, and shows almost like new, with some minor vinyly pin striping fade on transom.<br /><br />It has the 4.3L V6, which everybody here recommended I choose over the 3.0L. The outdrive is OMC Cobra.<br /><br />Now, my last boat was an 86 Chriscraft with OMC outdrive, had all kinds of problems. The dealer assured me that<br /><br />a) this newer OMC drive will not have the lower drive problems found in the older OMC outdrives<br />b) OMC is EASIER to work on from a dealer standpoint<br />c) will always be able to get parts for it...<br /><br />Frankly, I'm nervous about owning another OMC product - are there any pro's to OMC - or should I keep on looking?<br /><br />Price is $14,000 with a 30 day warranty (extended warranty for $400 for 1 year)<br /><br />Dealer said he sold as new in 95, and has maintained annually for client, estimatred 140-160 hours on it.<br /><br />ALL comments appreciated on both the outdrive standpoint, and this particular FW model. Thanks!!

 

[tommays]

Re: OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

will always be able to get parts for it...<br /><br />you wont be allways able to get parts for anything <br /><br /><br />OMC is EASIER to work on from a dealer standpoint<br /><br /><br />thats depends on were you live and is not true in <br />many areas<br /><br />if thats a 17 ft boat ? its alot of money at least on long island<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

Originally posted by tommays:<br />if thats a 17 ft boat ? its alot of money at least on long island<br />tommays [/QB]

If that's expensive, I should take a drive to Long Island. Can't find anything here - there hasn't been ANY good used boats parked anywhere and I've covered ALL the side streets and ALL the country roads over the last 2 months.... the NADA site lists it at $7,000 USD - which translates into $9,000 CDN. Add a trailer so I'm at about $10,000.<br /><br />I would love to spend only about $10,000 - but just can't find ANYTHING.... <br /><br />Beginning to think this season's shot already, and can start looking for next year.... sheesh.<br /><br />Any other comments?

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

I have an 88 Four Winns 200 with the 4.3/Cobra drive. Once I got the intial problems it had worked out it has been fine. I have a good shop that can do the outdrive maintenance for me. I think that it will always be easier to get service on a Mercrusier though, as compared to OMC. Many shops won't work on OMCs, even though the Cobra drive is really not bad to work on. That price sounds way high, there are a number of FWs in the local paper, all bigger than that one for 5-7 K US. But we are in a salt water area and boats are worth less after being run in salt.

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

It's a 95, it's not an OMC on it, it may say OMC, but it was part of the joint venture between Volvo and OMC just before OMC was bought out completely.<br />The good news is, you have a drive that looks like a Cobra, but is actually a Volvo SX if it's a single prop or a DP-S if it's a dual prop drive.<br />The insides of the drive are all cone clutch VOLVO, no ESA, Dog clutches or the like.<br />The engine is still a Chevy V6 and parts for all of it are very easy to come by. Just visit your Volvo dealer.<br />Good Drive, Good engine combination. No parts problems.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

Originally posted by Don S:<br />The engine is still a Chevy V6 and parts for all of it are very easy to come by. Just visit your Volvo dealer.<br />Good Drive, Good engine combination. No parts problems. [/QB]

Yeah - it does kind of look like the volvo out drives, just has cobra stamped on it. Dealer already said it had a Chev engine, so that was good..... (last boat was a genuine OMC / Ford engine, what a pain!)<br /><br />Thanks for the input. Trying to shirk this myth that ALL OMC products suck wind, apparently not the case......

 

[lakelivin]

Re: OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

Still, $14k? What's the cheapest new package you can find for a 17' boat with a v6 & trailer?<br /><br />Wonder how flexible he might be on price if you let him know YOU know the NADA value, and showed him a quote on the best priced new 17' package you can find....With those as reference materials, wonder how he might respond to an offer of $11k to take it out the door on the spot (actually, I suspect any negotiating should take place after you've test driven the boat and/ or had it checked out by someone knowledgable). <br /><br />Does the NADA book list trade in value? If so, you'll at least have an idea what he probably gave the previous owner for it.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

Again, DonS to the rescue! Thanks for the info. And since that drive is a Volvo, the only bad thing about it is, the parts to fix it are expensive. But if you don't break it, you don't need to fix it!<br />That price is outrageous, no matter where the boat is located, how it was stored, and what condition it's in!

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

Price comparison:<br /><br />2005 Four winns 170 Horizon LE with 3.0L $20,995 including PDI and freight, non negotiable (plus 15% tax)<br /><br />2005 with 4.3L at $24,995 with freight and PDI plus 15%.<br /><br />Prices seem about the same at the other 2 four winns dealer within 3 hours of here.<br /><br />A 2004 Glastron SX175 with the 3.0L is $21,000<br /><br />I guess what I'm paying for is the 4.3L.<br /><br />I found a 1997 FW 170 with the 3.0L for $14,000 in the auto trader.<br /><br />Gonna go check out some southern dealers in the next week or so, and see what I can come up with.... The bank said spend as little as possible, just bordering my threshold of going CRAAAZZY! lol ....

 

[moosejaw]

Re: OMC vs Mercruiser - 1995 Four Winns 170

Hi,<br />I just bought a boat from the US and brought it into Canada. They are half the price even when you figure out the exchange rate, taxes, duty (not applicable if it was made in North America) shipping etc. I went to www.boats.com did a search an wham....lots to look at. Indiana is a great place to look and it seems they are overun with 10yr old boats. <br />I am not sure of the rules to post here but you may want to look at www.countryclassicsmarine.com. They treated me very good and delivered on what they advertised.