Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: daaw on December 11, 2006, 05:42:19 pm
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First let me say great site. This is my first post on this forum, and I’ve spent the last several weeks reading olds post.
I will be buying my first hot tub in the next month or so and have been looking at the Marquis Quest and the Hotsprings Prodigy. I have not wet tested either one, but have spoke to the dealers. These two tubs are the biggest ones that I can find that will fit my space limitations. Any other brand suggestions?
The Hotsprings dealer is pretty laid back, almost to the point of making me think he doesn’t care if I buy a tub or not. He answers my questions, but doesn’t give any more info. The dealer has been around for a long time which I like. He has not bashed the competition.
The Marquis dealer is a more type A person, who told me why Hotsprings was not such a great tub. Normal things I’ve read here like, the type of foam they use makes finding leaks difficult to find, compared to their insulation, which is less dense and that their circulation pump is small and runs 24 hours a day and will need replacing in a short period of time at a cost of over $350.00. But he did answer all my questions and more, and has a “can do” attitude when I asked him about getting the tub in the recessed area of my deck which will have little clearance. To my knowledge, the dealer has not been in business for a long time. One thing I didn’t like was that he stated the Marquis sound system was not an option. I don’t want it and would like to save the $$. He seems more eager to sell me a tub.
If memory serves me correctly the Quest cost more than the Prodigy.
Bottom line, without wet testing I am leaning towards the Prodigy.
With all this being said and understanding I need to wet test, should I stay with the one I love (Hotsprings) or go back to the one who loves me (Marquis)?
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Sorry the dealer isnt showing the love. But don't worry the tub will make up for it. :)
From the website it says "Choose to add the soundsations audio system." So I dont know why he says its not optional. Also, the quest is full foam insulation too, meaning if it leaks you still have to dig through the foam.
All that said go with the one you like better. And for goodness sake, wet test em'
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First let me say great site. This is my first post on this forum, and I’ve spent the last several weeks reading olds post.
I will be buying my first hot tub in the next month or so and have been looking at the Marquis Quest and the Hotsprings Prodigy. I have not wet tested either one, but have spoke to the dealers. These two tubs are the biggest ones that I can find that will fit my space limitations. Any other brand suggestions?
The Hotsprings dealer is pretty laid back, almost to the point of making me think he doesn’t care if I buy a tub or not. He answers my questions, but doesn’t give any more info. The dealer has been around for a long time which I like. He has not bashed the competition.
The Marquis dealer is a more type A person, who told me why Hotsprings was not such a great tub. Normal things I’ve read here like, the type of foam they use makes finding leaks difficult to find, compared to their insulation, which is less dense and that their circulation pump is small and runs 24 hours a day and will need replacing in a short period of time at a cost of over $350.00. But he did answer all my questions and more, and has a “can do” attitude when I asked him about getting the tub in the recessed area of my deck which will have little clearance. To my knowledge, the dealer has not been in business for a long time. One thing I didn’t like was that he stated the Marquis sound system was not an option. I don’t want it and would like to save the $$. He seems more eager to sell me a tub.
If memory serves me correctly the Quest cost more than the Prodigy.
Bottom line, without wet testing I am leaning towards the Prodigy.
With all this being said and understanding I need to wet test, should I stay with the one I love (Hotsprings) or go back to the one who loves me (Marquis)?
Believe it or not, don't use your head to decide, use your butt!!!
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Mind if I asssssssssk you a few questions?
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NO please. Ask away
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No I didnt really have any questions, I was just letting my butt do the talking. LOL
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Bottom line, without wet testing I am leaning towards the Prodigy.
Interesting. The dealer I went to told me to stay away from the Prodigy and Sovereign because they only had 1 pump. Told me the jet pressure would be insufficient - even on a smaller tub. However, he might have been trying to upsell me - or maybe he didn't have any Prodigies or Sovereigns in inventory. All the move reason to wet test and not listen to everything a dealer is telling you.
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That is a concen of mine with the Prodigy. It has the same pump as the JetSetter. I can't fit a larger Hotsprings in my deck recess without major, major mods.
Can anyone comment on the Prodigy lack of pressure?
Anyone care to comment on the Quest?
Ohh I get it "asssssk me"...went right over my head
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Hey,
We've had a Prodigy for about six months. It's been a good purchase for us. The fact that the Prodigy has only one pump has not been a problem for us. With a single pump we can't get maximum jet pressure to all jets at one time. We use the diverter valves to adjust pressure as we like it to different jets. That's just fine with us as not everyone wants/needs to be pummeled by a high pressure jet all of the time. This was actually a selling point for us, as my wife is partially disabled and can't take much pressure on her back.
The open and bucket seating was also a reason we liked the Prodigy. You can hunker down in a bucket or recline in the open seating. Our previous tub had a regular recliner, which we seldom used and didn't care for. I know that's personal, but the longer you look, the more you realize what a personal decision a tub purchase is. Don't let anyone SELL you a tub. Buy one that works for you. We looked at and tried out a few other brands, but the combination of quality, service and guarantee seemed to fit us best with the Prodigy.
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I was wrong...The Quest can be bought without the soundsation.
I just looked at the sale flyers I got from the dealers. The Quest is significantly more expensive, almost $2000.00 more and that's without the soundsation.
Am I even comparing apples to apples?
I might have to force the Hotsprings dealer to love me.
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Maybe his approach to "no pressure sales" comes across as "I dont love you"? And perhaps he will if he sees that you need a little more love?
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In answer to your orriginal question, here are three spa models that are of simmilar size to the Prodigy...The Jacuzzi® J-220, J-325 and the luxury 400 series J-460.
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WhiskeyJack said it all!!
We also are proud owners of a 2006 Prodigy, we just love it. Had it since August, use it almost daily, temp stays where you set it at, it has all the room we need and like WhiskyJack said, the jets will do what you want, either strong or soothing which is good for me because I don't always want high pressure. For us, the three back jets are the pressure jets we use for back pain etc., and the three front ones we use for soothing our daily stress, just a tad less intense then the back ones. Seats are very comfortable. I just can't say anything negative about the Prodigy.
Perhaps the dealer doesn't want to seem pushy, so he seems not to care. I personally don't like pushy sales people. But yes, if you can, we test. We did not have the oppertunity to wet test, but we lucked out anyway.
Whatever you decide to go with, I know you will want it like yesterday. We couldn't wait for ours to arrive.
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I don't care for dealers who put down other tubs, you shouldn't have to if you sell a quality product yourself. Maybe the HotSpring dealer isn't giving you more info because he doesn't want to "overload" you with info. Sometimes too much info can scare people off. Our HotSpring dealer was pretty laid back as well.
As far as the Wavemaster 7000 found in both the Prodigy and Jetsetter, I think a better way to put it is that the Jetsetter has the same pump as the Prodigy, not the other way around, if that makes sense. The moto massage DX in the Jetsetter is a pump hog. We have no problem with jet power in our Jetsetter.
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Hot Spring owners have said it.
I am sure the HS dealer wants your business. I guess he just has a laid back way of showing it. Of course it si a laid back business. ;)
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I was wrong...The Quest can be bought without the soundsation.
I just looked at the sale flyers I got from the dealers. The Quest is significantly more expensive, almost $2000.00 more and that's without the soundsation.
Am I even comparing apples to apples?
I might have to force the Hotsprings dealer to love me.
I think you are comparing apples to apples mostly. Both quality tubs, with my preference more towards the Marquis. Does the Marquis dealer know your flirtin with the HS dealer? If he don't let him know the price difference.
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Teh fact the salesman is pushing you away from HS based on the full foam, when there tub is virtually the same, would cause me to pause. (As well as a $2000 dif). Keep the HS on your short list, and look around a bit more.
Absolutey wet test. You can't make an intellgient deciosion without wet testing.
What is your budget?
What are you space restrictions?
What options or features are you leaning towards? (or away from)?
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Just a short reply on the HS circ pump:
5 year warranty, so even if it performs as poorly as the uniformed marquis salseman claims, no cost to you. Even out of warranty, the pump cost around 160.00 not 350.00 as described. As far as the foam explanation he/she gave to you, I,m sure the informed on this site find it as rediculous as I do. Good luck! ;)
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Thanks for all the great responses.
My space limitations are approx 77” x 84”. I built the deck after measuring a tub I thought I would buy. I will try to post some pics of the deck when I get home tonight.
I since found this forum and have ruled out this brand. I am looking for the largest tub that feels good to me and the bride. Our budget is approx $6,999.99, although I would like to spend less.
The technique the Marquis dealer used was to show me the insulation in his tub which was less dense than the insulation sample he had for the Hotsprings. He asked, “which of these do you think would be easier to detect a leak in?”
He dogged the small impeller on the Hotsprings recirc pump as well, showing me a Marquis impeller and stating how it would move more water. I realize that the Marquis does not use a 24 hour recirc pump.
Is noise an issue with the Marquis pump running? The tub will be near a window.
I don’t blame him for wanting to sell me tub and he seamed knowledgeable about his product. He was more aggressive than the Hotsprings dealer.
I hate to admit it and would not buy a tub based on this but the lights on the Hotsprings were pretty cool. They seemed a lot brighter than Marquis. Maybe just the showroom lighting.
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Sometimes, I think I sound like a broken record, but the Tiger River line will fit your dimensions, and may be in your budget. Some of the Artesian tubs may also in your price range, but I haven't heard too much about them and can't comment in detail on them. Thier Saba model fits your dimensions (Have you allowed room for a cover lifter?)
I belive all of the Caldera tubs will fit your space.
I had an old TP tub, and when the pumps cycled on it was loud enough to not want it close to a window. If you do look at some of the TP desings (Artic, Coleman, Jaquizi) listen a bit to the pumps and keep in mind they will cycle on when you are not using the tub. Perhaps they have gotten quiter -I cant say-, but would have you keep that in mind when shopping. :)