Looking to Buy a Tige, need some advice

[basamx]

Hi,

I'm a fairly new boat owner, I bought my first boat 2 years ago, a 2007 Tahoe Q6s and now I'd like to step it up a bit and get a nice wakeboard boat. I have young kids that want to get into wakeboarding and skiing, along with myself. I've snowboarded for 10 years now.

So, PRICING on a new boat. I have no clue, as I used NADA to buy my used Tahoe and even new Tahoes can be priced out on the Tahoe website, but NOT TIGE. I have no clue, other than from what the dealer tells me are the options and available packages. Also, when they say Custom Color Alpha Z $4,300, is that really what Tige's MSRP is?

I saw a nice RZR, with a single axle trailer, Alpha Z tower, heater, some gel coat package, but no other Big Ticket options. Dealer listed it at $72,600ish MSRP. They told me they can give it to me for $65,000, but I really don't know if that is a good deal or not. I don't even know what to counter back to them.

How do you buy these things?? Is there some master pricing sheet somewhere? I'm so used to buying cars, looking at invoice and etc. I also really like this RZ2, they have listed at $94k. I mean is that a real MSRP, or did they just make it up?

[skippabcool]

Pricing will vary by region and there is no master pricing.

Where are you located and others may be able to chime in. If you narrow down a boat some may be willing to PM you what they paid or a ball park. One thing that you can do is call around and see what you can get on pricing. My understanding the current year you will only be able to get from your local dealer. If it is not a current year you can get it from any dealer.

In the end it will be what you are willing to pay and what the dealer is willing to sell it for. It seems that there are some dealers that won't deal and others that will.

Good luck on your search.

[murphini]

While the Tahoe was a good start, v-Drive Tige is the best family investment you can make. Your wife will love the safety of the non-exposed prop and no bow rise, and swim platform @ water level as much as you like the wakes it throws. She'll also love seeing all the kids having an awesome time with their friends.

There will be a buyer for your Tahoe in the spring, there are always people like you were a few years ago.

On the Tige prices, its sort of supply & demand both if there are used ones in your area or if you have local dealer. For new, start stalking the dealers who will be popping up at the boat shows this winter if you really want new. You can swing deals there. The prices you mentioned sound 'right', but it all depends on what you want.

Skim this site and you'll find lots of people like you and get an idea of what people have learned.

I think consensus is a 22ft boat is the sweet spot, whether 22ve or Rz2: big enough for 14, small enough to be easy to "weight" for surf wake. The new RzR is a cool smaller one, and if you can swing it or have a larger crew, the 24ve, Rz4 or the new Z3 are awesome beasts. We have an 07 24ve, got when our kids were in high school and it has worked great since we usually have a pretty large crew on board. I have never regretted having the bigger boat.

Decide on the size you want, then narrow from there.

Good luck & hopefully you'll be posting pictures of your new baby this spring.

[Carter13]

Buy used and save a load of cash. Make sure you get a dual axel trailer.
Good luck with your search.

[jbort]

we have 07 22Ve which we really like alot and have lots of fun. We mostly wake surf and the boat does that very well. Our boat was new but had been w the dealer for a yr so we got a great deal. We like to buy that way and I've done that twice. We bought our 97 Formula 280 SunSport for $75K back in 98 which new was over $100k. While I drool heavily over the new Z3 or RZ2, new 2012's are priced higher since Tige has done a great job of adding cool new features and upgrading quality of materials which adds to the price. Your profile does not indicate location but hopefully u can make it to a boat show where "boat show" pricing is prevalent as that is hot selling season. You financing or cash? pro's and cons to both.

[Vicseek]

Search the forums for this thread "New Member - New Boat Questions"
There are a few people who posted estimated boat base prices, options etc...

[basamx]

Thanks all for the good advice. I'm from Milwaukee, WI. Actually my preference would be to get a pre-owned and ideally I'd like to find a RZ2 for that 50-60K range, thinking a 2009 might meet that criteria, but I've been browsing boatrader, and there really isn't a whole lot our there with 500 miles of me. It's tough in Wisconsin area. I was thinking spending the extra 15-20k might be worth it, since I expect to get a lower interest rate. Any a lot can be said for getting a new boat with warranty.

So boat shows are the way to go with it comes to pricing? Are these really the blockbuster deals then? We have a boat show coming up in January. You think it would be a good idea to trade mine in at that time? My thought process is that I could miss out on a good deal on a new boat, from the show, just so I could save 1-2k by selling my boat myself. I mean, if they shows are saving me thousands, then I might as well trade in there.

Also, to mention. I was offered $15,000 for my Tahoe, on a trade with the RZR, which would bring it down to 50k.

[Ewok]

Was the RZ2 a Platinum Edition? They are a bit more than the standard RZ2. I got my boat new from a dealer but it was a leftover boat, it is a 2009 and I bought it in 2010, new, from the dealer. The 3 year warranty started when I signed the papers, even though its a 2009 model. I was looking like you for deals, and I was going to try to find a used 2008 in good condition, but this 2009 I found was asking the same price as some used 2008 RZ2s. I also sold my old boat, a 1993 Bayliner Classic 2250, private party and got NADA price for it. Don't be afraid to look away from you local area. One of the members here found a leftover boat in FL, he lives in WA. He paid to have it shipped on a truck but still saved about 10k from buying a new boat. He did fly down there and test drove it.

The boat show special pricing is a good place to get a "deal" on a new boat but it won't compare to leftover boat prices or late model used boat prices. The other drawback is that you can't take the boat out for a water test to see if you think it will suit your needs, there is no substitute for a water test drive. I know it seems overwhelming but there are lots of choices and pro's and con's to each, take your time, do your research and when you find the right boat, you'll know it. When I saw my boat at the dealer, sitting in the back, I knew I was going to buy it. I tried to hide my excitement from the dealer but at that point it was a done deal in my head, I just had to convince the wife to get on-board. When she said we could get it that was one of the happiest days of my life, after my wedding and two kids being born.

[talltigeguy]

I would consider this boat. But I think they are asking way too much. But I have been saying that for a couple of years about most every Tige I see, so I think I probably don't know crap. I just know that I could have bought that boat for about that price when it was new.

It wouldn't hurt to call them and see if they are negotiable. I love the tower on that boat. Tall and stout. If you ski, come out for a ski day in some real snow, see the boat and make a purchase. If it isn't right for you, then you still got a ski vacation out of it.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218...d=&search=tige

[Timmy!]

Sell your Tahoe on Craigslist or boattrader so you will get more for it.

[kabakona]

Just for comparison, here is a 2007 RZ2 in MN with 140 hours on it - asking price $42,900. The seller is the owner of Heinens Motorsports which is a recently added Tige dealer so s/b credible. The specs are not apples and apples to the boat you are looking at (I see there are no tower speakers on this one) but will at least provide a benchmark (and in your neck of the woods!

http://www.heinenmotorsports.com/sales.html

[basamx]

I'll all about coming up with plan and sticking with it, so for me if I make the decision to sell my boat in the spring and go within a 1000 mile radius looking for a boat, that's what I'll do. I just find that if I jump around between different boats, years, plans, I end up getting frustrated and not doing anything!

The RZR is definitely out for me now, since I'm just not that keen on the width of the boat. The fork shaped bow has grown on me, so Z1 RZ are both nice, and from my understanding there are positive handling characteristics to the fork bows. I did consider Mastercraft, but I really didn't like the look of the tower, that's also why I don't want to go back to 07 or 08 on the Tiges. I do want the Alpha Z tower.

Although I've heard REALLY good things on Tiges compared to the Malibu, and even MC, and since I'm thinking about the Z1 as well. I maybe out deciding if I want to go with a Malibu. Crappy part to me is that my neighbors BOTH had/have Malibu LSVs and I wanted to get something different. Well about twos months ago I mentioned to my neighbor right behind my house, who has a 05 Malibu, that I was looking at the Tiges, because they are so rare around here and VERY nice. Of course last week what does he go and buy???? A 2012 RZ2!!! I don't really care, I'll just get what I want, but it kinda bugs me.

[jrobertson]

I'll all about coming up with plan and sticking with it, so for me if I make the decision to sell my boat in the spring and go within a 1000 mile radius looking for a boat, that's what I'll do. I just find that if I jump around between different boats, years, plans, I end up getting frustrated and not doing anything!

The RZR is definitely out for me now, since I'm just not that keen on the width of the boat. The fork shaped bow has grown on me, so Z1 RZ are both nice, and from my understanding there are positive handling characteristics to the fork bows. I did consider Mastercraft, but I really didn't like the look of the tower, that's also why I don't want to go back to 07 or 08 on the Tiges. I do want the Alpha Z tower.

Although I've heard REALLY good things on Tiges compared to the Malibu, and even MC, and since I'm thinking about the Z1 as well. I maybe out deciding if I want to go with a Malibu. Crappy part to me is that my neighbors BOTH had/have Malibu LSVs and I wanted to get something different. Well about twos months ago I mentioned to my neighbor right behind my house, who has a 05 Malibu, that I was looking at the Tiges, because they are so rare around here and VERY nice. Of course last week what does he go and buy???? A 2012 RZ2!!! I don't really care, I'll just get what I want, but it kinda bugs me.

Try to find a dealer demo boat if you can. I bought my 2010 in 2011 as a dealer demo and saved thousands. THey also took my boat in on trade and sold it to my buddy for the tax savings. I was told Tige gives the dealer a kick back for keeping a boat as a demo and selling it the next year. Not sure how true that is, but worked in my case.

[skippabcool]

Try to find a dealer demo boat if you can. I bought my 2010 in 2011 as a dealer demo and saved thousands. THey also took my boat in on trade and sold it to my buddy for the tax savings. I was told Tige gives the dealer a kick back for keeping a boat as a demo and selling it the next year. Not sure how true that is, but worked in my case.

One thing to make sure on a demo is that you have the warranty stuff written. If you do a search on demo and warranty you can read about what others have experienced.

[Eastern shore wake]

I would really be aggressive on pricing. It is a buyers market and really think it varys by dealer. You are going to have to travel as well as there are simply not that many Tige dealers. I just bought a 2010 Tige RZ4 last month (have a 2004 22V which is for sale now). I live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area and bought my boat from a dealer in New Hampshire. Went up and trailered it down for the cost of gas and a 1 night stay at a hotel. Although a 2010 it was a new boat (only 3 hours on it) and came with full 3 year warranty. Boat has upgraded color, the 409 PCM engine (vs standard 340), Pro ballast (1900 lbs), upgraded wet sounds speakers (4 on tower) and color matched trailer. The "list" was $114k and dealer had it advertised at $72k. After negotiation he sold it for $61.5k which I thought was a very good deal. Frankly, cheaper than some of the used 2008 and 2009 RZ4s I saw on-line. I agree about the alpha z tower as we didn't like the 08/09 towers. Anyway, good luck! It definitely pays to look around and find a "hungry" dealer.

Eastern Shore Wake