So who here has actually been inside the ASR?
First off this boat is HUGE - wow, it's large/tall/massive. The storage is so abundant, almost excessive. And I can appreciate that due to always having a lot of people on the boat and stuff to store. It was wide and the floor space was very generous. Cool dash, lots of space in the playpen, and 2 cooler areas (stow-away and floor cooler/trash).
So I went to the dealer cause I actually entertained getting a larger boat, specifically so I could fill the boat with more people and not feel crammed like you can in my Z3...but I'm talking 12-15 people/kids. The Z3 does the job, but just the thought of having MORE ROOM and MORE SPACE seemed appealing and getting the newest and "badest" Tige out there kinda peaked my interest.
But even though the dealer was going to give me a "decent" deal on the ASR, and pretty much exactly what I paid for the Z3 back in March....I really wasn't interested at all, I mean - at all, not even a little bit. And it was for a bunch of reasons.
First off, the boat is nice, interior is nice - but it's not nicer than the Z3 - actually I think the lines, stitching patterns and overall look of the Z3 has way more character - the ASR seems dull. And the seating in the ASR was very straight forward - there was just seating, awkward seating and not every comfortable. I remember when I first sat in the Z, I was like WHOA this is a nice boat and loved the seating anywhere in the boat. There were many awkward seats in the ASR - against the back (with that lowered transom) and corners were flat and squared off, against the glove compartment was uncomfortable too, and then how the bench seats just ended at the captains chair seemed weird. Then there was the front playpen area - huge yes, but shallow - real shallow, I couldn't imagine letting kids ride up there under the age of 7. The very front was real shallow, and I would so miss watching my kids hold on to the front and side of the bow looking over the edge and having a blast - screaming faster, faster....They wouldn't be allowed up there until we stopped in the ASR or would have to sit with their backs against the windshield area - sad really.
Overall, the features weren't any better than what we currently have in most our boats now. I mean if the seating reconfigured, or additional backrests popped up or could be installed, eating table, arm rests, new surf system, or anything that would have you say "oh-ok, that's cool, that's what I want" - then you'd have something, but there was really nothing there. Just STORAGE, and more storage, and so much storage I wondered what I could possibly fill all that storage. The engine was an upgrade yes, the windshield looked sturdier, and Ballast System seemed legit and serious, Apex Gator Step flooring (I actually didn't care for it), and I'm sure it puts out an unbelievable wake (I mean it has too, it's HUGE) - but was it enough to trade in the Z3 and get the ASR? - NO. It really didn't even make sense to be honest.
So of course I didn't test drive the boat, and I know that may be some of your responses as not giving it a chance. But I think about boats like some would think about luxury weekend cars - you buy them cause of the emotional draw and memories you can create with these luxury items. There are many vehicles that I can respect on paper, magazines, videos, etc...but you know the moment you see it in person or get inside it - there's no amount of performance that will change your mind, especially when compared to other like products. And I can also recognize that I'm in a different place in my life, with kids and families all on board - so I can honestly chalk this boat up to its not the right boat for me at this stage of my life.
But man...I sure did want it to be.
First off this boat is HUGE - wow, it's large/tall/massive. The storage is so abundant, almost excessive. And I can appreciate that due to always having a lot of people on the boat and stuff to store. It was wide and the floor space was very generous. Cool dash, lots of space in the playpen, and 2 cooler areas (stow-away and floor cooler/trash).
So I went to the dealer cause I actually entertained getting a larger boat, specifically so I could fill the boat with more people and not feel crammed like you can in my Z3...but I'm talking 12-15 people/kids. The Z3 does the job, but just the thought of having MORE ROOM and MORE SPACE seemed appealing and getting the newest and "badest" Tige out there kinda peaked my interest.
But even though the dealer was going to give me a "decent" deal on the ASR, and pretty much exactly what I paid for the Z3 back in March....I really wasn't interested at all, I mean - at all, not even a little bit. And it was for a bunch of reasons.
First off, the boat is nice, interior is nice - but it's not nicer than the Z3 - actually I think the lines, stitching patterns and overall look of the Z3 has way more character - the ASR seems dull. And the seating in the ASR was very straight forward - there was just seating, awkward seating and not every comfortable. I remember when I first sat in the Z, I was like WHOA this is a nice boat and loved the seating anywhere in the boat. There were many awkward seats in the ASR - against the back (with that lowered transom) and corners were flat and squared off, against the glove compartment was uncomfortable too, and then how the bench seats just ended at the captains chair seemed weird. Then there was the front playpen area - huge yes, but shallow - real shallow, I couldn't imagine letting kids ride up there under the age of 7. The very front was real shallow, and I would so miss watching my kids hold on to the front and side of the bow looking over the edge and having a blast - screaming faster, faster....They wouldn't be allowed up there until we stopped in the ASR or would have to sit with their backs against the windshield area - sad really.
Overall, the features weren't any better than what we currently have in most our boats now. I mean if the seating reconfigured, or additional backrests popped up or could be installed, eating table, arm rests, new surf system, or anything that would have you say "oh-ok, that's cool, that's what I want" - then you'd have something, but there was really nothing there. Just STORAGE, and more storage, and so much storage I wondered what I could possibly fill all that storage. The engine was an upgrade yes, the windshield looked sturdier, and Ballast System seemed legit and serious, Apex Gator Step flooring (I actually didn't care for it), and I'm sure it puts out an unbelievable wake (I mean it has too, it's HUGE) - but was it enough to trade in the Z3 and get the ASR? - NO. It really didn't even make sense to be honest.
So of course I didn't test drive the boat, and I know that may be some of your responses as not giving it a chance. But I think about boats like some would think about luxury weekend cars - you buy them cause of the emotional draw and memories you can create with these luxury items. There are many vehicles that I can respect on paper, magazines, videos, etc...but you know the moment you see it in person or get inside it - there's no amount of performance that will change your mind, especially when compared to other like products. And I can also recognize that I'm in a different place in my life, with kids and families all on board - so I can honestly chalk this boat up to its not the right boat for me at this stage of my life.
But man...I sure did want it to be.
)
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