Buying a Tahoe this week!

[flamron]

2006 Tahoe q7 w/250hp mercruiser. Comes with all standard options. Bimini, trailer, etc.

What should I look for when checking them out? The dealer (bass pro) has three from a lease program that I'm interested in. Price seems good at $13995 (is it?)

Thanks!

 

[Hashi]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Hey flamron, thats a great price but ask that it be the "out the door" price. Check for engine hours (If available. Under a 100 would be ideal for a lease boat), maintenance record, check for cracks in hull (top and bottom), ask for test ride and open her up.

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Thanks for the reply Hashi!

The hours on the boat are 250-300 (they have three to choose from). We are going to look them over closely and then pick the one that stands out to us.

How is bass pro with negotiations on pricing? Do they have any leeway or are they set?

I won't be able to test drive most likely, as it is cold here and the boats are winterized. I will be asking to have them run the motor, and then winterize again. I know to check for oil under the motor, and any smoke is an instant no-go for me. A plus is that BPS has serviced these boats, and fixed anything that needs fixed, tested everything, etc. - so I feel a little better about buying one.

On "out the door" price - I'm not sure I'll need to pay any sales tax, as I'm out of state (or at least to BPS).

Are there any "bad things" I can point out that would be easy fixes that may get them to drop the asking price a bit?

Thanks,
Ronnie

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

A little info on me. This will be my second boat. I bought a 1988 19' bayliner to play on and learn with. It taught me quite a bit. I did a lot of engine work to it (volvo) to get it to run. The interior was shot when I bought it, and stayed that way when I sold it (I wasn't worried about the interior - the boat ran, so that was good enough for me at the time).

My wife and I are hoping to keep this boat for five years or more. I'm excited about the 250hp motor, as the bayliner had an AQ125, which was about 135hp. It just wasn't enough horsepower to pull my big frame up on skis (280lbs). It also didn't do well when we had four or more people onboard.

Overall, it was a great boat to learn on (and relatively cheap). It gave us a lot of insight on what to look for and what to not want in a boat.

The price point on this Tahoe is nice for us, as we can have it paid off in a year or less. That is a big selling point for my wife.

The only other concern is the cover for the new boat. They don't come with one. I'm seeing pricing anywhere from $200-750 (the 750 was quoted from BPS). I am mostly curious how the fit is on the semi-custom fitted covers. I don't want to have to buy another cover in three years either. I'm estimating that we'll need to drop around $400-500 for a good quality cover. Any recommendations on covers would be great.

 

[Capt. Calhoun]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Not sure my other reply worked - so I'll try again. Spend the $500 or so on a nice boat cover. http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=186635F This is what I'm looking at for my Q6. I bought it a few weeks ago and dragged it up from Mobile, AL and the semi-custom cover it had with it flared out on the highway. Felt like a sail in the wind - truly suckful.

I'd offer $2k off the asking price. Engine hours are high, it was a leased boat for rental (were these on the Ozark's?), and its about this time those boats start having a few issues. Start at $11,500 and end a $12,000 or $12,225. See what they can throw in? BPS has a no haggle on its new boats, but don't think they can on used boats.

Good luck!

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

250hrs is high? That hourage seems normal to me for a five year old boat. I'm not familiar with them though, so I may be off.

I like the 2k less offering, but I don't know how well it will work. These were listed a month ago at $15,995, and a month prior to that at 17,995. Those may have just been really inflated prices, but I've had my eye on these for a couple months. I do hope they will take less, though. I've been in contact with one sales person already, and she didn't seem willing to budge on the price at all. I even tried to get her to throw in a cover for the full 13,995 and was turned down. I may have been talking to the wrong person, though.

We are heading over in a bit, so we'll know in a few hours if we get it or not.

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Well shoot!

Got over there and the service dept. was closed already. So I'll be pushed out to Monday to buy. Will update then! They are completely firm on their price, and was told they don't earn commission either - just hourly. Kind of stinks they won't budge on the price.

I did find out that the boats weren't rentals (at least the three I'm looking at). They were used at children's camps.

 

[JBF 1962]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Not sure what those boats go for in your neck of the woods, but offer them what you want and if they say no, well, there's lots of boats for sale...

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

$13995 is a great price for what they are around here (and the price will jump 3k by May most likely if they haven't sold by then). I am heading over Monday to pick it up.

 

[splicer]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

As far as the cover, find a local shop that does tarps and awnings. I got one for my '08 Q6 for $400. It has a lot of eyes on it, and bungies to the trailer. It's been on for several months through lots or storms and never let water pool.

You might could ask them to throw in some accessories to sweeten the deal. Or a BPS gift card.

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Good idea!

I just shot an email to a local awning maker. We'll see what they say.

 

[jkust]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

I didn't seee this addressed but I've never heard of or seen a 250hp mercruiser for 2006. It's likely a 190hp v6, 220hp mpi v6, 220hp v8 or 260hp mpi v8. If it's the 260hp mpi v8 that would be fantastic. If it has that mpi v8 in it I like the price if not, I don't like it. That is also interesting that they were leased. I haven't seen leases on boats before.

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

That is what they have listed:
http://www.dealers.com/boats/index.cfm?dealer=508
Click on Used, then Tahoe. And then the $13995 Tahoes. They have the 5.7 motor.

The boats were leased to a summer camp. BPS also leases to Big Cedar (a resort lodge). We saw a couple Big Cedar boats that were "rough". I'm not sure how you peel part of a decal off of a boat, but they did it there. These particular boats are supposed to be in a lot better shape.

Oh, and the $13995 is out the door, too.

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Here is what I found at one place pertaining to motor options to the 2006 Tahoes:
Engine
MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI 300 HP V-8 Alpha - Opt
MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI 300 HP V-8 Bravo 1 - Opt
MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI 300 HP V-8 Bravo 3 - Opt
MerCruiser 4.3 MPI 220 HP V-6 - Opt
MerCruiser 4.3L 190 HP V-6 - Std
MerCruiser 5.0 MPI 260 HP V-8 Alpha - Opt
MerCruiser 5.0 MPI 260 HP V-8 Bravo 1 - Opt
MerCruiser 5.0 MPI 260 HP V-8 Bravo 3 - Opt
MerCruiser 5.0L 220 HP V-8 - Opt
MerCruiser 5.7L 250 HP V-8 - Opt

 

[jkust]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Good call, I am suprised a 5.7 is an option. The 5.7 books out at 260hp with a carb and 300 with mpi. My point was you have more hp than the 250 they are listing which suprises me for leased boats. The rentals I generally see at the resorts don't have the big engine option and do have their share of doch rash. Rentals do tend to get beat but I bet it got all its maintainance on time and likely it never sat unused which is a good thing.

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Ah - I see. I was told they are not carbed, so I wonder what they really have? If I can get up there tomorrow, I'll take some pics of it and post. Now I'm wondering if I will see a 300hp motor sitting in one of them? That would be cool. Probably overkill, but should be fun!

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

How hard is it to change out part of the rub rail? The chrome insert on part of the one I'm considering is rusted/bent. (from poor docking skills/method I assume)

Pic:

 

[flamron]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

So I've been taking my time and looking everywhere for deals. I've told BPS if they will come down 2k to call me. Not holding my breath, though.

Anyways, I've found a VIP that looks to be in great shape. Awaiting some more info. I'll either update or start a new post.

 

[the_smoo]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

Re: Buying a Tahoe this weekend!

I was wondering what was going on with your purchase.. not much happening in the tahoe forum lately!

 

[AgentJ]

Re: Buying a Tahoe this week!

yeah man, spill it, what did ya get?