tohatsu vs etec

[muskrat]

Anybody know if anybody as done a comparison..

 

[JB]

Re: tohatsu vs etec

Either could rig a test that would show their engines as superior, muskrat.

Each has arguments for it. To me the most important difference is the availability of quality support and service.

 

[gss036]

Re: tohatsu vs etec

I think the Tohatsu DFI is different than the E-Tec. If I remember correctly it is close to the same that Mercury uses on the OptiMax.
Again service is the key thing there, but my personal prefrence would be the E-Tec, but again it will cost more.
I have never seen a test done between them, but like JB said, maybe you could get the dealer to do one for you.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: tohatsu vs etec

Only one independent test has been done that I know of and that was on 90's. Mixed results as are all tests with every brand doing something at the top, something at the bottom and most things in the middle. If I remember correctly the Evinrude was the fastest and the Tohatsu was the most fuel efficient. If you want to know which is better, the clear answer is both or neither depending on what you value the most about an outboards ability to perform. In terms of support and service Evinrude has 4 more dealers per state on average than Tohatsu. I can't see where that makes one more attractive than another. Of course I wouldn't recommend buying any brand that does not have a dealer within what you consider a reasonable driving range. Personally, the most important characteristic of an outboard to me is it's dependability as I would rather avoid those trips to a dealer for quality support That would make the Tohatsu the more attractive of the two to me as the Tohatsu TLDI system as proven to be more reliable so far. On the other hand the Etec has one more year of warranty, although I think that they might have put a 1000 hour cap on engine hours as they were experiencing some issues above that 1000 hour point on some models. (Might be wrong on the 1000 hour cap).

Did you have a specific engine size in mind?

 

[steelespike]

Re: tohatsu vs etec

I've attempted to find Manufacturers performance reports of their own products.For me BRPs Etec reports are the most extensive and easy to find with 10 or more tests of some of their Etecs.I avoid brand challenges like the plague.I have found it difficult to find other brands performance reports and sometimes they are spotty and more difficult to evaluate.
I figure if you find a manufacturers test you know they have attempted to get the very best performance.I have found some anomalys in the BRP reports but I think they were miss prints or transposing errors these are usually pretty obvious.You kind of have to assume all companies are trying to be as honest and accurate as possible or the reports mean nothing.
I'd like to know if anyone has found other brands performance reports in any quantity.I've found a few but pretty spotty.Being prop tests,boat tests etc.haven't found a site with tests of the comeplete line probably 30 to 50 tests at one site like BRPs Etec.

 

[jshoes52]

Re: tohatsu vs etec

Here's the article that Bass and Walleye Boats Magazine ran about the 90hp shootout.
http://www.bwbmag.com/output.cfm?id=943183

 

[muskrat]

Re: tohatsu vs etec

thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: tohatsu vs etec

I would question the four less Tohatsu dealers per state as one would have a tough time finding one in Minnesota. They do exist, but nowhere near the numbers of Merc, Yammy, Honda, and BRP.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: tohatsu vs etec

Minnesota is not the U.S. Tohatsu's dealer network has about 200 less dealers than BRP. That means that there are more Tohatsu dealers than there are Honda dealers....You guy's need to come up with a new line. The number of dealers a product has is meaningless if you have one near you. If you don't have a dealer near you where would you get one from?