Planning to buy Sea Doo Challenger 180 W/255HP

[sgoyal]

I'm planning to buy 2009 Sea Doo Challenger 180 SE W/255HP and this is going to be my very first boat. I made offered on 2009 sea doo challenger 180 and owner wanted more than Nada book value and boat didn't seem in good condition.

I found another boat 2009 Sea Doo Challenger 180 SE W/255HP and He's asking around 17K with 2 year warranty left on it. If I'm looking at the Nada Average book value, it seems like a good price. But I still think he's asking little more.

Anyone has any idea how 2009 Doo Challenger 180 SE W/255HP goes for?

Thank you all,

I'm getting Sea doo sooner or later.. It's going to happen. I just can't resist anymore lol

 

[jkoziol]

I purchased same boat in colorado in April. I saw prices range from $19000 to $24000. So $17k is good price especially with warranty. How many hours on engine?

 

[biffdotorg]

NADA is an average of what that vehicle is actually selling for in your region. This is the reason why you are asked for a zipcode on their site. You can punch in zips from other regions to see what the average is for that region.

Of course, the market is determined by what people will actually pay, so demand does vary by region. A 180 may not hold as much value on a coastline as it may in an inland lakes region etc.

A combination of NADA and Bluebook should give you a good average. Try to leave emotion out of the transaction, but that is very difficult in the height of the boat season. Season has a huge play on these values in states where we actually have seasons! NADA is an average over the year and does not take into effect season. Boat are obviously worth less in the fall and more in the spring up here.

I don't believe boats are on KBB.com though. So this advice may not help you.

Good luck!

 

[sgoyal]

Thank you so much for help.

That boat was a mess...It's like my 2 yrs old was docking the boat.. Scratches/rock nip-tick all over that boat..

 

[Davo070]

Scratches are part and parcel of a used boat, as you will no doubt soon find out when trying to dock/launch for the first time!! as long as the fibreglass is not damaged, they are also very easily rectified, I would be more concerned with the maintenance history and mechanical condition of the craft if it was me, but hey its your dime you are dropping so each to their own. I do understand that how a person cares for the exterior of the boat may well be a representation of how the engine was looked after also, so perhaps its not a bad decision after all, good luck with the search!

 

[sgoyal]

Davo070 -- If it was a small scratches (even all over the boat), I'd live with it. It looked like someone took a key and went all over the boat to change the color from RED to white. but when someone shows the boat at least keep it little clean... don't jump on the seat with your BIG shoes and clean a boat at least after use or once in while...

I didn't even test drive ... but I've found a very good deal on 2006 180CS..and lets hope everything goes well. then I close a deal on Saturday.

 

[jkoziol]

Agree on the maintenance history. I just bought 2009 180 se 255 from a boat dealer. Clean boat, 42 hrs, 1 owner. Water tested prior to buying. First time out - supercharger blew and took the motor with it. 2 mths later and $2800 back on the water. Took the boat out this past weekend, it shutoff while driving 35 mph and wouldn't start. Was on the water less than 30 mins. Back to the seadoo dealer. So I question was it a hard 40 hrs or do I have a lemon.

Anyone see a thread on the forum where someone else had or having same repeat issues?

 

[jkoziol]

Got a call from my dealer. They suspect there are still specs of metal from the cleanup of supercharger blow up. But if you've seen a thread on surpercharger cleanup would be appreciated.