I'm trying to help out a friend decide which boat he should buy so I'm turning to you guys to help us. Lets say you are looking at a 2002 Top Gun w/575's or a 2004 Top Gun w/525's. Both boats are priced accordingly for the year. Would you buy the 02 w/575's or spend more $ and get the 04 w/525's? Look foward to hearing your responses. Thanks in advance.

Go with the 525,s no blowers and closed cooling will save him $$$$$$$ in the long run.

i have a 02 Top Gun with 500 EFI i love them & the boat !!

525's

Have him decide what he wants Speed or Reliability.

525's... less speed more reliability
575's... more speed less reliability

Those 525 will suck when he needs the extra 7 mph.

Tell him to buy the '04, caus if it's the same '02 that I am thinking of , I want to buy it as soon as mine sells

I had the same delima when I bought my '02. After a lot of waffling I went with the 575's. There is a noticable difference in power and the 575's can easily be bumped up. Have not seen a lot about 525 power mods. The closed cooling, ITS and efficiency were what kept bringing me back to the '04 and 525's.

My 575's have been great. I'm in the process of adding Whipple Intercoolers. Looking forward to a little more go this summer. To date the only area I've seen extra maintenace needed is in the thermostat housing area. I boat in salt water and flush with Saltaway after every outing. This has definitely helped.

Recently I've seen some comments about 525 problems. Not bashing cause I have not followed closely. I think no matter what you end up with it's more about how the boat has been cared for and what he will do regularly to maintain.

I don't think he can go wrong either way. He may think differently though when that 575 boat passes him

Good luck either way.

both are good engines the 575 will burn more gas & require 92 octane. but maybe a few more mph on top end. I would do the 525s myself.

525's for reliablity and 87 octane gas.

The 575's do not burn more gas. At least mine don't. They use about the same as 525's.
The 575's are easy to work on, easy to get more HP, are build w/ beefier parts, and a TG w/ 575's is about as ideal as you can get.

525's are nice, but lack the punch of 575's. Plus they are a nightmare to work on - too many electrical sensors and a more complex computer.

Best advice is a significant sea trial w/ both. I'll wager the 575 boat wins out!