what does the staggered have to change? ride ? handling?

Yes. The balance on the 38 is amazing. The 38 Zr is one of the best handling V's ever and it flies straight as an arrow when it launches. By staggering the engines, it puts the weight of the engines more to the centerline, deeper into the hull, and removes weight from the tail. It also puts the props closer together and to the center which provides more thrust. (kind of like the two working more as one)
The only drawback to staggered engines is that it takes a little more thought and effort when docking. Due to the drives being so close together, it makes it harder to spin the boat around. You have to throttle the reversed engine a little to help pivot the boat where as if they were a little further apart, you would not.
I have seen and been on many 35 and 38 Zrs and they are both great boats. The 35 definitely is not designed to run much over 90-95. It tends to get to be a real handful. The 38 has no problem running 120+. Either one is a great boat.

ok its looking more and more likely for the 35zr, the 38zr is more than i could come up with...the 35zr all i have been seeing is the 496ho, would i be unhappy with this? Would the 525's get you in 100+mph club?

See post #8.

They put big power in one 35 Zr and it was too much of a handful above the mid 90's.

been talking to the lady..She loves the way the 35zr looks but likes the idea of a cruiser now. So the 38zx would give you best of both go fast and cruiser comfort features. Since you can have heat/ac, head, fridge, stove top, tv. The 33zx looks a little stubby from what i seen in pictures. Are they really that stubby looking? Hopfully i can get her to go with a ZR.

Eddie Young put big power in a 35 ZR. It handled just fine after some bottom work. I think that it ran 115+ in the LOTO shootout. Supposedly the boat was pretty squirrely before the bottom work.

ok am i being to impulsive should i wait and find one with 525? I found a 06 for 496 h.o on it under 150hrs. My budget is 100k and that is with trailer and all...Should i wait and see what else is out there go after a different brand? I like the donzi name and ride...but would like some input to clear my head before i go out and buy a boat

Don't waste your time with a 35 with 496's. A 38ZR is a better boat all around and with staggered 525's you will love it. There are plenty of good 38ZR's out there that are very reasonable. I loved my 38ZR and so will you!

there 38zr are all around 140,000+ i cant come close to that 100k is the very most

There are a couple '06 38 Zr's in the 120k range.
There are a couple '01-03 Cigarette Top Guns in the 120k range.
That means a '06-08 525 35 Zr should be in the 100-120 range.
I feel the right price for a 496 35 Zr is in or just under 100k.
I wouldn't worry about getting a 496 boat. It still may be under warranty! Turn key reliability and an 80 mph is not a bad package. You can always get the upgrade kits from Raylar down the road to boost performance and or dress them up!