Need your opinions. Formula has just introduced a new 353 Sport at a reduced price with less standard equipment and limited options. Basically it is the same 353 as always but 496HO is largest engine option. No electric footrests,no lathum steering,no silent thunder(Corsa mufflers instead) and limited option availability. At first I didn't like the idea but after looking at the pricing I might change my mind.Compared to the way I normally order(525's,Stellings,Platinum grahics,etc) a Sport with HO's could have an MSRP of $100,000 less.I'm guessing 75 mph (help me out here Rippem). What do ya'll think? Should I order one for the Birmingham Boat Show and park along side my loaded one? Do you think it will sell? The earlier 292 and 312 Sports didn't do very well, but maybe this one would? Help me out here. Robert

Hey Robert, I recieved my holding tank, etc. from the former owner..they had not reinstalled since motor change.

I have had the boat in the shop here (GT Perfomance) checking out everything, and installing new dash with proper boost, fuel psi, etc. gauges.
so far things look pretty good (nothing major in the wood pile).

Ran it the one day I called you... it ran out great..very strong!!
Will be taking out this week with the Gary Teague and tuning pro..the engine have not been tuned since dyno run.

Thanks for all your assistance,

Kevin Laney

Robert, I e-mailed you a 100 hour performance report.

A 353 without Latham and footrests??? Blasphemous!

As an addendum to what I had to say in my mail to you...
Throw out 3-500. lbs of options...
The right set of labbed 28's...
light on fuel and gear...
75 is possible and probable.

The real acid test of the pricing thing is not how the Sport compares to your typical loaded big power 353 that you bring in...
But rather how it compares in MSRP to a boat like mine...
Loaded with options but minus 70K++ in blue power,boxes, and further (platinum) paint.

70+ MPH 35' performance boats without hyd. steering is not where the industry or marketing should be going...

The power footrests, as has been said many times...in conjuction with the seating, is what makes those boats move to fit anyone and make them comfortable at the helm.

I don't see this model doing well.

Also, I dont know about that 353 Sport??? I think people that buy the fastech Formula's want decent performance with some pretty nice creature comforts..it's a his and her boat.(as bad as I hate to admit it) if you remove many of the comforts then it becomes a his boat...then they might look at something a little more perfomance oriented.?? Like some of these base linetype fountains, Eliminator, etc.

But no one should have a better feel for that than you.

It's an interesting strategy

KL

What other limitations are being placed on this model? Graphics ect.?

Or limited to some "Sport" "standard" graphic like the Executioner? YUK


With these attempts at stripped models Formula seems to be targeting a demographic for them that doesn't exist...and no clever marketing of a "stripper" will create.

Graphics can be any of the '05 Silver as standard and any of the '05 Gold as optional,just no Platinum. There are some gorgeous designs available, so we should be ok there.No stereo upgrade option, but no big deal,carpet is $300 retail,that's easy. Tab indicators and electric footrests are an option, steering is not an option, however.Props are not labbed,shouldn't matter much on a 496 boat. A few minor deals such as no cabin pillows or shore power. The only issue I wonder about is the steering and is it a real issue in a 35'/low 70 mph boat or more of a perceived issue. I believe a 353 will handle just fine with standard steering(tie bar std of course) but will it be a marketing liability since most of the competion has it? I don't know, I've never sold any 353's without blue motors but maybe it's time I did, and that's why I asked for opinions,please keep them coming. Robert

For a hundred K less, I'd damn sure look at them if I were shopping.

Well Fred...anything will sell if it's priced right for what it offers.

I mean to say, it better be priced appropriately.

How much cheaper Robert?, paint for paint, available option for option, than a "regular" 353 with the same black power...?

As a Formula seller/buyer which boat would you (I) rather have for sale, or would you (I) be looking to buy in 3-5 years?

The stripper...or the boat with all the bells and whistles the Formula demographic is expecting?

Who has one of the best customer loyalties/repeat buyer performances in the business? and what do these customers expect for features in the product?

Speaking of which, they are shooting themselves in the foot. This latest move will confuse the Formula 353 market and drive down values even further. The customer base in the larger sense is not fond of this...

I bought extremely right and at the right time, so I'm not crying about my own situation.

No shorepower means no fridge or battery charger also...

Getting to be a pretty long list of things you aren't getting.

The econo model had better be 40K MSRP less to stand a chance.

Ok, based on the first post and the last, the sport version better be a lot more than 100K off the 525, platinum, stellings version. If that retail at 330K, a base boat with 496 ho is 234K retail, with a lot of the goodies they would leave off the 353 sport. If they subtract the retail price of the missing standard features of the 353, that wouldn't be enough to justify the stripped down model to me. The 40K off base retail would be a good starting point, which would put it at 194k.

Crap, what am I saying. I'll still buy used...

Roger that Billyboy!!!!

I'll let the rich guys get done playing with them first, then I'll take their hand-me-downs.

330k for a 353,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, WTF!!!!!!!

Rippem, thats gotta make you feel even better about your "steal", eh?