Why are used Sonics selling so cheap?
 

I've noticed used Sonics selling well below what I would expect. Lower than NADA. I've seen 95,96 31SS's with 454 mags for 49,999 and 61,000. Has anyone else noticed and do you know why ?

I just checked NADA, the price has dropped another 15K since I last looked 6-8 months ago. My 1997 31SS with 454 Mags that stickered for a little over $128,000 new now lists for under $75,000 average retail. Its of course far better than average but this is very depressing. I would love to hear anybodys thoughts on the subject. :confused:

NADA removed the "Retail" number from their website. I'm not really sure why. Anybody out there know?

:confused:

[ 12-20-2001: Message edited by: Omega ]

Think about it. Flood the market with a lot of boats (don't they produce over 100+ a year?) and what do you expect? Fountain, Wellcraft, Sonic...sell a lot, get a little!

I don' know the real numbers, but I seriously doubt that Sonic sells anywhere near as many boats as Fountain and Wellcraft.

Think about it, Fountain has lines of boats for fishing, sport cruisers, and Performance boats. Wellcraft has runabouts, cruisers, fishing, and performance boats. Sonic only makes performance boats. They are a much more like a low volume semi-custom builder than the rest. But that's just my .02 cents. :confused:

[ 12-22-2001: Message edited by: bn ]

Fountian, Wellcraft,Baja, sell 5 to 10 times the number of boats Sonic does. I don't think 200 a year is a lot, and I'm not sure they do that many. It is only recently that I have seen used Sonics for sale regularly, usually they were hard to find. There must be more to it than volume.

Fountain more than doubles the sales of Sonic. Baja sells more than 5 times what Fountain does. I don't know how this would impact resale value. Used boats, cars, you name it...the market is crap right now. If I could unload the Fountain, I wouldn't mind getting into a used 31' at some of the prices that are out there now.

I must say that I don't see too many Sonics up here in Chicago. I'm pleased to say that I have been looking at two used (1990) 41'SS boats - not the fastest boats out there but pretty sharp looking! And the prices ARE very reasonable!

Nothing sells for NADA price.
My general rule of thumb is as follows:

A boat depreciates at the following rates:
As soon as you buy it: -10%
After one season: -25%
After two seasons: -33%
Three to five seasons: -50%
After that it all depends on how clean it is and the hours.

I've been boating for 22 years now and I know my calculations are right on the money.

If you've trashed your boat..good luck - there are lots of very clean well cared for boats that will always sell first.

my .02

I noticed they seem awful cheap too. I didn't notice until I saw Too Old's post.

Maybe they are just being more realistic than the Cig and Fountain owners in this economy?

I hadn't considered a Sonic but the 31 sure looks like a nice boat and you can buy a 3 or 4 year old one for the price of a 10 year old Bullet.

Going to have to give it serious consideration.

where are you guys seeing these boats.....there is only a couple 31ss's in the whole US on allaboutboats.com and the prices are about where they were when I bought mine two years ago.....

Offshoe Marine in Grasonville MD supposedly has two.

I love my Sunsation 288, but the cabin in a 31 SS blows me away...

If I can start to make some money at my job, I'll get one...

:)

TooOld - what happened to your Skater? You goin to be a 2 boat owner?

Look at Boattrader, Sonic's web site and I run across them at dealer web sites.

Too Old report back your findings, I want a non sonic owners impression, a first blush type of thing.

Sounds like a very solid boat.

Check the boat trader, or www.powerboatusa.com

I'd like to know where all the cheap Sonics are. I have seen a few. Mostly trades on new Sonics. One that is on the market is a repo and one has the ugliest paint I have ever seen. As for production: Sonic builds about 150 boats per year in the last few years. The prices on new Sonics is much more reasonable than any Wellcraft, Fountain, etc. You get one hell of a bange for the buck.

Used prices have to be competitive to sell. If your not saving big bucks why wouldn't someone order a boat exactly the way they want it complete with warranty.

Nada is just a guide. Sonics are for the most part built to suite. Many more power options, and comfort options than are addressed in nada accuratly.

If you want to protect resale. Order a reasonalable boat. Don't get too crazy with paint and wild colors. Don't molest the boat! Although we all like to tinker added stuff decreases resale no matter how much it cost you to have done, ie superchargers, drive upgrades. The buyer just assumes the previous owner beat the crap out of the boat.

I've been in this business for quite a while and that's my take on it. Just one mans opinion.

See you in AC & Miami

catagory5 are there any add ons that actually increase the value of the boat ( hyd. steering , exhaust etc.) ?

A few hotties in thongs always increase a boats value in my eyes :eek:

I have to agree with the hotties in thongs!!

I don't think you'll ever get the full return on the investment. However, if the same buyer is looking at two equally priced boats which one do you think sells first?

JeffryBoy, are your depreciation calculations based on original MSRP or the price actually paid for the boat??

based on actual price paid for boat....

:)

I don't know how mant boats Sonc makes a year, But I know a LOT of performance boat owners, and I have the only Sonic in the bunch.

Sonic builds 160 boats per year give or take a few.

Works for me! I'm looking for a 31ss this spring - gotta sell my boat 1st - (another gratuitous plug....)

http://www.newfocusis.com/shooter/index.htm

I'm hoping for 454 maggies and supercharging them later... trying to avoid the 7.4s...

The only cheap Sonics I have found are 28 SS,s all the 26 and 31 are over priced compared to a new one, any guesses on waht the winter market will be or should I just wait till spring and let the used ones become ONE year older