The 358 I saw was listed for $159,000 with only 20 hours. That is a good way to save big bucks on a new boat!

Having/Buying a new boat is nice if you can afford it.... on all fronts. But the general depreciation during the first 5 years is awful. You can easily end up owing more on the boat that the boats current value/loan amount if you want to trade up or sell outright, depending on the original purchase price, versus amount financed.

Used, within certain criteria is usually the way to go. There is still depreciation, but not as bad if you were buying the boat new, again depending upon the financials....

Perfect example..... look at Fountain, they just dropped prices by 20% on new boats. So the guy whom bought new last year, is really up side down now, with the normal depreciation, and now with the price drop, not to mention the guy's whom bought a few years earlier that the new buyer....their boats are worth even less now !

Yes, you definately pay a premium to have new.

I was recently looking at a used 2002 31 sonic with twin 496 mag/Ho's what would be a true top speed for this boat ?

I would guess around 75.