200 Sport vs Malibu VTX - fair comparison?

[bamabonners]

Not trying to open a can of worms. I have lurked here long enough to know that you folks can be pretty honest and fair group of boaters.

I am a current Malibu owner and looking for something that will fit in my storage space better. We are looking at 200 sport and a Malibu VTX.

a) How do you guys think that the VTX and 200 Sport compare?
b) Is this a fair comparison?
c) For those of you that have come from other brand to Nautique, what made you switch or what makes you stay?

[Mikeski]

I have spent a day on a Malibu VTX and have sat in a Sport 200 at the local boat show. If I were in the market to replace my SV211 these would be the two top contenders for my dollars. The VTX seems much larger inside than the sport 200. I like the exterior looks of the Sport 200 but I am not a huge fan of seating and a few other aspects of the interior. I was really hoping the Sport 200 would knock my socks off but I was somewhat underwhelmed. It is close, you should spend time in both boats before making a final decision. A friend of mine that switched from Nautique to Malibu a while back did mention that they notice an over decrease in quality comparing a mid 90's Nautique to a mid 00's Malibu. At the same time I perceived a decrease in quality comparing my mid 90's Nautique to mid 00's Nautique so it might not be brand specific?

[Nautiquehunter]

I can't speak of the VTX I never checked it out . I looked at the VLX and LSV23 both are very nice if you buy a Bu you bought a good boat. That being said here are the reasons I chose a Nautique.

1- PCM drive train. I read a lot and when I read about engine problems it almost always Indmar. I have 390 hours on my 08 and 750 hours on my 89 zero problems.

2- Overall design and construction . If you look past the pretty colors and trim look how the boats are put together . Look at hinges, switches, ballast systems and most important access for maintenance and repair . I like the way CC thinks before they build. Ballast and raw water impellers, oil drains, blowers, belt, rudder and steering and electrical are easily accessible . CC thinks it through before the first step of the build build.

3- Performance. The 200 sport is built on a 200 lower hull by far the best tournament boat ever built . It handles like a corvette on water. It is the only true 3 event boat on the market. The only way to do better is to buy a 210 and a 200 .

4 - Wear and tear. Go and check out 2-3 year old boats that will give you a good look at what yours will look like in that time. No boat will hold up to abuse but I think you will find the Bu will loose its luster and show its age much faster especially in the interior and carpet.

5- Warranty The Bu gives a three year overall warranty [1 year cosmetic and 2 year gel ] with 2 pages of disclaimers CC gives a full 5 year overall warranty 3 year on drive and gel. Make sure you read both warranties before you buy.

6- Resale no other brand holds its value like CC check the used market and see how the rank.

It took 2 years of shopping for me to buy a new boat. I looked at MC,BU,Supra and Tige Its been 2 years and 390 hours and the boat looks and runs like it did when I bought it. I have never thought ''I wish I would have bought a ____'' They all look great in the showroom my advice is to test drive,ride them all . That your time and get it right dont let yourself be swayed by others opinions Get the one that you like . The biggest mistake you can make is to buy the wrong boat.

You said it all with your first sentence no other brand specific forum could you bring up this topic without a brand bashing free for all. CC owners are not only loyal to their brand they are just as loyal to their sport I am glad to be a part of them.

[TRDon]

I 1- PCM drive train. I read a lot and when I read about engine problems it almost always Indmar.

Also not trying to open a can of worms, but indmar powers 80% of the ski boats make in the last 2 decades, so it the problems may be percieved to be more, but in comparison, they may be the same percentage per boat produced.

[swc5150]

Hunter hit on most of CC's advantages. We had 7 Mastercrafts before moving to Nautique, and couldn't be happier. Personally, I wouldn't own anything but a Nautique or MC, since I feel their quality is head and shoulders above the rest. It's just bling, but look at all the chrome touches througout the Bu. They're all plastic plates glued on. CC utilizes real chrome plated metal, and screws them into place. Check out the motor mounts on a CC versus a Bu as well. Heck, just go drive that 200V, and you'll be sold.

[Nautiquehunter]

I'm not talking about repairs needed. The design of the systems is what I question. Fuel pumps,Vapor lock, overheating Catalytic converters to name a few . These are design issues common to all of their engines no matter how many they build. I'm not saying they are bad but PCM doesn't have these issues.

[swc5150]

My biggest gripe with all the Indmars we owned was the difficulty in performing basic maintenance. You have to have arms made of rubber to get the oil filter off.

[bamabonners]

...and that is why I feel I can post this question here and not on any other forum. I know CC fans are diehard, but can be objective as well and tend to back up opinions with facts.

I have to say that some of the points you pointed out are the reasons I am looking at a nautique.

I love my VLX and feel that it is well built, but not always well thought out.

I want a 20 foot boat and I know the VTX is a little more roomy than the 200 sport, but I love the look of the 200 sport and the well thought out features. It may not have the most bling factor, but I am looking for something that I know will last until it is either paid off or we get tired of looking at it. LOL!

[mdvalant]

Nautiques don't need the *BlInG* to be an awesome boat. "You wakeboard? what kind of boat do you own?" "I own a Nautique.." "Ohhhhhhh" (convo with anyone that knows the water ski world)

[Nautiquehunter]

Hey bamabonners I never asked what are you going to use the boat for. If you are not a skier you may want to check out the 210.

[swc5150]

I was thinking that too hunter... The 200V is unmatched for v drive slalom. It is world record hull afterall!

[HS]

I think his first post mentioned that needing a boat that better fits his storage space was a priority. I see that new for 2012 on the Sport 200 and Ski 200 that there are optional folding platform brackets...that plus a swing away tongue trailer would fit in about any garage.

[Miljack]

I've only sat in a 200 Nautique, but I've spent a lot of time in a VTX last year, also an '08 210. I will agree with a couple who have said the VTX is bigger inside than the 200, no doubt. Malibu did a great job packaging in this model, the interior volume space is pretty close to the newer 210's.
Wake is pretty good stock with the wedge, not my favorite wake but nice. The surf wake is really good on the starboard side, but we have not been able to match it on the port side. I haven't skiied behind it, but the wake looks pretty big at 34 mph, have no idea if it's a soft wake though.
The VTX uses "aerator" style pumps on their ballast system, and from my experiences has worked very well. I'm not wild about the Malibu cruise control, but maybe it's improved (friend's boat is an '07). The storage lockers are HUGE in the VTX, not much storage past the helm/observer seat if you have the bow ballast in this boat.
I would guess if you're more of a skier, the 200 will be a better fit for you, if you're more of a boarder/surfer, probably the VTX, but demo both and see what fits your "mission profile" the best.

[DLarva]

I just went through this process. In fact I'm currently in the downpayment/picking out colors phase for a 2012 200 sport. I took both boats (VTX & Sport 200) out on multiple demos and went through the details of each several times. I weighed the pluses and minuses of each boat frequently over a year and a half.

In the end I decided to go with Nautique. The main reason:

Nautique felt more solid, well thought out, and of higher quality. The VTX seemed great, and it felt more comfortable and roomy, it just also felt like it wasn't quite as refined as the Nautique.

For example, in the Nautique you can unlock the tower, to raise or lower it, by simply turning some handles. In the VTX you have to unscrew a knob and then keep track of that knob somehow--and avoid dropping it in the lake by accident.

Another example is the carpet. The VTX has snap in carpet, but one of the models I look in had a snap that got bent, which caused it not to snap, which resulted in damage to the carpet. And the carpet just looks lower quality.

The VTX also has a massive dash and thus the driver has a lot less of a view around them. It is like they added on screens and gauges instead of combining them into one like the Nautique.

Both of them seem like awesome boats, so I don't think you can really go wrong here, but for what it's worth, the Nautique seems of higher quality.

[swc5150]

DLarva,
You don't have to give specifics, but could tell us approx how much more $ was the 200V versus the Bu? You do get what you pay for!