I'm looking to get a high end elliptical and have looked at several brands and models so far. These would include models by Precor, Life Fitness, Octane, and SportsArt.
For some background, I've used Precor commerical models quite extensively several years ago. I liked them quite a bit because of the ramp technology and the lack of moving arms. The 5.23 has been my preferred model to purchase until recently. However, the exclusive local Canadian retailer for me, Fitness Depot, has demonstrated that they really don't want my business after a sales associate lied to my face and when I contacted their local head office about it, I've been met with indifference. I really would prefer not to deal with them.
I've also used a Life Fitness on occasion and I didn't like it nearly as much as the Precors I've used. I found I was worried about my knees hitting the bar that attachs vertically across the arms. I just didn't like the Life Fitness models for some reason.
While the Octane seemed nice when I tested it, I'm concerned about the need to frequently maintain it and online reports of it breaking down frequently. As well, the only local retailer that carries it is Fitness Depot but there are other Canadian retailers for it.
The last model I looked at is the SportsArt E8300 that was carried at a local retailer. From a brief test of it I came away very impressed but when I was testing it out I had never heard of the brand or model before. Unfortunately, the only SportsArt model they had to test was the top of the line commerical and I've got some concerns about it. Mainly, it doesn't offer the residential warranty that the other SportsArt models carry and that it is self-powered. From what I have been able to find out online, the E82 is very similiar to the E8300 except that it isn't self-powered, has a residential warranty, has user profiles and has a couple of extra programs. I don't know if my local retailer can get in the E82 since they aren't listed on the SportsArt website as an authorized retailer. But they seem to be a far more customer oriented retailer then Fitness Depot and I've done business with them in the past.
Now the SportsArt E8300 is available as a floor model for not much more then the Precor 5.23 and I'm not sure how much it would cost me for the SportsArt E82. Does anyone have any experience with the different models of the SportsArt? And if so, how would you rate them in quality to the other high end elliptical brands?
Thanks.
For some background, I've used Precor commerical models quite extensively several years ago. I liked them quite a bit because of the ramp technology and the lack of moving arms. The 5.23 has been my preferred model to purchase until recently. However, the exclusive local Canadian retailer for me, Fitness Depot, has demonstrated that they really don't want my business after a sales associate lied to my face and when I contacted their local head office about it, I've been met with indifference. I really would prefer not to deal with them.
I've also used a Life Fitness on occasion and I didn't like it nearly as much as the Precors I've used. I found I was worried about my knees hitting the bar that attachs vertically across the arms. I just didn't like the Life Fitness models for some reason.
While the Octane seemed nice when I tested it, I'm concerned about the need to frequently maintain it and online reports of it breaking down frequently. As well, the only local retailer that carries it is Fitness Depot but there are other Canadian retailers for it.
The last model I looked at is the SportsArt E8300 that was carried at a local retailer. From a brief test of it I came away very impressed but when I was testing it out I had never heard of the brand or model before. Unfortunately, the only SportsArt model they had to test was the top of the line commerical and I've got some concerns about it. Mainly, it doesn't offer the residential warranty that the other SportsArt models carry and that it is self-powered. From what I have been able to find out online, the E82 is very similiar to the E8300 except that it isn't self-powered, has a residential warranty, has user profiles and has a couple of extra programs. I don't know if my local retailer can get in the E82 since they aren't listed on the SportsArt website as an authorized retailer. But they seem to be a far more customer oriented retailer then Fitness Depot and I've done business with them in the past.
Now the SportsArt E8300 is available as a floor model for not much more then the Precor 5.23 and I'm not sure how much it would cost me for the SportsArt E82. Does anyone have any experience with the different models of the SportsArt? And if so, how would you rate them in quality to the other high end elliptical brands?
Thanks.
