Choices... Choices...

[Hepcat62]

About a year ago, I became the very happy owner of a DiveX Sierra. Today I find myself faced with a tough problem - my bonus this year is bigger than I expected, and I'm now torn on a decision I thought I'd already made. I'm usually more active on Scubaboard, but I know for a fact that everybody whose opinion I REALLY want is on TDM.

The big question is - do I buy the Fury battery and new prop for my Sierra, or do I double-down and pick up a Cuda Fury? With the battery + charger being half the cost of the new scooter, it seems damn near irresponsible to not at least consider the Cuda (or at least that's what I'm telling myself).

Cuda Pros
- More speed that I could possibly imagine wanting
- I end up with a second scooter that I could either sell (yeah, right) or keep as a backup and use to infect new people with the scooter virus
- I satisfy the covetous envy I felt at seeing Claudette's...

Cuda Negatives
- It's another $3500
- The vast majority of the scooter divers I know and dive with are running Sierras anyway
- My girlfriend might kill me if she finds out

I know that between the group here you guys have owned pretty much every combination of battery, body, and tail that DiveX has ever produced... What do you think? Either option will get me there and back on just about any dive I could imagine doing at Point Lobos... How often do you guys actually run Cudas above Sierra-speed 5?

Thanks!
Brian

[Mo2vation]

Hey buddy

As a multi-scooter owner, I know for a fact - Two scooters are better than one.

A buddy scoot has been a blessing, and I've shamelessly cracked up countless divers with my spare Sierra.

Scooters, like dry suits, require upkeep. Stuff happens. I'm never out of the water having a buddy scoot.

I would take two sierras in any configuration over one cuda, any day and twice on Sunday.

The second Sierra may sit occasionally, but it will never sit long.

You have a built-in second battery for live aboards with a second Sierra. You have a built-in parts stock with a second Sierra.

And best of all - you can rotate stock... so one doesn't get trashed while one sits pristine on the shelf.

I'd take two over one anytime.


-Ken

[Hepcat62]

Hmm, I'll admit that the idea of a second Sierra hadn't crossed my mind. I wonder if DiveX would sell a refurb Sierra with a Fury battery, instead of the nimh. Then I'd have a lithium scooter, plus my current nimh battery for the second scooter or as a backup...

Still, that Cuda Fury is mighty tempting...

[LCF]

How much do you use your scooter? How often do you dive with someone who doesn't have a scooter, where you wish you could scooter the dive?

If you use your scooter all the time and it suits you, and you often wish your buddy could have one, buy a second Sierra. If you use your scooter all the time and wish it had more speed and more endurance, upgrade to the Fury.

If you use your scooter rarely, and never exceed its battery capacity, spend the money on a cave class

[Hepcat62]

If you use your scooter rarely, and never exceed its battery capacity, spend the money on a cave class

Whereas buying a scooter MIGHT make my girlfriend kill me, signing up for a cave class is a good way to make that a guarantee. I'm working on that with her though...

Right now, endurance is the primary goal - getting a spare and perhaps some extra speed would be a very nice bonus... Hence my original plan to get the Sierra Fury battery as an upgrade. With the battery being 50% of the cost of the Cuda Fury though, I really had to consider the option of getting one...

[BB1]

Well this may help make your mind up and seems to be a bt of a steal - taken from Dive-Xtras MrX facebook page:

FOR SALE: Very gently used Sierra Fury Demo Scooter. Comes with tail, body, battery, and charger. $4500, that's $2000 off full price; and we'll include free shipping within the U.S.! Nothing is wrong with it, it's just collecting dust here

Hope this makes your day and saves you from the suspicious girlfriend!

[Hepcat62]

Unfortunately, by the time I contacted DiveX, that scooter was already sold. Oh well...

[deadbilly]

As a semi-regular buddy without a scooter of my own, I (selfishly) say go for it!

[BB1]

And they've just listed another one - first to contact them gets it!

[Hepcat62]

Just to close out the thread, I decided to just get the Fury battery for my current Sierra for now (with an x-prop on backorder) - sorry Mykle.

I just found out DSS had one ready to go, so it should be here in a few business days. If I'm REALLY lucky, maybe I'll get to check it out in the water this weekend... GO GO SPEED 5!

[Ben V]

We'll have to give that thing a whirl and see how much faster it is than a stock (5 yr old) Sierra... wanna race pink slips?