Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › 08 puma obsolete?
tswanson.
I have seen on here the complaint about the compartment locks being changed from 08 to 09 to stainless steel ones and cup holders are upgraded and the hull being tweaked from 08 to 09. As well as the claw wheels being obsolete just yesterday, as well as my new electronics ($3200)lowrance being replaced by HD series and the new bow light system. It seems that when i got my brand new 08 PUMA in September it has been deemed a relic. I realize new products and new models come out each year, but is there a trend for odd number years getting all the goodies or something? It seems like any discounts dont compensate for the obsolete items in the upcoming years of depreciation. Is it just me or does this happen every year? Lots of payments still due and value dropping fast….
Very interesting question, no doubt BCB builds a great product, but Im interested to know what they do to keep value of their, i.e. customers boat from fast falling depreication, from so called bad economy or not. Im very aware that companys can do just so much, but what? Chuck
So am I understand you correctly that you expect BCB not to ever release anything new? Not sure I understand what you are asking. The regular Puma is still alive and currently being sold on the 09 model year. They are almost identical to your 08 less a VERY small tweak to the hull that did make a slight difference but that doesnt take anything away from the 08 Puma it was a great boat as was the 05-present Pumas. The new latches are a change and the hull other than that and wheels (which up until recently you could still get) both of those changes as I said above were great changes to an already superior product. The cup holders were only upgraded on the 09 Puma FTD not the standard Puma. I reread this post and want to make sure you understand this is not meant to come across wrong but more of a confused posting. Odd years have nothing to do with it BCB came out with a new boat in the last few years. 08 was the Cougar FTD, the old Cougar FTD was renamed to be the Cougar Advantage Elite and the 09 season was the Puma FTD and if memory serves me correct 07 was the year of the PII. The Sabre FTD was thrown in there and prior to all of that the Puma was introduced in 05. Chuck – BCB keeps the values up by giving you the best product on the market at the time that boat was released and always (hopefully) supported by the best company and group of individuals in the business. Not to mention the best compromise of fishing, riding, performance and cool little add ons in the industry. I hope this help and please dont take this the wrong way it was not intended as such. Judd Lasiter PS – Something else worth mentioning if you bought your Puma in September the new stuff was out and you shouldve received a difference in price regarding the 08 to 09 model year pricing increase…plus being a noncurrent model at the time there shouldve been pricing to reflect that.
judd, Im not sure what part of ” I realize new products and new models come out each year, but is there a trend for odd number years getting all the goodies or something? ” you didnt get ,but.. your response seems to enforce the 050709 models getting the uprades and new products that I was questioning… Dont get me wrong I bought this Puma because it was the BEST boat for a GREAT price.. but it does not mean that had I known Odd number years were the change years that I would not have waited 2 months for the upgrades. I revel the praise my beautiful PUMA gets at the ramp every time I go to the lake, not knocking the product, trying to learn the investment-return potential.
We understand your question as being do we change on odd number years. That answer is no, we are always looking to make changes as we can. The Puma is still being built in the same floor plan, and there will be not changes to that model in the near term on the floor plan. There may be other changes we are not aware of. The 08 to 09 hull was a tweak when we made if fit the Cougar Advantage Elite deck assembly. The 2008 hull would not fit it, thus while we were building a new hull mold we took advantage of that to pep it up a little. The difference is only slight, and we know it made a big difference in some areas. Though this is just evolution of a product. In the equipment, we tried to carry Claw Wheels through 2009, and the supply did not hold out. They informed us a year ago in 08 the Claw would be eliminated. The Torqx axles were an opportunity, and we know that there were other changes, though those did come at a considerable cost. The new Puma FTD was introduced and the recessed bow light and other nice features, though again we have to keep moving the product forwards. Seats got a tweak and the new fiberglass buckets were new in your rig. The BCB product or any other will keep changing. We have to in order to meet the competition. They too make changes and while maybe not as many, they still introduce new models and more. We hope this answers your questions and we dont ever want anyone to think their boat is obsolete. We were thinking just yesterday what would we do if we were in the market for a bass boat, what model would we buy if we were not in the business and had the knowledge we have? What motor, boat, options and etc… The answer to the question was either a Puma FTD or a Pantera II model, both on Tandem trailers with Rocca wheels. The cost and available cash would make that decision for us. If we could afford neither we would opt for a Sabre FTD. Though we honestly could not think of another competitive boat we would prefer over these. Realize that is if we had our knowledge as a consumer. And yes there are brands and models we would not buy, as a matter of fact most of them we would not buy for varied reasons. The equipment we would have to keep you guessing on as well as the engine. BCB PS: Which models of BCBs we would not buy, none really, though we listed those we would. The others we would compromise to get one of these instead. The rest is a matter of preference and which one suits your needs. The Pantera Classic has a wonderful following for example. Though most in house except Ron Pierce would not prefer it. Ron being in his 70s prefers the deeper sides, which is true with some Sabre owners.
Actually, I had a 2007 Puma and it was almost identical to my 2006, with the exception of the center console/step. The 2008 Puma did get the new hull that I refer to as the “euro” hull with the side scoops on it (pardon the non-technical terminology). My 07 had the same hull as the previous Pumas to the best of my knowledge. That would kind of negate the odd-year theory. Im not sure theres any strategic planning to release features on odd years that I can tell. However, I understand your position. Its always tougher to have the last model of its kind before a model update or change. In your instance, I dont think thats the case at all. You may have just missed a couple of upgrades like the locks and cup holders. Otherwise, the boats are are mostly unchanged, unless you move up to the Puma FTD as Judd mentioned.
I think the years of change arent relevant when it comes to improving the aesthetics or performance gains on a model. Once a Boat becomes popular with the buyer/me/you and selling well, Im sure it becomes difficult to order changes. But with time, it happens. Exercising this opportunity is one way to increase sales and to forge head with newer technology.With a models popularity already being what it is, minimal characteristic changes to improve looks/comfort/ride or what ever is one way to entice existing owners or other potential buyers into purchasing a new boat. Its just business and thats all. Thats just one of the knocks we inherit with anything we purchase. Me… I like the changes. Its one way to identify year models easier and to identify a companys willingness to stay ahead with new technological advances. Its the only way for BCB to stay far ahead of any potential competention.We couldnt own the best boat made if BCB stayed in the Neanderthal era. After purchasing my 08 Cougar FTD, I knew there was a chance BCB could/would improve what is already one of the best bass boat models on the planet. And yes, they did….. But you know, I dont fill obsolete, I still have one fine a$$ rig, as do you. “Just remember this,we will always be Superior when up against other bass boat brands no matter what our year model.” Glynn
investment return potential? I dont think a boat is an investement with any potential for greater return. Ive bought 2 cats b/c i thought they were the best boat on the market and b/c i think they hold value better than other boats when it does come time to sell.
phatestkat wrote: judd, Im not sure what part of ” I realize new products and new models come out each year, but is there a trend for odd number years getting all the goodies or something? ” you didnt get ,but.. your response seems to enforce the 050709 models getting the uprades and new products that I was questioning… Dont get me wrong I bought this Puma because it was the BEST boat for a GREAT price.. but it does not mean that had I known Odd number years were the change years that I would not have waited 2 months for the upgrades. I revel the praise my beautiful PUMA gets at the ramp every time I go to the lake, not knocking the product, trying to learn the investment-return potential. Sorry phatetkat…what was confusing me is you are talking about investment return potential and buying a noncurrent boat in Sept after all the new stuff was released. Every year for the last 3 BCB has changed things…the biggest hull improvement on the 20fters was made in 08 and in 08 the boat to have was the brand new Cougar FTD so no my post didnt support the odd year it supported ever changing aggressiveness in the marketplace. Investment potential (even though I definitely dont view these as investments) is getting the most current model you can at the time with the latest and greatest goodies you can. But I assume based upon your post you did get a good deal on the 08 and you shouldve at which time you know you arent going to have/get the latest and greatest but at the same time you arent paying for latest and greatest. By your response my post didnt come across the way I intended. I know you werent bashing the company or the product and I wasnt trying to imply that I really didnt understand your question. I do know and while we might disagree I think all years are changing something and major just comes when BCB is done. For example, sometime in 2010 there will be a Jaguar. JL
My 1997 PII will never be an obsolete boat in terms of usability/fishability. Question: Will the stainless cup holders fit in place of the plastic ones? I cracked mine and would like to go stainless
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