Why is MC not the market leader?

[06x2]

Have you been in a 2014 Malibu though? They are a well deserved top tier boat.

yes I have my buddy just bought a 2014 23lsv a lot better then his former 247 found the fit and finish a lot tighter now but only time will tell he was at the dealer quiet a bit with the old one

[sand2snow22]

My sources tell me MC was the market leader, 1st quarter 2014...

[Ash]

Really? When did they closer the plant in Merced, California?

Nearly 3 years ago.

[JohnE]

Sorry...but IMHO my older 5.7 Indmar was light-years easier to work on, and even my dealer says that serviceability is an issue that they struggle with on the Ilmor. I've owned three Indmars and one Ilmor, and I thought things were easier before. Just my opinion...

My dealer raves about Ilmor, fwiw.

[bamabonners]

If they weren't nice, would that many people buy them? A few sure, but the largest market share? One can't under-estimate Malibu's quality.

This Wakesetter belongs to a friend of mine. There's not one aspect of this boat that doesn't measure up to a MasterCraft or a Nautique. There's a reason they're holding top spot. They sell a great boat at a more affordable price, however so slightly more affordable. SurfGate helps sales too, for sure. Surfing is easily the most popular watersport right now, and SurfGate works.

I have owned a 2011 VLX, a 2012 23 LSV, and when it was time to buy the 3rd one - I went to MC. Malibu is a good boat and has some good features, but overall, they are not MC and Nautique. MC and CC just do all the little things and put those nice finishing touches on the boat....Things that make you understand why you paid a little more. I could write a book on the differences and MY OPINIONS, but the mods would probably delete it. Now, I have full on MCOCD and don't see myself going back!

[FourFourty]

It is well known here that the average price increase for a lot of years was 8%. So calling it 10% is a pretty fair generalization. However, that unjustified price increase is believed to be part of the root cause of the changing of the guard in upper management at MC.

The one thing to keep in mind is that EVERY other boat company had the same general increases in pricing. Based on recent pricing, Malibu had the largest price jump.

[JohnE]

Just wanna put it out there that the 10 percent increase is a stupid lie! Dropping Indmar was a good choice, Ilmor is easier to service and doesn't over rate their motors like Indmar.

Oh Aric, how is your statement truth? If my statement was a lie then what was the increase? They surely weren't getting cheaper. I know many of you were complaining about the 2012 price increases. Granted 10% was probably a high estimate. As for your statement about llmor, again yes that maybe true now that they are better off now but at the time of the announcement there were many many people not thinking it was such a great idea. Don't forget this thread was asking what might be some reasons people think MC lost market share the last several years.


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It is well known here that the average price increase for a lot of years was 8%. So calling it 10% is a pretty fair generalization. However, that unjustified price increase is believed to be part of the root cause of the changing of the guard in upper management at MC.

[MarkS]

They are

[CantRepeat]

Why not the market leader? Simple, these boats suck balls!!

[FourFourty]

The impeller changes are the only thing I have run into that is not as easy on the Ilmore engines. Everything else is easier, and positioned for a longer lifespan and easier service.

[501s]

My last boat has an Indmar 5.7 and both my new boats have had Ilmors and I definitely prefer the Ilmors for service. There was nothing I preferred about the Indmars. Oil changes are so easy on the Ilmor with the remote oil filter.

[FoggyNogginz]

If they weren't nice, would that many people buy them? A few sure, but the largest market share? One can't under-estimate Malibu's quality.

This Wakesetter belongs to a friend of mine. There's not one aspect of this boat that doesn't measure up to a MasterCraft or a Nautique. There's a reason they're holding top spot. They sell a great boat at a more affordable price, however so slightly more affordable. SurfGate helps sales too, for sure. Surfing is easily the most popular watersport right now, and SurfGate works.

I personally just don't like the interior of the Malibu as much, but that is a personal perception. I have not tried SurfGate, but after surfing behind the VLX a lot in recent years (and yesterday), I think the wedge is more marketing fluff than genuinely innovative. We rarely even deploy the wedge these days, but we sure do double stack ballast bags and create a great wave.

My $.02

[FoggyNogginz]

Just wanna put it out there that the 10 percent increase is a stupid lie! Dropping Indmar was a good choice, Ilmor is easier to service and doesn't over rate their motors like Indmar.

Sorry...but IMHO my older 5.7 Indmar was light-years easier to work on, and even my dealer says that serviceability is an issue that they struggle with on the Ilmor. I've owned three Indmars and one Ilmor, and I thought things were easier before. Just my opinion...

[MC25]

Oh Aric, how is your statement truth? If my statement was a lie then what was the increase? They surely weren't getting cheaper. I know many of you were complaining about the 2012 price increases. Granted 10% was probably a high estimate. As for your statement about llmor, again yes that maybe true now that they are better off now but at the time of the announcement there were many many people not thinking it was such a great idea. Don't forget this thread was asking what might be some reasons people think MC lost market share the last several years.


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10 percent is extremely high, it was more like 3 or 4 percent. Does any boat get cheaper? remember the 40k axis?

[Nordicron]

Just wanna put it out there that the 10 percent increase is a stupid lie! Dropping Indmar was a good choice, Ilmor is easier to service and doesn't over rate their motors like Indmar.

Oh Aric, how is your statement truth? If my statement was a lie then what was the increase? They surely weren't getting cheaper. I know many of you were complaining about the 2012 price increases. Granted 10% was probably a high estimate. As for your statement about llmor, again yes that maybe true now that they are better off now but at the time of the announcement there were many many people not thinking it was such a great idea. Don't forget this thread was asking what might be some reasons people think MC lost market share the last several years.


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