I saw a toyota epic sx for sale recently and I am trying to upgrade to a vdrive. I don't know anyone who has one, but the only thing I have heard is that they are excellent for gas. any owners out there? or anybody who has ridden behind one? thoughts

there are a few owners on here, i dont know much about them. but from what i have heard they are solid built boats. <BR> <BR>check here <BR> <BR><a href="http://epicmarine.com/" target="_blank">http://epicmarine.com/</a>

My last boat was a Toyota Epic X22 -- their 22' direct drive wakeboard-version boat. I absolutely loved it... in fact, have had moments of regret since I sold it. It never gave me one major problem, and never left me stranded -- it's reliable as hell. Change fluid, plugs, impellers... and it's bulletproof. <BR> <BR>Loaded down, I typically burned 3-4 gph... The v-drives' fuel economy is similar. I've been behind the Epic SX also, it throws a great wake -- long transition with a nice firmness to it with added weight. All the ballast is under the floor, and there is lots of room in the compartment behind the engine, on either side, and under the bow seats to add more weight... though they do need a 60/40 - 50/50 weight ratio. They are very well-built boats with an amazing community.

Here is a photo from the vault -- "Cyclone" &amp; my Epics at an undisclosed location... Cyclone's is the Epic SX v-drive, mine was the X-22 direct drive. <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/578606.jpg" alt="Upload">

I've owned two Epics, they are great boats, super comfortable and good on gas. They are big boats, lots of room and storage.

Great boat! <BR> <BR>If I were in the market for a boat, I'd buy a Toyota again, just like Psyclone did. All of the points above are accurate (although mine's a d-drive, so I can't speak to the wake of the v-drive). <BR> <BR>One other item, the cost of ownership in terms of depreciation is very low. I've had mine for five years and could sell it for the same price that I paid for it.

is this a good deal? <BR> <BR><a href="http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/674010716.html" target="_blank">http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/674010716.html</a>

Hey Jeremy, <BR>Give Mark at SkiMasters a call &amp; ask about that boat. Chances are they sold it originally &amp; have done some or all of the maintenance on it. <BR> <BR>I've done demos &amp; exhibitions using his Toyotas &amp; never had a problem with the boats. Nice wake &amp; ran great...... ran really quiet too.

Check the NADA guide for general pricing info. Also, check: <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.epicmarine.com" target="_blank">www.epicmarine.com</a> <BR> <BR>and click on classifieds and you can get an idea of what people are asking for them.

to each their own i guess. i had a chance to spend the day on a 2000 epic x22 DD. factory bimini is a joke. so low you will hit your head unless your under 4'10". im a bigger guy and boat worked very hard to pull me up. this DD produced a good slalom wake but the wakeboard wake is a joke granted this was no ballast. i know your looking to a V drive so it will be different. overall it ran smooth but its a cramped little boat and not a fun boat to be in for a day on the water IMPO. i have ridden in alot of ski boats and would have to say the x22 was the worst one i have ever been in. i dont know a whole lot about them really but i spent enough time in this one to know it was not a boat for me. good luck in your search.

That's funny, its a 22ft D drive, one of the biggest ever sold. Tons more storage and room than a V drive nautique. Wide beam and deep gunwales. Mine wouldn't fit in a standard garage with the platform removed. <BR> <BR>The bimini is low but it is great, you can trailer at 70 with it. It's also great if you have little kids or someone that needs to be out of the sun. It also rocks when it rains. If the boat has one and you want to get rid of it you can get top dollar for it, they don't make them anymore. I love the way the tower looks and works (extremely solid, no squeaks or shakes) but my one complaint is that it is a bit low. <BR> <BR>New acme prop fixes the pull up problem when heavily loaded. I ran 1750lbs in that boat (X22) with five or six people. One sack in the walk through, one big one in the huge trunk. Still room for jackets with a 1k sack<IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> Theres tons of room for an underseat sack on the X22 up front, all hidden weight. I had a four blade OJ but the stock one was fine, but I weigh what I did in HS. <BR> <BR>Perfect pass is a must on any Epic. I think thats top dollar for that boat, esp. without PP. It may be very nice though. It has ballast tanks in the hull of the boat with digital level indicators. Only 700 lbs but it's under the waterline. Pretty cool for 2001. Many of them came with Accuski but that is pure junk. <BR> <BR>The boat in the link is an 01 SX gravity games boat. Here are a couple of pics of mine, can't tell what color scheme that boat has, mine is the obnoxious color scheme, yellow and purple<IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> It was my friends boat, I paid a little more than it was worth but it was in perfect shape and he waited for me to sell my boat. There have been a couple of real deals lately on these boats. They are in specific areas of the country because there were only 15 dealers. A lot of them are going north these days, eh? <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/578826.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/578827.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/578828.jpg" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/578829.jpg" alt="Upload">