Anyone tried the new Titan LX 2009 model?

[mike_s]

I just read on another post about the warranty. Is it true that you only get free parts everyother year? So that means in two years i pay for 2 labor charges and 1 parts charge while the other year is free? If thats correct then why from a dealer just to get a warranty. i could go online and save a couple of hundred dollars.

You only get "free parts" every other year with the Aqualung warranty.

But you have to get it serviced every year to keep the warranty active.

But they consider the year that you don't get parts as an "inspection service" (no parts replaced) and the year that you get parts as a "rebuild service".

If your reg needs parts replaced during "an inspection year", that comes out of your pocket (unless the LDS will cover it keeping customers happy, etc).


You have to pay the labor every year regardless for the services to keep it in warranty.


One more thing to note.... not all Aqualung dealers are required to offer the "free parts for life" program. some choose not to participate. Find out whether your dealer does before you put down your $$$.


Yes you can buy the same exact reg online for several hundred less. (the difference will definately pay for the cost of a parts kit for a year or two. )


Here is the link to Aqualung's policy on "Free parts for Life" and it's requirements.

http://www.aqualung.com/ca/en/content/view/179/259/

Free Parts For Life
The Free Parts For Life Agreement is a three party agreement that involves responsibilities of the original owner, the authorized Aqua Lung Dealer and Aqua Lung. If all of the terms of the agreement are met, the original owner will receive free standard regulator overhaul parts every other year for the life of the regulator.

In order to maintain the Free Parts for Life Agreement the following terms must be met:
· The Aqua Lung or Apeks regulator must have been purchased from an Authorized Aqua Lung America Dealer
· The Free Parts for Life Agreement is only available to the original owner
· The regulator must be inspected by a participating Authorized Aqua Lung Service facility every year.
· The regulator must be overhauled by a participating Authorized Aqua Lung Service facility every other year *
· You must make sure the Dealer records both inspections and overhaul service in the “Annual Service and Inspection Record” located in the back of your regulator owner’s manual.

If the regulator is subjected to less than 50 dives per year* it is permissible to overhaul it every other year with an inspection procedure being performed on the “off” years. For example:

Year #1 Inspection
Year #2 Overhaul
Year #3 Inspection
Year #4 Overhaul
and so on.

· if the regulator is subjected to more than 50 dives per year it will require overhaul service every year. In this case you will only have to pay for parts every other year as documented by the Annual Service and Inspection record in the back of your Aqua Lung regulator owner’s manual.

Conditions:
· In order to get free standard overhaul parts on the Free Parts for Life program you will be required to provide proof of purchase from an Authorized U.S. Aqua Lung Dealer and the “Annual Service and Inspection Record” located in the back of your regulator owner’s manual documenting all inspections and overhauls have been completed as per the agreement.
· This program is limited to participating Authorized Aqua Lung America Retailers. Aqua Lung retailers are not required to participate in this program. Please inquire with the Aqua Lung retailer if they participate in the Aqua Lung Free Parts for Life program prior to bringing your regulator in for overhaul servicing.

· The Free Parts for Life agreement does not cover any labor fees incurred during either inspection or overhaul service.

· The Free Parts for Life agreement is limited to standard overhaul replacement parts as defined by Aqua Lung. During the course of a normal overhaul service additional part replacement may be necessary that are not covered under the Free parts for Life agreement.

· The Free parts for Life Agreement does not cover any parts that need replacement due to lack of basic or annual maintenance, damage caused by misuse, accident, or neglect.

REGULATOR INSPECTION
An inspection from an Authorized Aqua Lung Service facility involves detailed testing of several performance parameters, and visual inspection for any excessive wear, or conditions that may affect the performance of the regulator. An inspection requires substantially less labor than a complete overhaul and is generally quite a bit less expensive than a complete overhaul. A complete inspection is also generally performed prior to performing a complete overhaul. Under the Free Parts for Life agreement, an inspection is required every year while regulator overhaul is only required every other year.

REGULATOR OVERHAUL
A Regulator overhaul from an Authorized Aqua Lung Service facility involves the same detailed inspection as is performed annually to identify any potential areas that may need special attention. In addition, a complete overhaul includes complete disassembly of the first and second stage, thorough cleaning, and replacement of all standard overhaul parts.​

 

[imwright1985]

save tons of cash??? I could get that reg for 350 brand new with the warrenty

 

[mason417]

save tons of cash??? I could get that reg for 350 brand new with the warrenty

The Reg goes for $440.00, its not the money. I was curious about what upkeep expenses I have to deal with.

 

[mike_s]

You can pick up the Titan (non LX ) from LP for $224

You can get the Titan LX at Dive Inn for $239
the Titan LX Supreme is $334 there. (the Titan LX Supreme is environmentally sealed, where the normal Titan LX is not.


If I had a choice of paying $440 for it from an overpriced LDS and paying $239 for it "mail order" and loosing the 'free parts warranty', then that's what I'd do if it was me. (but that's my choice. you have to make your own choice.)


My suggestion is to take the printout from the above site at $239 to your LDS and see if they will price match it, or at least come down in price some. Can't hurt to ask. If they are ass-holes about it, then it's your money. Vote with your wallet.

 

[eelnoraa]

You can pick up the Titan (non LX ) from LP for $224

You can get the Titan LX at Dive Inn for $239
the Titan LX Supreme is $334 there. (the Titan LX Supreme is environmentally sealed, where the normal Titan LX is not.


If I had a choice of paying $440 for it from an overpriced LDS and paying $239 for it "mail order" and loosing the 'free parts warranty', then that's what I'd do if it was me. (but that's my choice. you have to make your own choice.)


My suggestion is to take the printout from the above site at $239 to your LDS and see if they will price match it, or at least come down in price some. Can't hurt to ask. If they are ass-holes about it, then it's your money. Vote with your wallet.

Even if you buy from "overpriced LDS", there is no garrantee that you are getting "free parts for life warranty". I was told Diver Dans in Santa Clara, though a authorized AL dealer, but does NOT participate in "free part for life" program. So you are spending the extra money for local support only.

I wonder how much is labor, how much is part in a typical reg serivce, like 1st+2nd+octo rebuilt. My LDS charges about $100 for this in total.

 

[mike_s]

Even if you buy from "overpriced LDS", there is no garrantee that you are getting "free parts for life warranty". I was told Diver Dans in Santa Clara, though a authorized AL dealer, but does NOT participate in "free part for life" program. So you are spending the extra money for local support only.

see post #11 in this thread. It details AL's policy on service warranty and free parts

I wonder how much is labor, how much is part in a typical reg serivce, like 1st+2nd+octo rebuilt. My LDS charges about $100 for this in total.

most shops average $15 to $25 per stage for labor. So for a first stage, 2nd, and octo, that's $45 to $75 on average. (most I've seen fall into the total of $50 to $60 for labor on average).


of course costs and expertise differ per shop.

 

[ndilport]

I've got the new titan lx and absolutely love it. My father-in-law has the legend, and to be honest, I really can't tell the difference in the way that they breathe. About the best feature of the new titan is that aqualung redesigned the inside of the second stage a bit so that now there is almost no pressure difference between the inside of the second stage and the hose, and the only thing you have to overcome when you take a breath is the force of a little spring holding the diaphragm closed. This makes the reg a great breather, and a little easier to service from what I understand.

As for the warranty, I bought mine from my LDS and don't mind paying a little more for the peace of mind that comes with the ability to take the reg to them and have them honor the warranty if something were to fail. But no one knows your finances like you do so the decision is yours to make. If you live around the tampa area I would recommend visiting Ed and Marge at Calypso Divers inc., they are really great people and can help you out a lot with some of the questions you have. They know aqualung better than anyone else that I have met, and aqualung commonly sends them prototypes to test, so they must know what they are doing.

The only other thing that I would recommend is to go with the titan lx supreme if you are going to be doing any ice diving or if you are going to be diving in relatively dirty water, as the supreme version has an environmental seal on the first stage.

 

[mason417]

I've got the new titan lx and absolutely love it. My father-in-law has the legend, and to be honest, I really can't tell the difference in the way that they breathe. About the best feature of the new titan is that aqualung redesigned the inside of the second stage a bit so that now there is almost no pressure difference between the inside of the second stage and the hose, and the only thing you have to overcome when you take a breath is the force of a little spring holding the diaphragm closed. This makes the reg a great breather, and a little easier to service from what I understand.

As for the warranty, I bought mine from my LDS and don't mind paying a little more for the peace of mind that comes with the ability to take the reg to them and have them honor the warranty if something were to fail. But no one knows your finances like you do so the decision is yours to make. If you live around the tampa area I would recommend visiting Ed and Marge at Calypso Divers inc., they are really great people and can help you out a lot with some of the questions you have. They know aqualung better than anyone else that I have met, and aqualung commonly sends them prototypes to test, so they must know what they are doing.

The only other thing that I would recommend is to go with the titan lx supreme if you are going to be doing any ice diving or if you are going to be diving in relatively dirty water, as the supreme version has an environmental seal on the first stage.

Thanks. I have been there, they seem really nice. i just want to get non biased info from here to help me make a better decision. I am still up in the air about Suunto though.

 

[mike_s]

Suunto is good stuff. Just a little conservative in many folks opinions and higher on the price side (because of the Aqualung relationship).

 

[Scubasteve1982]

I just took my Titan lx (not the brand new model) in for a overhaul service today. It ran my $60 for labor, and I'm waiting to hear back on the price of parts. I guy at the shop said about $80 overall maybe a bit more. Does that seem like a good price? Or am I being taken to the cleaners?