LX200GPS reliability

[Vortex]

How reliable are the LX200GPS?

There's currently one on ebay at $2000 with 4 days to go but it's 4 years old.

Any idea on how likely it would be to get some problems within the year that would end up costing as much as purchasing the scope new?

I guess basically is it worth it to get a 4yr old LX200 for 1/2 - 2/3 the cost of a new one or would it be better to get a new LX90 and have the warranty?

[mick pinner]

lt's the luck of the draw really, you don't know if it's been overloaded or driven while out of balance but usually it's the electronics that go and they really are not that expensive to fix anyway.
if you go for a bargain it's a chance you take.
you can purchase something new and have it die a week out of warranty any how.

[casstony]

I took a look at that auction - since it's pick up only you could take a bank cheque to pay when you pick it up after giving it a test drive. Meade has been producing consistently good sct optics for several years now.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

I was extremely happy with the performance of mine, which I had for about 16 months.

You might like to visit the LX200 Yahoo Users Group, where you will get some parochial, but realistic advice on this question.

[wolfman]

I brought mine off E-bay 6 months ago for a bargin, I even drove from Melbourne to Sydney to pick it up.
When I got there I found that it had been sitting for its whole life in the spare room and was immac'.
It has not even looked like playing up, and is a couple of years older than the GPS model, so I say yes its worth the chance for such a great scope if the price is right.

[Vortex]

Yeah I asked and he's happy to test it out before paying for it if winning the auction.

Asked another person that bought a Celestron off him how thats going but no response from them yet.

Guess i'll wait till it gets closer to ending and see what the price is at before making a descision then.

[netwolf]

Man what an auction that was, and what an absolute bargaim 2201$ for a LX200GPS 8" UHTC. Someone got a nice deal.

Regards

[Vortex]

Yeah I was gonna go upto 2500 but then decided i'd just save up and get a new LX90.

[netwolf]

Vortex you might want to consider the CPC-800 XLT version in your research. It can be had for similar money you would spend on a LX90.

Regards
Fahim