Best Elliptical Under $600

[ee09]

I am looking for an elliptical for my wife and I may occasionally use it as well. I have read reviews on many of them and narrowed it down to a couple, but I am open to more suggestions. I have read good reviews on both of these:
Schwinn 430- http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-430-Elliptical-Trainer/dp/B000JF20LI/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&tag=3230c-20&qid=1223276580&sr=11-1

Horizon-
http://www.amazon.com/Horizon-Fitness-EX-57-Elliptical-Trainer/dp/B001DEV3FI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1245109468&sr=8-1

I saw some Nordic Track ones with mixed reviews, but they were a little cheaper. Does anyone have one they would recommend.

[yankeemarko1]

I have that Schwinn 430. I bought it at Amazon. It is very nice and works as advertised. It has an 18" stride. You need to make sure that works OK for you. Go to a Dicks or Sports Authority near you that has a Schwinn assembled. The Dick's near me had the 431 model set up but it is almost the same thing. I am 5'7" tall and the 18" stride is perfect for me.

[4MEandThem]

Used Precor off craigslist worth at least 1300 used. I see them off and on for 5-7 hundo.Gotta be quick though!

On edit: Use search tempest (a site) that will search all the CL ads and Ebay for you given a mile range from your zip.

[ee09]

Thanks, I have tried Precors at my gym and wasnt a huge fan of them. There are several models there though. I will try a couple more today.

Also I have looked at Academy and they only had crappy ellipticals. I will go look at Sports Authority in the next few days too. I would like to try the Schwinn before spending that much money on one.

[4MEandThem]

Thanks, I have tried Precors at my gym and wasnt a huge fan of them. There are several models there though. I will try a couple more today.

Also I have looked at Academy and they only had crappy ellipticals. I will go look at Sports Authority in the next few days too. I would like to try the Schwinn before spending that much money on one.

Stick with gym brands.you can get parts for them when they break.
Sports Authority will be overpriced junk.Schwinn will probably be crap too.

[kelt_22]

Stick with gym brands.you can get parts for them when they break.
Sports Authority will be overpriced junk.Schwinn will probably be crap too.

this.
If 600 is your max, go used. Look for the specialty fitness stores in your area and go look at the real home equipment. The good brands will NOT sell in big box stores. When the guy from the paint department has to plug it in for you and gives you the front desk phone number for service it means run.
I would need to now what model to be sure but so far Horizon is the best bet and unless the Nordic track if free no on them.

regardless of where, the things to look for are:
the bumper to bumper warranty. (no excluded parts)
Labor of one yr (this is the standard but may be hard to find under 500)
IN HOME service, not have to drag it to a warehouse somewhere.
who do you call is it breaks? As I tell my customers call me or stop in to yell at me no 1-800-who-cares number calling "bob" India.
The online rating sites are pretty usless now because of Affiliate selling so stick to the big well known ones. Consumer reports and the Better Buisness site are great.

[ee09]

this.

The online rating sites are pretty usless now because of Affiliate selling so stick to the big well known ones. Consumer reports and the Better Buisness site are great.

I noticed that the ratings were all over the place from site to site. I am already looking for a used one, but do you happen to know anything about that Schwinn elliptical I was looking at? I have seen good ratings for it on a few sites. I think it was even a Consumers Report best buy for what thats worth.

Thanks for all the advice so far. I plan looking for a while before I decide on what to buy.


edit: The Horizon was an EX-57.

[Agent Lazy 78]

Used Precor off craigslist worth at least 1300 used. I see them off and on for 5-7 hundo.Gotta be quick though!

On edit: Use search tempest (a site) that will search all the CL ads and Ebay for you given a mile range from your zip.

this

I actually found a used Precor EFX 546 for $50 on CL, works great , the only issue it's had is you have to use a manual "quick start" ...for some reason the pre-programmed ones won't work. Other than that, I love it...thing is built like a tank.

[kelt_22]

I noticed that the ratings were all over the place from site to site. I am already looking for a used one, but do you happen to know anything about that Schwinn elliptical I was looking at? I have seen good ratings for it on a few sites. I think it was even a Consumers Report best buy for what thats worth.

Thanks for all the advice so far. I plan looking for a while before I decide on what to buy.


edit: The Horizon was an EX-57.

Schwinn is not horrible but not very good either. If cheap used, go ahead.
Here is what I would look for and in this order.

Precor,Lifefitness,Octane,Cybex
if you find a good deal let us know what brand.

[ee09]

I called some local shops and found a Precor 5.17 for $599. The only downside to it is that it doesn't have the arm movements on it.

Is that too much for a used elliptical. The guy asked me how much I was looking to spend and I told him no more than $600. After I said that he told me he had one used elliptical for $599. Do you think that is just coincidence or not? Should I try to make a lower offer on it if I do like it?

[karnavorr]

I called some local shops and found a Precor 5.17 for $599. The only downside to it is that it doesn't have the arm movements on it.

Is that too much for a used elliptical. The guy asked me how much I was looking to spend and I told him no more than $600. After I said that he told me he had one used elliptical for $599. Do you think that is just coincidence or not? Should I try to make a lower offer on it if I do like it?

Call again and ask if they have any ellipticals under $500.

[urbanlifter]

I have that Schwinn 430. I bought it at Amazon. It is very nice and works as advertised. It has an 18" stride. You need to make sure that works OK for you. Go to a Dicks or Sports Authority near you that has a Schwinn assembled. The Dick's near me had the 431 model set up but it is almost the same thing. I am 5'7" tall and the 18" stride is perfect for me.

x2

Bought mine from Amazon as well. Works great and i have put it through some punishment! Although i'm 5'9" and I prefer a 20in stride, this one still feels natural at 18in.

[kelt_22]

I called some local shops and found a Precor 5.17 for $599. The only downside to it is that it doesn't have the arm movements on it.

Is that too much for a used elliptical. The guy asked me how much I was looking to spend and I told him no more than $600. After I said that he told me he had one used elliptical for $599. Do you think that is just coincidence or not? Should I try to make a lower offer on it if I do like it?

2799 new so great find. Arms are pointless because A) they are attached directly too the motion of the feet and any "extra" work on top steals from the bottom. B) using lite dumbbells in you hands to make it a full body workout will work much better.

As for Coincdence visit them to find out. We only have two under 600. 599 and 399.

[ee09]

2799 new so great find. Arms are pointless because A) they are attached directly too the motion of the feet and any "extra" work on top steals from the bottom. B) using lite dumbbells in you hands to make it a full body workout will work much better.

As for Coincdence visit them to find out. We only have two under 600. 599 and 399.

Thanks for the help making the decision. I bought the Precor today and it is a really solid machine. I will post a pic later.

[kelt_22]

Congrats!
Also, I dont know if they told you but if you clean the ramp ONLY use Simple green (or water). alot of stuff can react with it because it is extruded aluminum.