Precor, Lifefitness, Pacemaster, HELP?

[CHAPANATOR]

I am gonna but a treadmill this week, after some research and trying them out at the stores I have narrowed it down to the following:

Precor M9.33 $3,499

Lifefitness T5-0 $3,499

Pacemaster Platinum Pro $2,700

I like the price of the pacemaster, but i did find some negative reviews on it, heart monitor doesnt function well, and the speed calibration is off, other than that i haven't heard anything wrong with these TM's. I really like the Precor, but is lifefitness any better? or should I get the Pacemaster, please give me input and help me decide. I will prbably buy one on monday. also if you have had one, is there anything wrong with them, will it give me years of use, i weigh 250 and will be jogging on it for 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a week.

Thanks

ETA: i have checked on treadmilldoctor.com and these are highly recommended, seemed about equal in the reviews which made even harder to decide.

[trailwarrior]

I can't speak for the T-5.0 specifically, but I have the T-7.0 which comes with adjustable suspension. I tested the T-7.0 side-by-side with the Platinum Pro VR and there was no contest. The Platinum Pro VR has an aluminum frame and when I ran on it the thing almost made me sick with the way it bounced around (especially at higher speeds). The Lifefitness treadmills have steel frames and I definitely notice a more solid feel when I run on them.

[smokeater]

You can't go wrong with any of these treadmills. They are all high end.

Precor is the biggest and most massive. If memory serves me correct it's around 280lbs. Given your body weight I'd recommend this one because you'll get the longest life out of it.

Life is a great treadmill but won't hold up quite as well as the Precor, simply because of the frame and size. The Pacemaster is probably not enough for your needs.

Go with the Precor. You don't find many people who regret buying one.

[trailwarrior]

Originally Posted by smokeater

Precor is the biggest and most massive. If memory serves me correct it's around 280lbs

FYI

Lifefitness T-5.0
weight = 320lb
belt=60x22
http://us.home.lifefitness.com/content.cfm/t50

Precor 9.33i
weight = 285lb
belt = 57x20
http://www.precor.com/cons/en/tre/933i

PaceMaster Platinum Pro
weight = 205lb
belt = 60x20
http://www.pacemaster.com/models.cfm?model=provr

[trailwarrior]

Originally Posted by Drsoos

http://bigfitness.com/lantread1.html
Lifetime in home warranty..
#1 in Runners world

The Chapanator says he weighs 250lbs.

I originally thought I wanted an aluminum frame and before I set out to actually try the leading treadmills for myself, I was favoring the Landice because it was rated #1 in customer satisfaction in survey of Runner's World readers and because I thought their new design was rather appealing as well. It was a terrible letdown when I actually tested the Landice for myself. Like the Pacemaster, the Landice is also constructed with an aluminum frame. Although it is not quite as "bouncy" as the PaceMaster, the Landice still did not feel nearly as solid as the Lifefitness. Perhaps the readers of Runner's World who answered the survey were lighter weight runners (most runners are) and do not notice the bounce whe nthey run on an aluminum frame. Or maybe some folks don't mind or maybe even prefer a "bouncy" treadmill.

If at all possible, I strongly suggest The Chapanator try out as many of these treadmills as he can before making a decision.

Landice L7
weight = 300lb
belt = 58x20
http://www.landice.com/Pages/modelspage.html

[TWright]

I just bought a precore elliptical for my wife and it's bad to the bone. Of course it cost me about 4k but it did come with a ten year warranty and they installed it for me. Im happy with it. When I decide to cut I'll do my cardio on it. = )

[ctgblue]

Vision Fitness 9600 Deluxe or Premier

I have the deluxe version. We like these so well, we are putting the 9800 commercial ones in the gym instead of the LifeFitness,
.
Home use = LIFETIME warranty on motor and frame, 5 years parts

Premier
Price:$2,399 USD
Programs:Sprint 8, Manual, Muscle Toner, Speed Interval, 5k, Fat Burner, Pacer, 4 Heart Rate Training Programs, 5 Custom Programs
Console:ADVANCED SMART-MATRIX™ HRT?, 2 LED Windows, Scrolling Message Center, 4 One-Touch™ Program Keys, Log-in Key and Workout Totals Key, Numeric Keypad with Speed and Elevation Quick Keys, Contact Heart Rate, 2 Bottle/Cargo Holders, Readin
Console Feedback:Elevation, Speed, Distance, Time, Heart Rate, Calories, Pace, Avg. Pace, Avg. Speed, % Heart Rate
Heart Rate:Contact Hand Pulse Grips and Telemetric Chest Strap
Belt Area:60" x 20"
Elevation:0 - 15%, Cambridge Motor Works™
Speed:.5 - 12 mph
Motor:3.0 HP Continuous-Duty Cambridge Motor Works™ Internal Fan Cooled
Motor Control:PWM with Fuseless Current Limit
Deck:1" Phenolic Both Sides Coated Reversible
Cushioning:8 Variable-Durometer Elastomers
Belt:Orthopedic Cushioned
Rollers:2.5" Crowned with Large O.D. Bearings
Frame:Extra-Heavy Gauge Steel Welded
Home Warranty:Lifetime - Frame
Lifetime - Motor
5 Years - Electronics & Parts
1 Year - Labor
Floor Space:80" x 29"
Product Weight:300 lbs.
Max. User Weight:400 lbs.

[Just_Pet_It]

Lifefitness's new Treads are the best built out of the three,it has a phenomenal cushioning system, is super quiet and looks the coolest Precor is solid too, go with what you can get the best deal on of the two. I sell both of these and the Touch sensitive buttons and Heart rate programs on the T55 are sweet. Do some negotiating and get the T55.

[CHAPANATOR]

Thanks for all the input, I bought the precor m9.33 for several reasons. first the store that sells the precor does not sell lifefitness if not i probably would have bought the life fitness, but that store has been around for many years (HEST FITNESS) so i know if I have problems in the future they will be around, the other store has been around 2 years and has changed names and management twice, not a good sign for me. and the sales person was very informative, knocked down 200 dollars off the price and gave me a tip that if i get a Dr.'s prescription for a treadmill i dont have to pay tax so he saved me over 500 dollars. total was $3,299 shipped to my house, should get here tomorrow at 10 a.m. the other store was only willing to drop 100 of the floor model and did not take dr.'s prescription. so i decided with the precor. I will let you all know how it holds up once i start using it.

[smokeater]

Originally Posted by trailwarrior

Lifefitness T-5.0
weight = 320lb
belt=60x22
http://us.home.lifefitness.com/content.cfm/t50

I don't buy that advertised weight for a second. When I was at Depot we had a T-5 right beside the Precor. There is no way on earth the T-5 weighs 320lbs. I lifted these things up to clean under and the Precor was significantly heavier. Not saying you're a liar or anything, just that Life is definately not providing the true weight of this machine.