Topic: Is this worth it?

[hacker]

I am looking to buy a Tornado table. The only thing I have found so far is a 2-3 year old cherry, home model for $500. Will I be disappointed with this, or should I wait for a coin op? This one is in Great shape and not abused. The only thing I worry about a coin op is that there could have been lots of beer/drinks spilled on it and could have problems with warping or dead spots from the liquid on it? I might have a chance to get a brown marble coin op for around $650 (too much?) but i am not sure of the condition (friend knows a local vender).

Any advice is welcome, thanks

[waterskier]

That sounds like a good price if it is servicable.

I got a used coin op that was at least 8-10 years old. I replaced all of the bearings and one rod on mine when I got it. The playing surface had beer rings and it smelled of smoke. Just use a good degreaser. When I was done cleaning it up I had about $700 in it.

Keep in mind that the playing surface is THICK and that the whole body is laminated with the equivalent of a kitchen counter top laminate. It will clean up!

What I can say is that mine cleaned up perfectly and appears in new condition. I sprayed it with Fabreeze for a couple weeks and after a few months the smoke smell faded away. I've had it almost a year now and brought it to work were we play a LOT.

The coin op as a few cool features.

1. Weight!!!!  This helps a lot.
2. The top hinges up and allows for storage of all my replacement parts and supplies inside.
3. Also since the top comes off, it is easier to transport. The top can be rotated 90 degrees to carry through a door way.
4. I got some plastic inserts for the coin op section so that we still push that in and get the 9 balls to drop without putting change in it. There is something everyone seems to like about that.

[Yags]

Is the 2-3 year old cherry a T-2000? If that is the case honestly for the money I would buy the cherry one.. The only real good quality that I find with the coin op is that your foosballs will last longer because you are using one at a time basically. One ball wouldn't be used more than the other basically what it comes down to. I have a Cyclone 2. I play in tournaments all the time and practice hard on my table. If your a foosball fanatic and play consistently all the time. I would suggest getting a Cyclone 2 or better. I would not get a Storm 2 or a Whirlwind. Just my 2 cents 

Happy foosing

~~Yags~~

[waterskier]

The Cyclone 2 has the exact same playing surface, bearings, rods etc. as the T-2000.

My understanding is that the majority of the Coin Ops were either the earlier light wood laminate or the later marble laminate. The only difference that I could see otherwise between the Coin Ops as of the T-2000 designation was having the last scoring piece swapped with the opposite side's color, which is easy to change if you wanted to.

[hacker]

Well, I found out it is not a T-2000, so my journey continues....  I don't want to have to buy another table in a year or two, so I will wait to find a good deal on a coin-op. I missed out on a good deal by a few days on a blonde coin-op with table mounted light for $600.   

Thanks for the replies.

[hacker]

Alright, I may have found a good deal. I found a brown marble coin-op for $450. There is one of the new type rods in the 3 row of one side only, and fairly new handles on all rods. I haven't seen it yet, hopefully tomorrow, but what should I look for in the way of possible defects? The only thing I know to look for is to make sure there isn't nicks on the playing surface and maybe bounce some balls against walls to see if there are any dead spots. Will I be disappointed in the quality of this verses the newer tables? I know I can put on some new rods and maybe bearings and have close to a new table, but will it play the same as a new gray marble?

thanks again

[marty]

brown marble $450 if it looks ok a great buy as good as the gray marble i play on both you will not be disappointed with the play if the
table is in good shape

[grandmaster]

Yes. Buy it. You can always get your money back out of it and buy a newer model or brand new after you play on it for a year.