Topic: Help with getting a new table

[theking]

Hey whats up guys. So I've really gotten into foosball the last year or so, play at a local bar usually 2-3 times a week, I've come to really enjoy foosball. So I've been reading all the stuff on this forum for months now, and I've waited on getting a coin op forever. I've been checking craigslist and ebay daily for over 6 months now, and coin ops just don't exist in this area (kentucky). There was one coin op listing on ebay for a tornado 2 hours away, the rods were bent and the playfield was cracked, but I still bid $410 and lost the bid on ebay..... (sold for $430)

So now I just don't know what to do, I've waited 1/2 a year and just cannot get a coin op table in this area. Im just thinking I should resort to a standard tornado table since I've waited so long with no results. I will more than likely never play a tournament or anything like that, I just enjoy playing with friends (even though we do get serious on the table at the bar). So I was thinking about getting a tornado storm, here is the best deal I found:

http://cgi.ebay.com/TORNADO-STORM-FOOSBALL-TABLE-SOCCER-VALLEY-DYNAMO-NEW_W0QQitemZ400041960617QQihZ027QQcategoryZ36276QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For an amateur player like myself, do you think this would be good? I think my main concern would be the counterbalanced men and even playing field which this table has. If anyone has any recommendations I would really appreciate it. Im open to suggestion as far as tables go, so I would appreciate any advice. Thanks for the help!
chris

[PatRyan]

Where in Kentucky?  If you look at craigslist, there may be something available much cheaper in a neighboring state.  For example, in Ohio, if you want to drive a few hours to pick one up, there is one for sale in Columbus for a few hundred.  It is not a coin-op, but is a step up from a new storm.

here is the link

http://columbus.craigslist.org/tag/1097856525.html

The important features for you would be (for Tornado):

counter balanced men
flat play surface
competition grade rods
leg levelers

Bonus features would be (for Tornado)
1.5" thick sidewalls
split bearings

The table in the link I provided have all of those features

the one you linked on e-bay doesn't have the bonus features (split bearings, 1.5" sidewalls)

I'll check e-bay later today and see what I can find for ya!

later,

Pat

[FreeSoil_Fooser]

That table on ebay does not have competition grade rods. the rods for a storm are .125, the competition rods are .156

trust me on this one, any adult player will want the .156 rods. The 2-bars on my table (.125) got warped after about a month of hard play. the lowest you can go for .156 is a cyclone.

another option is to get the storm and buy new bars for it, but you'd have to figure in the cost ($40/bar) of the upgrade.

[bbtuna]

neighboring states is a good idea, you may be able to meet someone in the middle

if you are playing regularly, I can't recommend anything less than a Cyclone II, model previous to current one, and those are not any easier to find

the other option is to continue to save (like you should have been doing the 6 months you were looking  ) and get yourself a newer one

or, if you are just going to be casual, pick up one of the Warrior tables people have been winning brand new for $300-$400...one for sale in Tx right now for $350 on the other board...every tournament there are some to be had...I have a friend who got his for $250

these tables aren't as well made as Torando but you can strengthen them and for $400 or less, it is a really good table...you will really like how it plays, especially if you are casual

[theking]

Hey again, hey thanks so much for the help I truly appreciate it. Yeah Im located in Bowling Green, KY which is Southern Kentucky (about 20 miles from the Tennessee border). I have been looking in the Nashville and Louisville Craigslist listings, and have yet to find one there either. But yeah I for sure don't want something that the rods would bend soon, I would rather have the .156 rods.

PatRyan:   Hey thanks for that link. That is a 300 mile drive, but the guy said he would deliver ( I don't have a truck). I just emailed him and asked him about delivering it to me, and that I would pay for all of his gas, so I guess Ill see what happens on that.

Anyways, well again, thanks for the comments everyone, Ill let you know what happens with the Ohio table.
chris

[Will17]

wait until the kentucky state tournament in august and pick up a warrior after the tournament. also, play in the tournament, it will be good experience and fun. They are really great tables to play on, and especially good to learn on. Also as BBTuna said they can be strengthened really easily and cheaply and it feels just as solid as a tornado.

[bbtuna]

there will be like 15 tables won at that tournament and half or more will be sold on site...the 08 MO state is where my friend got one for under $300 but you can for sure pick up a brand new table for $300-$350 or a tournament used one for about the same and that table will have had the strengthening things done

but if you can get the blond split top for $300-$350 that is a really good deal assuming there is no structural problem

it looks solid but you need to ask and don't buy it sight unseen unless you have asked all the right qeustions and feel confident it is solid - there are a number of threads written on what to look for, if you haven't found them, let me know and I will dig for you because I don't want to write it all again

as long as the surface and side-walls are good and no other major issues, even if you have to replace a couple rods and men, it is still a hell of a deal

if this table is solid and doesn't need any work and you could get it for $350 or you could pick up a brand new or tournament used Warrior for $350 for me it would be a hard decision but I think given your plans, I would go with the Warrior

what does everyone else think?

[wildcard]

Warrior over a storm, maybe even over a cyclone...

[bbtuna]

but new warrior over the T2000 split top blonde he is looking at for $350???

[Will17]

totally the tornado for 350. But warrior over anything but a coin op tornado. and really its still more fun playing on warrior, tornado is just better built and better resale value.

[wildcard]

Will, that's a split top but not a coin op. Close call... I guess if you're not going to play tourneys anyway then that will be a good buy. Be careful of the 2rods, my blonde came with rods that flaked even after very minimum play. Luckily I met Charles M who sold me 2 of the heat-treated rods at KY State 2003.           

[bbtuna]

the Tornado is definately a more solid built table but the Warrior is much funner to play on especially if you are a casual player

with that said, you won't ever see a Blond Tornado for that kind of money so if it doesn't have anything seriously wrong, it is a really good buy especially if there is no delivery fee

by the way, the split top, non-coin op, is EXACTLY the same table as the coin-op except they don't drill and put in the coin-op/cash box mechanism...this makes it weigh about 25-30 pounds less which is very easy to make up...I have a T2000 Cherry split non-coin and can tell you there is absolutely no difference even if there was a ton of documentation to tell you the same - I have added nearly 200 pounds so it goes way beyond any coin-op

here is a thread illustrating what I am talking about with Warrior's for sale....

http://www.foosballboard.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3140