Etecs are 300 hours between services not 200 or at least my 60hp is so thats an even bigger saving. Fuel econonmy isn't to big a difference between them either. Mate had a similar size boat with the same size Honda on it and on a trip together there was only a litre or two either way

The weight saving is well in favour of the Etec

Noise wise the Honda was a fraction quieter low down but once you are up and running about the same again.

The common motors are all very similar as is the holden -ford thing, and the weight is the other issue aswell the smell of 2 s oil,  if i was saving $ 4 k on a etec thats a lot of oil and fuel for the next few years IMO

they dont make 2 stroke cars do they why because nobody wants to rebuild them every 20 000 km,s

4 strokes can last past 5000 km's imo

Yeah but would you let a water pump impellor go 300 hours in dirty water before its changed , gear box oil too ? ? We followed a boat with twin etecs the other day and the fumes werent bad but they are there.

Etecs have had some bad press, whether its deserved or not and that may affect your resale if you want to trade it later.

I`m biased but I`d go suzuki 4 for sure.

Ive heard to many things about the etecs to put me off. 4 stroke all the way.

I like the weight advantage of the ETECs. I recently looked at a 115 Suzi as it's only 20kg heavier than my 90 honda. I don't beleive it will be a great deal better on performance though.

I've always had 4 strokes, however, I've been in plenty of boats with DI 2 strokes. I have no issues with either.

If I was back over east & I needed to cross a bar everytime I went out, I'd go a DI 2 stroke for incredible hole shot. They get up & go...

However, for the boating I do... 4 stroke is fine. I beleive there will be negligible difference in maintenance/running costs, however, that $4000 saving you're mentioned is pretty attractive.

...go a 4 stroke if you want to spend lots more money. The 300 hour/3 year service schedule is not a gimmick. There are a few members on here that like to say it doesn't apply to saltwater use, but it does. The only stipulation is that you're meant to do the grease nipples on the tilt/turn mechanisms every 100 hours. If you're worried about your impeller check the telltale each time you run the motor. Easy enough to get replaced without coughing up for an entire service. The gear box oil on these motors is synthetic...when I took mine in at 270 hours it was close to being pristine. If you are still uncomfortable, you can change it yourself for about $30 and ten minutes.  If you intend to use your boat/motor a lot, say 150 hours plus/year, the savings are substantial when you go with the Etec.

 Marble raises a very good point about resale value...most of the negative stuff about Etecs seems to be second-hand information ( "I know a guy who had troubles, I heard about a motor that broke down, a certain dealer bailed out, etc,etc,etc") and could very likely be something concocted by those with a vested interest in marketing 4 strokes....but it's safe to say many would take it as gospel which would therefore make an Etec harder to sell. The question is, are you buying a motor to push your boat in order to go fishing or are you buying it with the intention of selling it at a not so later date? The coupla grand you save on servicing costs over, say, five years, will more than balance out anything you lose on resale.

Yes, they are noisier than 4's at idle/low revs, and there is a smell when you get downwind of one, albeit minor. If that bothers you, and you're happy to pay the extra money for something that is likely to be heavier and have less grunt coming out of the hole, then Etecs aren't for you. For higher HP's, say above 150hp, fours start to come into their own. The extra expense and weight are part and parcel as boats get bigger. Dan1 is right...they don't make 2-stroke motors for cars. But, hard as I have looked, I've yet to see steel-belted radials and/or a five-speed gearbox on a boat.

im the same as cudbfishn, ive heard too much about people having to cough up big cash when there etec breaks down. plus 2 stroke fuems aggrivate my seasickness. zukes look the goods

Obviously I have over the yrs done some (plenty) research but I dont want to be caught with a "betamax video vs a VHS". Sorry youngsters on here but the wise older heads will unstand. I think wt, hole shot and the saving might just push me right over that BAR into the Etec.

Its like a normal engine vs a Boxer, and by god I love the Subaru boxers to death.

Dont think other contributors I am sold but so far I have not heard to many negatives.

Neels

 Neels,5 year warranty and the cost of servicing in K-town you wont regret the Etec. Are you getting a fenacling deal?

The four ive discussed this debate with, all tell a different story. Maybe they were bias?

i spoke with the e-tec dealer about servicing my e-tec at 200h as i was getting a bit ancy about 300h. He said sure, bring it in, but all we will do is do a check and charge you money. He said save the money and see you at 300.......I think i have done a tad over 300 now, ready for first service. It is no gimmick.

Yep, did 180hrs before my first service with my 150. When l saw the impellor and plugs l should of left it another 100hrs. l had the gear oil changed earlier but could of left it longer. Just change the filters 6 monthly, and if your worried about the quality of fuel use a good water separting filter with a clear bowl.

Theres no doubt etecs have had issues (injectors, emms, powerheads) but all brands do. one of the biggest for the Etec is the rigging of the motors ,if the dealer is switched on and knows his shit you shouldnt have any of the above, but one of the biggest is overpropping , these motors have a optimum rev range and you need to be in it to get the best out of them. Just do your homework and ask alot of questions of the dealer.

As for fuel usuage anything over 150hp is where the 4 strokes have the advantage.

Oil consumption can be high in the bigger motors and is costly to buy, but in the smaller motors there exceptional.

The big question l get asked alot since l sold my boat is would l buy another etec. the answer is yes if it was under 115hp, no for anything bigger , and the reason l say this is because the saving are lost with the oil and fuel usuage in the higher Hp bracket.

All this is JMHO

cheers Paul

dont let anyone tell you otherwise there are just as many broken 4st as etecs and if you have ever seen the size of a etec impellor you will see that dirty water would not bother it by the way i own a merc 2st but if my lotto numbers came up a etec would be on my boat definatly best value for money

115 Etec. Cheers for all the advise.

Neels

iagree with what holth said!

iown a 90 etec and great on fuel and oil,its quite & fast and relible.

i also own a 200ho etec which  think is thirsty on fuel & oil , but performance is outstanding (wot 5600rpm & 75km).

all modern motors have there + or -  most now have 5year warrenty. $4000 is alot of fishin trips.

enjoy which ever way you go!

Unless some outboard comes out with a Turbo Subi WRX STI engine built in. Love the roar of a boxer!!!!

Neels

TKS for all the comments. Post closed!!!!!!!!!!!

with my recent boat upgrade it was either Etec of Suzuki but Suzuki won because that was the best deal on the whole package.

Both good motors and that $4k is a lot of fishing bling

It was replaced without question - and I mean replaced not just a replacement head and in no time whatever (days). 

Bluntly the Etec was the most amazing motor I have ever seen, started first time every time with half a turn of the flywheel, ultra quiet, and with respect to other posters on here I must say that in all the time I had the boat I never smelt that chuck up smell of two stroke indeed it used so little synthetic two stroke oil that you almost forget to top up the two stroke tank.    And service costs were very very low.