Meggie, I ordered the new upgraded Challenger 18 D Pro (details here) a year ago, but still haven’t received it yet. Major Quality control + huge demand + COVID means this is probably going to be a huge seller. I knew it would be a while.
I think I got a great deal on it (don’t ask, it was that good) because I ordered it the day the CEO announced it in an internal meeting, and the Central TX sales rep knew I would want the upgrade because I was worried about the speed issue. I believe I was the very first order and put down a small deposit that night at a local pool trade show. I will try to remember to post when it arrives, which should be before the end of 2021, but with all the supply chain issues, who the heck knows…
I may hold off as well as I’m trying to build a boutique studio for my triathlon coaching clients, and materials (and contractors) have proved to be a ‘challenge.’ I’m not quite so wealthy and way too smart to be buying or building anything with walls in this environment (and not forced to do so), so I may just wait till 2021 to build and receive the pool, instead of being victim to a massive gouging. I feel blessed to have locked in this spa at a price pre-Biden stimmy checks… I’m sure MS will be raising prices to account for currency debasement and having to pay employees to show up for work. I would expect them to be adding 25% to their products before end of 2020 (I’m in finance and study these issues, we’re expecting real inflation to become painful for most businesses (= consumers) in Q1 2022.
I wish I could be of more help. I think this new upgrade (a 4th jet and pump will drop speeds to close to 1 min/100 m) could be a real threat to Endless Pools, in the same way the KICKR was to Computrainer. I’m sure that will elicit some laughs and commentary, but I’m old enough to remember both Computrainer AND Blockbuster Video- there was a time people laughed at the possibility that either firm would get outflanked in the marketplace. Ben Hoffman personally pushed for and helped develop this Pro version, and he seemed to love the slower original 18D.
But until this particular model rolls out, we won’t know for sure.