I have one. Love it.
For the record, I have been around PWC's for way too long. I've ridden them all, and most have an area they thrive at more than others. Meaning some are great cruisers, some are great crotch rockets, some are nimble as ****, some ride like a $2 hooker, etc.
I see the same hate from them that I see most of the time, comparison of other models that are WAY better as if they are equal. Many of the new skis can put down some speed like monsters, but that is what they are designed for.
The spark is an entry level ski for low cost, that's it. It's not designed to compete with $15k+ other skis. You want sheer speed, gonna pay for it. You want a cadillac ride, go get a boat, aka one of the new big monster skis. The Spark is on the old XP/SP hull that is one of the best in my opinion. I have the one with the bigger motor and extended platform. I have ZERO issues tossing it around to do what I want. Which is what I miss about the older skis. The older ones were nimble little play toys. The new ones are crotch rockets that you run the risk of launching you off at 4Gs if you try to spin them. The spark is no slow poke, but if you take an Ultra 250, or a supercharged Yamaha for a ride first, sure it's going to feel slow, but I had mine rolling at about 47-49 mph. It's not 70 mph, and I've raced ones that can get you there so fast it's scary, but I still have fun on it.
We have had zero issues from ours. It's stupid light so I can move it around easily, so we didn't even buy the trailer. I used one of my little lawnmower trailers with two pieces of wood. This also means I can take it anywhere. Hell my pops picked it up for me in the back of my truck bed. :****:
It rides like a jet ski, not like a big ass cruiser like some of these. You'll get a little spray, but still stay pretty dry until you start hitting chop or turns. Mine has a great holeshot. Will it compare to an Ultra 250? Of course not. That's like wondering if a stock Mustang will compare to a Ferrari 458. Sure the Mustang can be fun, but you're not going to compete with the power and cost of the Ferrari. But that's not what the Spark was designed for. People were tired of having to take mega loans out for these $10K+ jet skis just to get on the water. So sea-doo made the very Spark.
If you want to get out on the water with your kids and let them tear it up and have fun without worrying about them going Mach 3 on the water, this is a great ski. My 4-yr old loves riding with me, and is learning to drive. He doesn't care, he just wants to ride.
I'm not normally a Sea-doo guy (Kawasaki's been my ride for years), but I am a big fan and proponent of the spark. For what it does, what it costs, etc.
