Opinions on Mercury 4-stroke EFI vs Honda

Hello all:

I tell a dealer that I want to get a 50hp honda (obviously 4-stroke), and
he swears by a Mercury 4-stroke EFI, at basically the same price. I lean
towards the Honda but he tells me EFI is way better than carburated. I'm
thinking that carburated may be really a disadvantage on 2-stroke engines,
where gas is mixed with oil, but is the difference important in 4-strokes?

My main goal is reliability. Honda makes very reliable, hiqh-quality
machinery (not only outboard engines, but lanwmowers, cars, motorcycles,
etc), and they've been doing 4-stroke engines forever. EFI sounds great for
the sake of fuel consumption, optimal speed, etc, plus the fact that Mercury
is a brand sold and repaired everywhere, but IF the Merc would leave me
stranded at the lake more than a Honda would, then I'd consider it a bad
decision to go with the Merc regardless of the other plusses. So the big
question in my mind is reliability -- Is the Merc 4-stroke EFI as realiable
as the Honda?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Sergio

Sergio,
Do a little research...
Check your cost of replacement parts, like water pumps, prop shafts, things
that break on a motor. You'll be quite suprised.
Your dealer is giving you a straight story, the EFI is much preferred over a
carb engine.

Now, if he didn't tell you, the Mercury 4-stroke is built by Yamaha. Why
don't you just go to the original source and get a Yamaha?


"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Hello all:

I tell a dealer that I want to get a 50hp honda (obviously 4-stroke),
and
he swears by a Mercury 4-stroke EFI, at basically the same price. I lean
towards the Honda but he tells me EFI is way better than carburated. I'm
thinking that carburated may be really a disadvantage on 2-stroke engines,
where gas is mixed with oil, but is the difference important in 4-strokes?

My main goal is reliability. Honda makes very reliable, hiqh-quality
machinery (not only outboard engines, but lanwmowers, cars, motorcycles,
etc), and they've been doing 4-stroke engines forever. EFI sounds great
for
the sake of fuel consumption, optimal speed, etc, plus the fact that
Mercury
is a brand sold and repaired everywhere, but IF the Merc would leave me
stranded at the lake more than a Honda would, then I'd consider it a bad
decision to go with the Merc regardless of the other plusses. So the big
question in my mind is reliability -- Is the Merc 4-stroke EFI as
realiable
as the Honda?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Sergio

I heard a rumor that Mercury had gotten a lot of their fourstroke tech from
Honda. Honda definitely makes proven fourstroke tech. From my
understanding thought he Merc injection is more fuel efficient, and if it
will be sitting the injection is less likely to have evap residue problems.
Really its your call. Also, if you trust the dealer (I don't trust any)
then you may want to go with the Merc just so you have somebody handy who
will perform future service for you.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com




"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Hello all:

I tell a dealer that I want to get a 50hp honda (obviously 4-stroke),
and
he swears by a Mercury 4-stroke EFI, at basically the same price. I lean
towards the Honda but he tells me EFI is way better than carburated. I'm
thinking that carburated may be really a disadvantage on 2-stroke engines,
where gas is mixed with oil, but is the difference important in 4-strokes?

My main goal is reliability. Honda makes very reliable, hiqh-quality
machinery (not only outboard engines, but lanwmowers, cars, motorcycles,
etc), and they've been doing 4-stroke engines forever. EFI sounds great
for
the sake of fuel consumption, optimal speed, etc, plus the fact that
Mercury
is a brand sold and repaired everywhere, but IF the Merc would leave me
stranded at the lake more than a Honda would, then I'd consider it a bad
decision to go with the Merc regardless of the other plusses. So the big
question in my mind is reliability -- Is the Merc 4-stroke EFI as
realiable
as the Honda?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Sergio

Oh... Yamaha huh? I had heard they bought some research from Honda. My
mistake.


"Pat Goff @yahoo.com" pmgoffjrbot wrote in message
...
Sergio,
Do a little research...
Check your cost of replacement parts, like water pumps, prop shafts,
things
that break on a motor. You'll be quite suprised.
Your dealer is giving you a straight story, the EFI is much preferred over
a
carb engine.

Now, if he didn't tell you, the Mercury 4-stroke is built by Yamaha. Why
don't you just go to the original source and get a Yamaha?


"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Hello all:

I tell a dealer that I want to get a 50hp honda (obviously 4-stroke),
and
he swears by a Mercury 4-stroke EFI, at basically the same price. I
lean
towards the Honda but he tells me EFI is way better than carburated.
I'm
thinking that carburated may be really a disadvantage on 2-stroke
engines,
where gas is mixed with oil, but is the difference important in
4-strokes?

My main goal is reliability. Honda makes very reliable, hiqh-quality
machinery (not only outboard engines, but lanwmowers, cars, motorcycles,
etc), and they've been doing 4-stroke engines forever. EFI sounds great
for
the sake of fuel consumption, optimal speed, etc, plus the fact that
Mercury
is a brand sold and repaired everywhere, but IF the Merc would leave me
stranded at the lake more than a Honda would, then I'd consider it a bad
decision to go with the Merc regardless of the other plusses. So the
big
question in my mind is reliability -- Is the Merc 4-stroke EFI as
realiable
as the Honda?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Sergio

Like Pat said. Merc and Yamaha have partnered for awhile. Joe Z.
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fis...dumping_4.html

"Pat Goff @yahoo.com" pmgoffjrbot wrote in message
...
Sergio,
Do a little research...
Check your cost of replacement parts, like water pumps, prop shafts, things
that break on a motor. You'll be quite suprised.
Your dealer is giving you a straight story, the EFI is much preferred over a
carb engine.

Now, if he didn't tell you, the Mercury 4-stroke is built by Yamaha. Why
don't you just go to the original source and get a Yamaha?

Pat, Bob, Joe:

Thank you all for your responses.

Pat, I mentioned the dealer about the Mercury being made by Yamaha, and he
tells me that the 50hp is made by Mercury; that only the 75hp, 90hp, and
115hp are made by Yamaha, which matches the news link posted by Joe Z about
Mercury and Yamaha legal battles:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fis...umping_21.html
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fis...dumping_4.html

Do you know if the 50hp 4-stroke EFI is indeed made by Mercury?

Sergio


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I heard a rumor that Mercury had gotten a lot of their fourstroke tech from
Honda. Honda definitely makes proven fourstroke tech. From my
understanding thought he Merc injection is more fuel efficient, and if it
will be sitting the injection is less likely to have evap residue
problems.
Really its your call. Also, if you trust the dealer (I don't trust any)
then you may want to go with the Merc just so you have somebody handy who
will perform future service for you.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com




"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Hello all:

I tell a dealer that I want to get a 50hp honda (obviously 4-stroke),
and
he swears by a Mercury 4-stroke EFI, at basically the same price. I lean
towards the Honda but he tells me EFI is way better than carburated. I'm
thinking that carburated may be really a disadvantage on 2-stroke
engines,
where gas is mixed with oil, but is the difference important in
4-strokes?

My main goal is reliability. Honda makes very reliable, hiqh-quality
machinery (not only outboard engines, but lanwmowers, cars, motorcycles,
etc), and they've been doing 4-stroke engines forever. EFI sounds great
for
the sake of fuel consumption, optimal speed, etc, plus the fact that
Mercury
is a brand sold and repaired everywhere, but IF the Merc would leave me
stranded at the lake more than a Honda would, then I'd consider it a bad
decision to go with the Merc regardless of the other plusses. So the big
question in my mind is reliability -- Is the Merc 4-stroke EFI as
realiable
as the Honda?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Sergio

Yamaha has been making all of the Mercury four strokes, including the fifty
you're looking at. I am certain mercury is planning on producing it
themselves, but if you get a merc, you're getting a yamaha. Same if you buy
a Johnson/Evinrude fourstroke, it's built by Suzuki.

My issue would be, and it's not personal, since I sell both motors, in ten
years, what are you going to do if you need a part? Is it a Mercury part or
a Yamaha part? I'd prefer to buy from the OEM, not a relabeler.

And to be sure, the EFI motor is superior to the carb motor in all cases.

What yanked on Mercury, Yamaha only supplied the 75 and 90 in the carb
motors, while Yamaha was selling 75 and 90 EFI four strokes. Very popular
sizes of motors and left Mercury with their panties around their ankles.

I sell lots and lots of Yamaha four strokes, and when they are put on the
right boat (not a hp bass boat) they perform very well. They leave and
don't come back.


"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Pat, Bob, Joe:

Thank you all for your responses.

Pat, I mentioned the dealer about the Mercury being made by Yamaha, and
he
tells me that the 50hp is made by Mercury; that only the 75hp, 90hp, and
115hp are made by Yamaha, which matches the news link posted by Joe Z
about
Mercury and Yamaha legal battles:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fis...umping_21.html
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fis...dumping_4.html

Do you know if the 50hp 4-stroke EFI is indeed made by Mercury?

Sergio


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I heard a rumor that Mercury had gotten a lot of their fourstroke tech
from
Honda. Honda definitely makes proven fourstroke tech. From my
understanding thought he Merc injection is more fuel efficient, and if
it
will be sitting the injection is less likely to have evap residue
problems.
Really its your call. Also, if you trust the dealer (I don't trust any)
then you may want to go with the Merc just so you have somebody handy
who
will perform future service for you.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com




"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Hello all:

I tell a dealer that I want to get a 50hp honda (obviously 4-stroke),
and
he swears by a Mercury 4-stroke EFI, at basically the same price. I
lean
towards the Honda but he tells me EFI is way better than carburated.
I'm
thinking that carburated may be really a disadvantage on 2-stroke
engines,
where gas is mixed with oil, but is the difference important in
4-strokes?

My main goal is reliability. Honda makes very reliable, hiqh-quality
machinery (not only outboard engines, but lanwmowers, cars,
motorcycles,
etc), and they've been doing 4-stroke engines forever. EFI sounds
great
for
the sake of fuel consumption, optimal speed, etc, plus the fact that
Mercury
is a brand sold and repaired everywhere, but IF the Merc would leave me
stranded at the lake more than a Honda would, then I'd consider it a
bad
decision to go with the Merc regardless of the other plusses. So the
big
question in my mind is reliability -- Is the Merc 4-stroke EFI as
realiable
as the Honda?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Sergio

Pat:

Thanks for your comments. So the dispute was over 75hp - 115hp carb
engines? So, it was Mercury trying to compete in the market through legal
manouvers (ala Oracle & Sun vs. Microsoft)? Isn't this going to wreck
Mercury's 4 strokes? What are they going to do when their supply contract
expires in March of 2006?

The Yamaha sounds real convincing as a good quality engine. They're at or
near the top on a survey by JD Powers of new owners
(http://www.jdpa.com/studies_jdpower/...asp?ID=2005019).Unfortunately,
I'm kind of stuck between Merc and Honda. The boat I want is a Lund Classic
16 SS, and there are no dealers around Austin. The nearest one is in Dallas.
There are a couple of reasons why I can't go with a Yamaha: 1) I've already
made a deal with the dealer and signed a purchasing agreement; unfortunately
the dealer is not a Yamaha distribuitor, he can only see a Honda or Mercury
with the boat. He could probably sell me a boat without a motor, not the
model I want, but a slightly larger one and more expensive Explorer 17 SS
model, which would also require a larger engine (like a 90hp). But, 2) the
bank won't let me buy the boat in one place and the engine on another. It
has to be sold as a complete package. I'd have to dissolve the purchasing
agreement some way and go all the way to Kansas City to get the model I want
with a Yamaha...

So between Merc and Honda, I'm still undecided. Mercury's battles with
Yamaha make me real nervous as far a future support for Merc's 4-strokes.
Even though it's carburated, the JD Powers survey ranks Honda and Tohatsu at
the top of customer satisfaction in 4-strokes. From what I can gather the
problem with Honda would be the availability/cost of spare parts and
qualified technicians.

Still thinking...

Sergio


"Pat Goff" wrote in message
...
Yamaha has been making all of the Mercury four strokes, including the
fifty
you're looking at. I am certain mercury is planning on producing it
themselves, but if you get a merc, you're getting a yamaha. Same if you
buy
a Johnson/Evinrude fourstroke, it's built by Suzuki.

My issue would be, and it's not personal, since I sell both motors, in ten
years, what are you going to do if you need a part? Is it a Mercury part
or
a Yamaha part? I'd prefer to buy from the OEM, not a relabeler.

And to be sure, the EFI motor is superior to the carb motor in all cases.

What yanked on Mercury, Yamaha only supplied the 75 and 90 in the carb
motors, while Yamaha was selling 75 and 90 EFI four strokes. Very popular
sizes of motors and left Mercury with their panties around their ankles.

I sell lots and lots of Yamaha four strokes, and when they are put on the
right boat (not a hp bass boat) they perform very well. They leave and
don't come back.


"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Pat, Bob, Joe:

Thank you all for your responses.

Pat, I mentioned the dealer about the Mercury being made by Yamaha, and
he
tells me that the 50hp is made by Mercury; that only the 75hp, 90hp, and
115hp are made by Yamaha, which matches the news link posted by Joe Z
about
Mercury and Yamaha legal battles:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fis...umping_21.html
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fis...dumping_4.html

Do you know if the 50hp 4-stroke EFI is indeed made by Mercury?

Sergio


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I heard a rumor that Mercury had gotten a lot of their fourstroke tech
from
Honda. Honda definitely makes proven fourstroke tech. From my
understanding thought he Merc injection is more fuel efficient, and if
it
will be sitting the injection is less likely to have evap residue
problems.
Really its your call. Also, if you trust the dealer (I don't trust
any)
then you may want to go with the Merc just so you have somebody handy
who
will perform future service for you.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com




"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Hello all:

I tell a dealer that I want to get a 50hp honda (obviously
4-stroke),
and
he swears by a Mercury 4-stroke EFI, at basically the same price. I
lean
towards the Honda but he tells me EFI is way better than carburated.
I'm
thinking that carburated may be really a disadvantage on 2-stroke
engines,
where gas is mixed with oil, but is the difference important in
4-strokes?

My main goal is reliability. Honda makes very reliable,
hiqh-quality
machinery (not only outboard engines, but lanwmowers, cars,
motorcycles,
etc), and they've been doing 4-stroke engines forever. EFI sounds
great
for
the sake of fuel consumption, optimal speed, etc, plus the fact that
Mercury
is a brand sold and repaired everywhere, but IF the Merc would leave
me
stranded at the lake more than a Honda would, then I'd consider it a
bad
decision to go with the Merc regardless of the other plusses. So the
big
question in my mind is reliability -- Is the Merc 4-stroke EFI as
realiable
as the Honda?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Sergio

The link below won't work. Here's the correct link:

http://www.jdpa.com/studies_jdpower/...asp?ID=2005019

Sergio

"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Pat:

Thanks for your comments. So the dispute was over 75hp - 115hp carb
engines? So, it was Mercury trying to compete in the market through legal
manouvers (ala Oracle & Sun vs. Microsoft)? Isn't this going to wreck
Mercury's 4 strokes? What are they going to do when their supply contract
expires in March of 2006?

The Yamaha sounds real convincing as a good quality engine. They're at
or near the top on a survey by JD Powers of new owners
(http://www.jdpa.com/studies_jdpower/...asp?ID=2005019).Unfortunately,
I'm kind of stuck between Merc and Honda. The boat I want is a Lund
Classic 16 SS, and there are no dealers around Austin. The nearest one is
in Dallas. There are a couple of reasons why I can't go with a Yamaha: 1)
I've already made a deal with the dealer and signed a purchasing
agreement; unfortunately the dealer is not a Yamaha distribuitor, he can
only see a Honda or Mercury with the boat. He could probably sell me a
boat without a motor, not the model I want, but a slightly larger one and
more expensive Explorer 17 SS model, which would also require a larger
engine (like a 90hp). But, 2) the bank won't let me buy the boat in one
place and the engine on another. It has to be sold as a complete package.
I'd have to dissolve the purchasing agreement some way and go all the way
to Kansas City to get the model I want with a Yamaha...

So between Merc and Honda, I'm still undecided. Mercury's battles with
Yamaha make me real nervous as far a future support for Merc's 4-strokes.
Even though it's carburated, the JD Powers survey ranks Honda and Tohatsu
at the top of customer satisfaction in 4-strokes. From what I can gather
the problem with Honda would be the availability/cost of spare parts and
qualified technicians.

Still thinking...

Sergio


"Pat Goff" wrote in message
...
Yamaha has been making all of the Mercury four strokes, including the
fifty
you're looking at. I am certain mercury is planning on producing it
themselves, but if you get a merc, you're getting a yamaha. Same if you
buy
a Johnson/Evinrude fourstroke, it's built by Suzuki.

My issue would be, and it's not personal, since I sell both motors, in
ten
years, what are you going to do if you need a part? Is it a Mercury part
or
a Yamaha part? I'd prefer to buy from the OEM, not a relabeler.

And to be sure, the EFI motor is superior to the carb motor in all cases.

What yanked on Mercury, Yamaha only supplied the 75 and 90 in the carb
motors, while Yamaha was selling 75 and 90 EFI four strokes. Very
popular
sizes of motors and left Mercury with their panties around their ankles.

I sell lots and lots of Yamaha four strokes, and when they are put on the
right boat (not a hp bass boat) they perform very well. They leave and
don't come back.


"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Pat, Bob, Joe:

Thank you all for your responses.

Pat, I mentioned the dealer about the Mercury being made by Yamaha,
and
he
tells me that the 50hp is made by Mercury; that only the 75hp, 90hp, and
115hp are made by Yamaha, which matches the news link posted by Joe Z
about
Mercury and Yamaha legal battles:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fis...umping_21.html
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fis...dumping_4.html

Do you know if the 50hp 4-stroke EFI is indeed made by Mercury?

Sergio


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I heard a rumor that Mercury had gotten a lot of their fourstroke tech
from
Honda. Honda definitely makes proven fourstroke tech. From my
understanding thought he Merc injection is more fuel efficient, and if
it
will be sitting the injection is less likely to have evap residue
problems.
Really its your call. Also, if you trust the dealer (I don't trust
any)
then you may want to go with the Merc just so you have somebody handy
who
will perform future service for you.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com




"Sergio Ramirez" wrote in message
...
Hello all:

I tell a dealer that I want to get a 50hp honda (obviously
4-stroke),
and
he swears by a Mercury 4-stroke EFI, at basically the same price. I
lean
towards the Honda but he tells me EFI is way better than carburated.
I'm
thinking that carburated may be really a disadvantage on 2-stroke
engines,
where gas is mixed with oil, but is the difference important in
4-strokes?

My main goal is reliability. Honda makes very reliable,
hiqh-quality
machinery (not only outboard engines, but lanwmowers, cars,
motorcycles,
etc), and they've been doing 4-stroke engines forever. EFI sounds
great
for
the sake of fuel consumption, optimal speed, etc, plus the fact that
Mercury
is a brand sold and repaired everywhere, but IF the Merc would leave
me
stranded at the lake more than a Honda would, then I'd consider it a
bad
decision to go with the Merc regardless of the other plusses. So the
big
question in my mind is reliability -- Is the Merc 4-stroke EFI as
realiable
as the Honda?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

Sergio