Mountain Biking - Good deal?

As some of you may know I am shopping for a Stumpjumper (thank you all for your help in the decision). Well the other day when I went to order it they told me that it would probably be a month plus because they can't get the 19'' yet. Hearing this I asked if they had any deals on old stumpjumpers, you know hoping to get a better bike from last year but in the same price range as the 03' stumpie. They had 3 bikes that they had deals on. The first two were a rockhopper FSR 02' and a stumpjumper FSR 02' but both were too small. The third deal, the one I am inquiring about is a 19'' 2000 Stumpjumper FSR Comp, never owned, 5 year warranty and a lifetime warranty on parts from the shop. The bike has full XT and an XTR rear derailler, Fox rear shock etc. They are asking a price of 1200 for it. Now this is a little more money than the stumpie hardtail but I have some extra cash so it isn't much of a deal. So the question is do I stick it out a month or so and buy the regular 03' Stumpie hardtail or do I pay an extra hundred and get a FSR with XT/XTR, albeit a few years old but never owned. I like the whole full suspension deal and since specialized hasn't made much changes in the FSR design it should not be too primitive. But the fact that it is 3 years old makes me a bit uneasy about just plunging in and buying it. I read reviews on the bike and as with most Specialized bikes it got great reviews which reassured me. So what do you all think, will I be better off going with the 00' FSR stumpjumper comp or the 03' stumpie?
Thanks in advanced,
Matt

i wouldn't do it. It's 3 years into a 5 year warrenty and the rockhopper FSR is about the same thing with a new warrenty

Specialized has changed its policies to a lifetime warranty on the frame. This warranty is that of a malfunction of the frame, not if you do a 20 ft. drop and crack it. The reason I know is because I called Specialized when I bought my FSR, and they said its a lifetime-limited warranty.

Like Joshe236 said, Specialized when to a retroactive lifetime lmiited warranty effective this year. We just had a guy come into our shop with a 10 year old Stumpy he cracked a chainstay on and he ended up with a new S-Works hardtail because they were out of Stumpies.
If I were in your position, I would be wondering why they told you it was a 5 year warranty. Either they don't know (because they're too lazy to read the dealer pack Specialized provides) or are lying to you by omission. That's just my cynical outlook. Where in IL are you?

if Specialized haven't made major changes, why would it be any worse than a current model? Sounds like alot more bike for a little extra money to me, unless you really want the hardtail. It really just comes down to what you want.

as for the warranty, if they said 5 years, wouldn't it be 5 years from date of purchase?

I'd get it! A full squish with XT/XTR, for an extra hundred! Heck, offer them $100 less and see what happens. If it's that old and not moving, they'll either knock more off the price, or throw in some accessories. You need a Camelback, Right? (Nudge-Nudge) or a new Specialized Jersey, right?

Even if they don't knock off anything, I'd go for it. The changes in the FSR XC frame since 2000 have been minimal refinements, not full blown major changes.

The only drawback would be if you're the type that will want to buy a new bike next year. Resale on a 4 year old full suspension will be worse than a one year old hardtail.

L8R

I am pretty sure the '00 still had bushings in the rear pivots vs the sealed bearings used now. Bearings would be smoother, last much longer, and have less of a tendency to start creaking.

First Question, does the '00 FSRXC's have disk tabs on the dropouts? I cant remember? but for sure they didnt have full bearings on the rears until '02, maybe use that as a barganing chip...

I've an '02 FSRXC, and love the way it climbs btw!!

Just one thing, dont go for the deal, if you have your heart set on one bike, you may be pinning for it in the not too soon....

Thanks for all the input I think I may just go with my original thought with the hardtail. One of the things that alarms me about the bike is that the rear shock is currently at Fox getting fixed. They claim that it was a factory defect but why are they fixing it 3 years later. I would think that they would have fixed it right when they got it. The price is also weird. They are offering the 00" SJ FSR Comp for 1200 and at their shop they have a 17'' 02" Stumpie FSR Comp for only 1000. Even with the better components I dont understand why a 3 year bike is 200+ more dollars than last years model. I've always been treated well at this shop and have spent about $800 dollars there over the last few years but I can't help but being a little suspicious over this deal.

Tokus, PM me if you've got other questions. Depending on where you are in IL maybe I can set you up at one of our shops.