Jump on the wagon?

[SmartBall]

To much dismay i just recently got interested in the ions amazing-ness (about 2 hrs ago lol). i think its more of a hype effect, but you gotta admit its a killer deal. I took a little hiatus from paintball to concentrate on racing and skiing, But i come back to find a killer deal (or so i thought) on a brand new AI for $450, 150 more than an ION. now throwing out factors such as weight, size, and price, all of which the ion dominate hands down, is the AI worth keeping? for god sakes it hasn't even shipped yet (bought it from an ebay store). I mean im not all that concerned about size im not a front guy, and im used to a cocker so stack height is no big deal. and weight is something im comfortable with, im not weak. All i've heard about the AI is good, and the 9.8 rating is amazing, but then the ion had to come and screw with my head. so basically is the AI still a good gun, will it perform AS GOOD AS than a stock ion (constistancy, effieciency, shall i say - accuracy ha). i mean the AI is a damn sexy gun, and well im not too attracted to the talon like poly carb body of the ion, and i've already bought the AI, so i could care less about the price right now lol. i guess its just jealousy like every other IMP owner is feeling right now. so what do you guys think? ill be playing rec until summer. whats this about the reflective beam eye not picking up certain paint?

[CoolT]

AI > Ion

The Ion has plastic shells, I think that alone testifies for how cheaply its produced. Yeah I know they made shells so that you could customize the gun, yada yada yada, but the real reason SP used plastic was to cut costs. While the Ion might perform like a higher end gun (not high end, higher end), it's still is made with care and quality of something much lower. The Ion beats over the AI for size and weight, but that's about it.

[TheUsualSuspect]

I have to say once I got my AI I wouldn't even trade it in for sometheing on the more highend scale. The reg on the AI is better it a "real" maxflow. I'm not sure of whats on the Ion but it is not advertised as a maxflow and won't perform like one either.
For the AI:
-No17bps cap
-Better reg = better consistancy
-AI is one of the best companies that comes to mind in paintball.
-Overall better quality, the Ion was designed to be able to produce quickly efficiently and with out alot of cost to the manufaturer so don't count on it being absolutely amazing.

I call this buyers regret, as soon as I ordered my Ai I wanted an E-orracle. They had dropped in price and I wanted one. Anyhoo, I waited for my pulse first and as soon as I got it I was just like screw the cocker, "have you seen the milling on my new imp?" Was all I could say for the next week.

PS Someday I'll get the cocker though :laugh: