New rowing machine compared to old

[Dutch]

I have a model C rower purchased from Concept2 in 2012. It was reconditioned by Concept and apart from oiling and cleaning has not had to be maintained in anyway. Somewhere on it is a date from 2002ish iirc, it is a code that showed its age. Correct me if I am wrong.
Anyway my question is, would a brand new model d rower give any better performance timewise ? I am not about to dash out and buy one if it does I am curious if the age of a machine depletes the machine performance ability?
I should add that I have also been on some horrendously kept model ds, only a few months old in gyms. So I am aware it is how they are looked after.

[Dangerscouse]

I don't think that there's any performance benefit, apart from maybe the bungee being tighter or something like that, but if that is a problem, parts are relatively inexpensive and easy to get hold of

[Sakly]

I only know 3 different model D, my own (5,5mm, 2,5 years old, very good maintained), the one in my gym (no idea about the meters, ~1,5 years old, maintained only once by me) and one in another gym I rarely train with my buddy (much older, probably much more meters, not maintained at all, chain feels already bit rough). All three models result in comparable results and feel more or less the same. Only the seatrollers of the old one feel a bit bumpy.

[MPx]

would a brand new model d rower give any better performance timewise ?

Yes of course! Its a goto for me when in a rut/plateau - if all else fails...throw money at the problem.

I bought my model C/PM2 in 1997, it was a great machine, we did many 10^6m. But there were performance lifts when I got a PM2+ and could transfer workouts to PC, and then when I got a PM3 and the new style "cards". Then my works got a new gym and I weedled onto the commissioning committee and made sure it had 3 nice new model Ds. I was a bit quicker on those for a few weeks than I could manage at home, obvously until I noticed that there was no difference really. I had other priorities, so a break 2013-2016 but during that time put a nice gym in the house. The ModelC was still working fine - and I was able to get "newbie" gains for a while while I got back into it. But then I plateaued and thought it would be good to have a PM5 and it would be great to have a nice new black D in my gym, so I invested at the end of 2018. Again I got quicker on the new machine for a while...

I gave my C to a mate - he still uses it. I perform fine on it too!

One thing that may be a real difference - at 20 years old, even giving it a good clean, the max DF on the C had dropped to about 170. Not an issue for normal erging obvs, but for the ultra sprints (100m and 1min and low pull) I use a higher DF and have managed lifetime PBs since getting the D (which of course will go 200+) - despite now being in my 60s

[Dutch]

would a brand new model d rower give any better performance timewise ?

Yes of course! Its a goto for me when in a rut/plateau - if all else fails...throw money at the problem.

I bought my model C/PM2 in 1997, it was a great machine, we did many 10^6m. But there were performance lifts when I got a PM2+ and could transfer workouts to PC, and then when I got a PM3 and the new style "cards". Then my works got a new gym and I weedled onto the commissioning committee and made sure it had 3 nice new model Ds. I was a bit quicker on those for a few weeks than I could manage at home, obvously until I noticed that there was no difference really. I had other priorities, so a break 2013-2016 but during that time put a nice gym in the house. The ModelC was still working fine - and I was able to get "newbie" gains for a while while I got back into it. But then I plateaued and thought it would be good to have a PM5 and it would be great to have a nice new black D in my gym, so I invested at the end of 2018. Again I got quicker on the new machine for a while...

I gave my C to a mate - he still uses it. I perform fine on it too!

One thing that may be a real difference - at 20 years old, even giving it a good clean, the max DF on the C had dropped to about 170. Not an issue for normal erging obvs, but for the ultra sprints (100m and 1min and low pull) I use a higher DF and have managed lifetime PBs since getting the D (which of course will go 200+) - despite now being in my 60s

I just went on mine and checked df, the max is still 227 same as when we first go it. I also just went into product id and further info and it says model b/c, not sure what that means.
Hmm this might mean I rush out and buy a new one lol

Just added this later in an edit as it has dawned on me, known for my quickness lol if the high end df is fine then the rower is still good is what I am reading here?

[MPx]

Just added this later in an edit as it has dawned on me, known for my quickness lol if the high end df is fine then the rower is still good is what I am reading here?

Well I don't want to pop the new machine bubble....but yeah I'd say so, your C is good for many more years yet.

[jamesg]

My C is catastrophic and getting worse. It could do almost a 7' 2k in noughties, now in the twenties it won't go much below 10 minutes.

I checked it the other day, with the triple Tabata (3x8x20s) WOD.
On 2023 09 23 it worked at 213W.
On 2024 08 26 it worked at 152W.

To think I even oiled the chain once and put a new PM on it.

[iain]

James, looks like it needs a new engine, but not listed in available parts

[stevegaspars]

I checked it the other day, with the triple Tabata (3x8x20s) WOD.
On 2023 09 23 it worked at 213W.
On 2024 08 26 it worked at 152W.

Despite the joke, were both Tabata's 4 minute rests though? C2's WOD is 4m rests, the CTC (if you did this) is 2m rests.

[jamesg]

The two were identical: 3x (8x(20s+r10s)+4'r), total on time 8 minutes. And still to be seen in the C2 boards.