LifeSpan Fitness TR2000i Treadmill (Open Box)

I would give this treadmill 4.5 stars if I could. My wife and I are very happy with it. Very minor issues. See bottom of review for suggestions on lube, surge protector & pad. My situation: Upstairs treadmill, limited space, I am a work from home dad with a 4 month old kiddo so lots of short workouts, TV already accessible near treadmill, and it's on carpet. My wife and I both play soccer and go to the gym but use this treadmill as convenience for off days, rainy days and MONDAYS! LOL After reading and researching for a couple of months I found this to fit what we needed comparing about a dozen treadmills. I specifically wanted a treadmill that was quiet, reliable and sturdy (in other words the handles/console didn't wobble excessively while you run). Pros: - Quiet & Sturdy - no wobbling handles/console. We have ours upstairs and it's still VERY quiet below 6.0 running speed. And even at 6+ the sounds you hear are thumping shoes and not the treadmill itself. Solid, stable deck! - Very easy assembly that I should have probably used my own tools for 'cause the ones provided were a tad awkward. - Easy console to use. I do manual workouts mostly anyway. Just push a button or two and incline or speed. Easy. - Great incline - 15! - LOVE the Speed & Incline Shortcut buttons. You can jump from 0 to 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 or 6.0 speed with one click... no endless up, up, up clicking on the arrow acceleration key. This is also true of the incline with preset option buttons not endless click, click, click... up, up, up. - Console is simplistic and easy (also a con for some as mentioned below) - Handlebar quick access buttons are great for incline or speed adjustments (although easily bumped as mentioned in cons) - Aside from lube, the treadmill was ready to use as soon as assembled which was easy. - Heart rate handles are quick and easy Cons (minor to my situation but possible heads up for future owners): - Heavy to get upstairs (we kept it in the box while moving). It is one solid piece that is not worth disassembling to move. Just find your strongest, most ambitious neighbor. And beer as incentive. :-) - Console is a little simplistic. I am perfectly fine with it 'cause I don't need much but this is where I believe I should get a little bang for my buck or a lower price. I don't use the speakers or need fans. But the console could use an upgrade considering I spent $1900 and my friend spent $1500 (after tax) for a better console on another brand. Although I like my friend's console I didn't like his treadmill! Its a Proform 4500 I believe. - Handlebars seem short. At the gym I feel like I can use the handlebars for support or for leaning on hard workouts. With this treadmill I feel like they're about 6 inches short and not as supportive. They are still sturdy however and I manage just fine. - Handlebar buttons are bumped easily but as mentioned above they're also a pro. - Deck is slightly narrower than what I'm used to at the gym, but most treadmills in this class were the same or only better by 2 inches. To conclude, I think its a 4.5 Star that should be priced at $1600-1700 or have a more modern console (I paid $1799 + tax). The sturdiness and overall simplicity make it worth the money. I don't see much use for the speakers and the USB user setup is just OK. I don't even bother with it since I have a Fitbit and use myfitnesspal. ***Since static & surge protection were a concern from other reviews I bought a Tripp Lite which has worked great (no static and no surge issues): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000513US/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_19 ***I also bought a mat for shock absorption: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NMA304/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1