Need advice for good entry level gun

Ive been reading these forums for a while and just recently signed up.
I didnt come here to get flamed, so please, read carefully before replying!

I am introducing my girlfriend to paintball. I need some advice on a good entry level gun within the $200 range. I am a long time Tippmann veteran with an extremely moded 98 Custom, and even though me and most of my team sport Tippmanns, I think I want to venture outside of Tippy for her.
While I dont want to subject her to a cheap ass brass eagle or jt, I dont quite think she needs a Bob Long or and Angel... so I dont want to hear any hard headed comments, I want HONEST advice, I dont want you to tell me to get something becuase you have one and everyone else must suck because you pwn everyone with your ion. k.

NOW, lol. I have been looking a the Kingmann Spyder ePilot ACS, Smart Parts ION, and Tippmann Triumph eXT... and thinking maayyybeeee a 98 custom.

Spyder Pilot ACS- seems to be fairly customizable, reliable, great for entry player (I know most people on the feild dont sport these, so again, this is for my girlfriend who is just starting out). Best part, its only $100 What do you think?

ION- still decently priced at $164.. how customizable are these guys? Her favorite color is purple, can I get colored dropforwards/ gas through grips/ triggers/ barrels? AND, I know they accept barrel threads from quite a few other guns, can I use Kingmann Spyder threads on an ION? (theres a nice purple 14 inch barrel I can get if so).

Triumph- I was thinking about getting this one becuase I keep hearing you can get them for $30 and they are basicly a 98 custom pro redisigned for beginners. With 98 custom internals, and the expansion chamber and drop are built right into the design. Buuut... if I get one of these, i'd like it to be an e-trigger.. and I dont want to spend over $100, which is all I seem to find. This gun has an embarrasing design, Tippmann wont even put their name on it. It looks like a Brass Eagle Samurai.. which looks like a gaddamn sawzaw.. I also hear they are just as hard to take apart.. and there is simply not enough info or review on them.

98 custom- If I get this, I know I can find a purple drop, rubber grip, feed neck, and loader.. but ive never seen a purple barrel that fits Tippmann threads. And we'd have matching guns.. awww. But then i'd be spending a **edited** load of money and I already have a custom, it would be nice to have an e-trigger that way when she dont come out to play I can switch off, or when im not playing woodsball with the team I can take it to some speed-ball courses.

I also found this gun on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&i tem=310023820411&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=021
Can anyone tell me what model WOR marker this is, and is it decent. Is it e-trigger? Worth the money if the bid dont go above $90? Where can I find one if I dont win the bid and decide this is the gun? (They dont have this one on xtremez or actionvillage)

SO, please give me your honest opinion, i'd really like to get the gun soon.
And if it helps save you time, I already have a mask and 20oz tank for her, so I dont need a package deal if its not necessary.

Thanks a million, -Jeremy

You might want to look into an older modeled  angel or  matrix. They are  heavier than new markers, but have a high ROF, and are basically tanks. Also, for the older angels at least maintenance is  easy.

As to the "cut the spring to adjust a spyders velocity"... if you can't get a spyder to chrono at the proper speed just go out and spend 3 dollars on a spring kit.

mrclownprince wrote: I seem to hear this "the ion is plastic" many , many , many times.    Before you repeat what everyone says. Do some research. The outer body is a plastic. everything else is metal.

Yeah, cheap metal.  I nearly cross-threaded the screws on the body when I put my Ion back together the first time. 

Spyder ACS: Costs $100 dollars new, and is a sear tripper. It will shoot faster than Tippmann markers for less money. As for springs being cut. Yes sometimes out of the box the spring does not allow the velocity to be adjusted to the desired velocity. This is solved by buying a 5 dollar spring kit (which contains springs with varying tensions).

Triumph: Plastic, lack of upgrades... it usses mdoel 98 internals so its decently reliable... but they really aren't the best possible purchase. I really have no idea who buys them?

98 Custom: Reliable, upgrades, Tippmanns tend to cost more than competing entry level brands due to branding (aka name recognition). If you want a tippmann,... you are better off looking at BT and PCS markers.

Ion: It is plastic/composite.... gives a good ROF for very little money (less than before). However, it is not as nice as other electropnuematics or mechanicals within the same price range. Also stripping one of these down after a day of play is time consuming (and annoying as can be). The newer model has the bolt come out the back for easier maintanence, but then you can't get the 160 dollar clearance ion models. If you find one cheap I think you can upgrade the Ion body to the newer one for 60 dollars (I think I saw on action village).

My suggestions:

Indian Creek Designs Promaster:

While ICD is nolonger making paintball markers they still provide warranty service. Parts can still be found from ICD directly or Vaporworks. They are a superior electropnuematic marker to the Ion, and cost less ($140 dollars at Action Village).

WGP Autococker:

Nice as a mechanical or electropneumatic. You would have to buy one used, and they aren't any more complicated than any other marker... you just have to become familiar with them

AGD Automag

Small mechanical, also very nice and reliable.

Angel LCD/LED/IR3; Bob Long Intimidator:

Buying a used high end gun that is about 8-4 years old can net you great saving,... and you still have an extremely easy to maintain marker with a high ROF. It will be heavier than newer high end markers,... but not much different than some of the bulky mechanical low end markers still in production (or what some people do to their markers... tippmann +milsim = ridiculous weight).

Just buy her a 98 Custom. Hell, paint it purple for her if she wants a purple gun.