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I have the exact boat you are referring to: 2007 Vista 288 with twin 5.0 Volvo GXis.
After 6 years, we've finally had most of the "kinks" worked out of it. The first two years I had the boat at the dealer more than on the water. My issues included the following:
1. Fuel pumps replaced twice
2. Starboard outdrive had an issue when in gear at idle the whole boat would shake as something was out of round between the engine and outdrive (can't recall what it was). Fixed by the dealer
3. When the factory installed the C80 plotter they didn't plug the speedo hole and water would come gushing out from under the helm when you came down from plane
4. Various tweaks for the steering and throttle cables
5. Horrible gel coat that has factory issues, too late noticing them as I was a novice when I got the boat but others have pointed them out since 2007
6. Heavy oxidation on the top deck even with scrubbing that has stained the gel coat below it
7. Fresh Water pump is no longer working (calling my service guy this week, may just be a clog HOPEFULLY!)
8. Both the v-berth mirror and the forward berth mirror have fallen off (need to locktite them again)
The boat seems to cruise around 3,100 rpm and I think it gets about 1.2-1.3 gph. Top speed in good weather was 43mph if I recall. The Volvo engines hum along VERY nicely, have a great sound to them, and the boat planes very quickly even with a heavy load on board.
Issues aside, the past two years with the boat have been great. Besides the gel coat issues (which is going to cost me over $1,000 to fix), the boat has excellent build quality. The vinyl and couch materials are first class. Depending on where you will be boating, I'd suggest a boat with a steeper dead rise. The v288 only has an 18 degree dead rise which at times is brutal on Lake Erie while my Sea Ray friends with a 21 degree dead rise are cutting right through the waves. The v288 will bounce on them causing some uncomfortable cruising. I've found I have to put the bow down as far as I can to help alleviate the bump/crash when we hit a 3-4 footer. The v288 also seems a lot higher out of the water at the bow than a comparable Sea Ray which catches the wind VERY easily and can act like a sail in tight maneuvering causing some uncomfortable docking situations. I have the Raymarine C80 which is a great plotter in my opinion. No issues with the vacuflush at all and my kids have put it to the test!
Again, I was a novice when I started with this boat and now I know how she handles and what to expect in certain conditions when I didn't before. I like my v288, I don't love it, and would go for the Sea Ray 280/290 if I could do it again simply for the steeper dead rise since I boat in the Western Basin of Lake Erie which is unforgivable at times. Over the past two/three years she's been dead on reliable and a good boat.
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