Originally Posted by Karmajack

Sounds to me like you should go with Trek. Having a good experience at the shop would be high in priority for me. If Trek puts you at ease and shows interest in your needs, then they seem like the winner. Sure the other options might be cheaper, but paying a bit more for better customer service is worth it.

FWIW I have a DS3. My first real adult bike outside of a cheap Walmart Schwinn hybrid. I really like the bike a lot. It is indeed an entry level bike in general. I wasn't sure where I'd predominantly be riding. There's good offroad single tracks as well as paved trails around here that I wanted to explore. I tested the Verve and FX models before I made the purchase. Verve was very comfy, yet slow. FX was fast and light, but a bit too forward for me at the time. I wanted a middle ground to be able to handle longer distances on various terrain. My experience at the Trek dealer was similar. They weren't pushy. Listened to my wants and needs. Were very patient as well as informative. I didn't attempt another dealer or brand, as they exceeded my expectations for customer service.

Nine months later and I'm still happy with my DS 3 for what it is. However, I do see myself eventually getting a FX3 disc. I'd keep the DS for comfort and light offroading, as well as the gravel trails, and use the FX for nicer paved trails and some road use. I'm not a all regretting the DS. It will continue to serve a purpose. If anything, if I could do it all over again (and could afford it) I would have gotten something like a Marlin 7 AND an FX 3 at the same time to cover all bases well. The DS3 does suit all those needs, just doesn't exceed as well as dedicated bikes would for specific terrains. Jack of all trades, master of none type deal. Which is acceptable for a beginner/recreational cyclist as myself.