Original Vandersteen Model 3

I found this quote from the master himself from 2012 and I think I will go with it, which means from Richard Vandersteen's point of view, pretty much any later model 2 or 3 would be better than the old original Model 3.  From what I have seen, I can probably find one of either of those for around the same money:

"Answer: HELLO MIKE, THAT ANSWER WAS COMPARING A OLDER MODEL 3 AND A NEWER MODEL 2CE. AT ANY GIVEN YEAR THE CURRENT 3 WILL BE MUCH HIGHER PERFORMANCE THAN THE CURRENT 2. THE CURRENT MODEL 2CE SIG II WILL BLOW AWAY AN OLD MODEL 3, AND THE CURRENT MODEL 3A SIG WILL BLOW AWAY A CURRENT 2CE SIG II.

Obviously true, but your original post was wondering if the 3's would be a good speaker for $400. And the answer was 'yes'.

If you want better, then it will cost you.
Your 1.7's are pretty new, so if you want to compare apples to apples, then getting a current Vandy is the way to go.
If you just want something different to play around with for a few hundred bucks, then a pair of 3's would do the trick.
b

I just inherited a clean pair of Model 3's... and set them up with the sound anchor stands, Meridian 557 amp, and assorted other good equipment. I have to say that they are horrible sounding speakers. They absolutely suck the life out of most everything I play. A Chesky cd of a live Clark Terry date sounded better, but oy vey they've gotta go... 

Leaning towards try them, then sell if unsatisfied. One never knows till they try.