So I have $4,000 to spend. I'm 6'3" 285 lbs. There is an '08 Polaris Sportsman 500 efi for sale in my area. It looks clean, and has 168 hrs on it. Is this a good choice? Are there any problems you know of with this model? Do you have another ATV that you know is better? Please help me out. This is my first ATV purchase. Thank you.

 

I had that exact machine for awhile and loved it! Its hard to go wrong with a Polaris 500. Only thing to watch for is the wiring that goes up into the head light pod can rub the wires bare and leave you stranded. Happened with 2 out of the 3 '08 500 efi's in our family.

 

I would recommend the sportsman. I just picked up a 2013 sportsman 500 and it pulls pretty hard in my opinion and in the past 2 months I've had it i haven't managed to get it stuck where my neighbors brute 750 gets stuck every time. The ground clearance is great and the automatic 4x4 is pretty nice in my opinion

 

4000, you can buy something newer with that kind of money, try to get 09 or 10 and less hours

 

That's a pretty good deal if it's in good shape. Had a 2006 Sportsman X2 500. Only place it lacked was getting my 340 lbs. up long steep hills in high gear. Topped out on more than a few occasions at about 35. These were hills that were wide open and smooth trails. Both winter and regular riding.

 

I agree, in the $4000 range you should see newer and lower miles as long as we are not talking Canadian prices.

Check what they are going for on Ebay or Craigs in comparison.

 

I bought a 2004 Kodiak 450 at the beginning of this year with 200 hours/800 miles for $3,000 from a private sale. It took me a while to find a bike in good shape, the carb was gummed up pretty good from sitting with gas in it, a small coolant leak that I fixed and other than that it's been truly a perfect machine. The former owner had all the paperwork, spare oil filter, and a never installed Yamaha brand Warn 2.5CI winch.

After spending a lot of time on Craigslist, I really think I got one of the best deals in my area (Maryland) for what I was looking for/price range.

 

Sounds like you got a good deal. Where are you in MD?

 

I'm north of Baltimore, near the Susquehanna River/Pennsylvania line.

 

Cool, I'm not too far away. Just south of Dover