I have a SP500 & Explorer 400. I have no intention of buying a Polaris Diesel, but was wondering how anyone who bought one likes it?? My dealer said they are deadly slow, and not any different that a SP500 for pulling. Any comments???

 

My dealer says he dont think that the Diesel will be around very long.In fact he claims they have;nt sold even one yet.They are very slow,noisey,and just not to practical.=====BILL

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I've ridden one at a dealer who cannot sell his (first one) and put it on clearance for $5500. That's not bad for how much it costs, but the machine is just not worth having over one with a gas engine. I jumped on it, took off slowly (of course), and took it around the building, and then pegged it, I would have to say a Suzuki Quadsport 80 could take it in a drag with no problem at all, even on top end! Also, it was noisier than hell. I don't think it would be fun to wear earplugs when riding.

 

...and think of how hard it is to get somebody qualified and reasonably priced to do work on your gas engine...can you imagine a diesel?!?!?!?

 

A buddy of mine, who does not own an ATV, does own a F350 with a power stroke diesel. He told me the Polaris diesel came up on a Ford diesel site, and was discussed. Some of the concerns posted had to do with a single plug, large bore, motor that has to handle all the compression required to burn the diesel fuel and the durability of the bottom end of the motor, among other issues. Anyone mounting this ATV with thoughts of doing anything but hard core pulling, heavy work, or plowing, is going to be disappointed.

[This message has been edited by OFFSPRING (edited 01-05-2000).]

 

I have a 2000 Diesel. I like it very much. A drag racer it definitely isn't - wouldn't expect a diesel to be racer. However on tight woods trails where I ride I keep up with Sportmans and Magnums just fine. I personnaly like the sound of the Diesel, but then again I own a '59 John Deere 730 diesel 2-cylinder tractor and I think it sounds cool too, so I probably have a warped perspective. I have found it funny that people who complain about the noise of my Diesel are also the ones putting aftermarket pipes on their two-stroke Scramblers. The smooth low-end torque of the motor and the Diesel's excessive weight makes it a great worker. I prefer the Diesel when plowing snow or dirt over any other quad. I run Artic diesel fuel and cold weather starting has not been a problem. Fuel consumption is minimal as one would expect from a diesel engine. I just wish they would put the Diesel motor in a 6x6 chassis.

 

I'm not saying jack about the diesel. I got hammered for calling it a dumb idea a few months ago. Seems like I was mostly right from the majority of responses here though. No offense intended to the above diesel owner here.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

I don't own a diesel sportsman, but I do own a Dodge Turbo Diesel truck, and I find the idea of a diesel in a quad to be fascinating. If I had unlimited funds, I might buy one just for kicks. I like the diesel sound too.

Speaking of fascination .. I wonder ..

if you had a diesel MAX, would it still float? uh-oh. I might have started something here

[This message has been edited by Prospector (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

OFFSPRING.

"Single plug?"

Some express concern over a single plug? On a diesel?

How many plugs make them comfortable?

I wonder if these critics realize diesel engines have no spark plugs at all?

While glow plugs are used for starting, even truck engines don't use multiple glow plugs.

The other concerns expressed, high compression, bottom end strength, perhaps "other issues" as well, are essentially defining characteristics of any diesel engine, known for durability and low maintenance.

This topic asks, "Polaris Diesel: How do you like YOURS?" (emphasis added). Someone who owns no Polaris Diesel appears unqualified to answer the question posed.

Regarding the polling aspects of this topic; as I count it, only one responder actually owns a Polaris Diesel, and he loves it! I hardly see this sample so far conclusively proves Polaris Diesels are no good, as some suggest.

Tree Farmer

[This message has been edited by Tree Farmer (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

Tree Farmer I feel qualified to make the following statements. They are loud. They are slow. They take a whole nother kind of gas than what most people have around the house(most people). No offense to Deisel owners I just don't like people telling us who is qualified and who is not. Oh and I didn't like the winch crack you made on the Honda forum either. I'm sure it was a joke but I dont figure he appreciated it too much either. So why don't you apologize to us right now. Then go over to the other forum and apologize to the other guy. Now do you feel qualified to go do all that? Or unqualified?