We originally were thinking of getting a UTV side by side...until we started looking at prices (I can buy a used jeep for half the price and it's street legal). We've decided to instead look at new utility ATV's instead.

We have 5 acres and want something to get us around our property towing a small trailer and maybe every now and then take up to the mountains for trail riding and exploring. I'm tall, 235lbs so it needs to probably be full sized. The Ms. wants to use it so it needs to be easy to ride (thinking CVT) with reverse. Mountains and the back of the property says 4x4. Never plan on breaking speed records so probably the neighborhood of 450cc is fine. Would LOVE it to cost closer to 5k than 7k. The 2018 Textron Alterra 500 4x4 and the 2017 CanAm Outlander 450 4x4 are both available for $5000, a 2018 Polaris Sportsman 450 HO is $5500 so it is possible to find one, but do I WANT a 5-6k one? Before I walk into a dealer, I want to try and get as much information as I can (since I'm SURE the dealer will always have my best interest at heart). Thinking new just because we don't know how the previous owner took care of it and most used ATVs that we have seen listed are still 4-5k and for that we would rather just get a new one. We have no brand preference but know to steer clear of the Chinese knockoffs. Suggestions. recommendations, thoughts?

 

I'd spring for the 450 Outlander for $5,000. Those are pretty quick. You might also look at the Kymco's. Made in Taiwan, not China, and a good quality machine, also, maybe an Arctic Cat 500, which uses the same motor. The Polaris 450 HO is a nice bike as well, though my friends that bought them, ended up paying too much, IMHO.

 

No more Arctic Cat ATVs. They're Textron now, like the Alterra 500 mentioned. https://www.textronoffroad.com/atv/m...ty/alterra-500

Anything in the 450-550 class should do the trick as long as the elevation in the mountains isn't too high. You may want something bigger if you're riding way up there where the air is thinner. Most 4x4 ATVs are EFI now so you don't have to worry about re-jetting a carb.

ETA: The Outlander 450 and Sportsman 450 H.O. are each $1,000 more than the Alterra 500. But the Alterra 500 is only 443cc. I don't see the horsepower listed but I doubt it's as high as the Outlander (38 HP) and probably less than the Sportsman (33 HP) too.

 

One thing different with the Polaris 450 and 570 is that they are single cylinder machines. Single cylinder tends to have more torque than a twin cylinder which tends to have more speed. I think the Alterra is a single cylinder too.

 

The Outlander 450 is the best value for that price. It has the most power and its the one I would pick out of all of those. I have a co-worker who bought one and he's about 275lbs and it has plenty of power for him. 5K for a brand new Outlander 450L is a good deal.

 

You might try re-looking at a side x side as the Kymco 450i UXV is only 7500. They are NOT Chinese made, there quality is second to none, the 450i engine has a great reputation and they have the lowest consumer complaint per 100 machines manufactured of any UTV mfgr in the world. Have had mine for 2yrs+ over 800 miles, used as a work horse around my property, plows a 300' drive that is 2 cars wide and rides the trails most weekends. I have had O issues with the machine. Dealer even had a full test track with mud, hills, jumps etc for a test drive. Not just an around the parking lot test drive!! Talk about having confidence in the machines!! They also make a great line of ATV's, been in business for over 30 yrs.

 

The Arctic Cat, now Textron, Prowler 500 is basically identical to the Kymco 450i side by side. It also has the Kymco 450cc single and my local dealer is selling them at right around 7000 brand new. The Textron Alterra atvs, both the 450cc and 700cc, also have Kymco engines. Kymco does make great machines but they don't have as many dealers so you may not have one nearby. The Brute Force 300 also has a Kymco engine. The Alterra 300 also has the exact same engine. So there are a lot of Kymco engines out there and they are proven reliable.

 

I didn't know where any Kymco or Textron dealers near me were so I checked. A dealer I never heard of only 34 minutes away by interstate sells Kymco, Arctic Cat and Textron ATVs and side by sides. Arctic Cat snowmobiles and Kymco scooters and street bikes too. It's no surprise they sell log splitters and Stihl chainsaws too, since it's called Lumberjack Shack.

 

Kymco450 Thanks for the info. Wish we had a dealer that had ANYTHING in stock (several Kymco dealers but nobody with stock other than scooters...?!!). Otherwise I would check them out (and still might if they get something in to look at). I realize it's February, but it was also 75 degrees Saturday and no dealers (regardless of MFR) keep anything in stock right now.

The exception are the machines I listed. Contacted the Can Am dealer and the $5000 Can Am becomes $6700 OTD(?!!). Okay, tax and registration, but $1700? Is this normal or am I being scammed? Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. I thought I know enough to pretend I knew what I was doing...maybe not. That's the great thing about forums, real people giving real suggestions.

 

Sounds like a bit much, $900-$1000 more in fees and taxes is about normal though. About $6000 otd sounds more like what it should be. There is set up fees, freight, title and taxes usually tacked on to the sales price.