Newbie here - I am looking to buy either a new or used ATV for plowing my driveway through the winter. I live in the front range of Colorado so will see consistent snow for 5+ months that tends to get really wet and heavy in the spring. My driveway also has a pretty good pitch to it, and is half paved, half recycled asphalt. I am looking for a 4x4 that is above 500cc's to tackle the task of plowing, and maybe the occasional recreational trip.

There is a local shop I live by that buys, fixes up, and resells utility atvs (that include winch and plow) that I think is a decent option for my needs. For reference, an '04 Polaris Sportsman 600 4x4 with a winch and plow and ~4000 miles is around ~$5,000-$5,500.

Alternatively, I could go the route of buying something new and believe I could get a 4x4 with a winch and plow for ~$9,500-$10,000 (please correct me if I am wrong here).

So essentially my questions are:

1. Is ~$5,000-$5,500 for an '04 Polaris Sportsman 600 4x4 including a winch and plow a decent deal.
2. Will going the used route with an '04 model lead me back into the shop with many maintenance issues etc.
3. With about a $4,000-$5,000 difference in price between used vs. new, am I better off just shelling out more cash and saving myself any future headaches?

Thanks to anybody who gives their 2 cents.

 

I would rather go new and start fresh with quads. There are plenty of quads in the 500 class that you can buy brand new and have plenty left over for a plow and winch. I've plowed with both Can-Ams and Polaris machines.