Now I finally got my boys settled in with a ATV, time for one for me. How is a 2005 Sportsman 500? How about $6500 out the door(tax and setup)? Please any comments will be appreciated, new to this.

 

do not know if you have any dealers close as the one I deal with but go to his site and check out the prices might be worth the drive! Polaris ATP 500 High Output H.O. = $5594.00 Out The Door or 500 Sportsman $5434.00 Out the Door (:> Here is the link-----

http://www.abernathycycles.com/new_v...2&CatDesc=ATVs (copy&paste)

If the link does not work just search for Abernathys Union City

Take Care!!

 

the sportsman 500 is the king of all quads IMO and the 2005 is the most refined sportsman yet. get it you wont regret it. and i would ask in the area about the best dealer if it costs you a little more to buy from a good dealer it may be worth it in the long run. a good dealer can make all the difference.

 

Believe that the SP500 is the best selling Polaris ever(?) You will get medium performance and high quality for a reasonable price - a bit higher than competition.
You also get a few innovative features. Suspension and ground clearance is great and the overall finish is good. IMO the cables and various electric connectors could have been of higher quality and better hidden - especially for those mud and rock riders.
$ 6500 sound a bit steep in my ears. Give your dealer a firm offer, if you can "peel an orange in your pocket". Worst you can get is NO.

Eventhough I have never ridden it, I don't think that you can go wrong here...

RIDE HARD!

 

The 500HO is maybe the most reliable motor that Polaris has other than the 400. It has great power and looks awsome. Polaris stopped the sale of the Sp600 because the 500ho was not far behind in power but the 500 weighs alot less. Great choice no matter how you look at it. 6500 does seem a little steep.

 

I have owned this machine for about four months now and let me tell you I LOVE IT. Its a horse. If you are a good size guy like me, 6'4 330lbs, you need a good size atv to run around on. A couple of things you did not mention when it comes to the final price tag. For around 6500.00 is it the camo version with a winch? If it is, then the price is close, I would try to get him down another 200.00. The front storage rack is great. It is pretty much water proof so far. But when you do get it dirty, it even has easy access drain plugs to clean it out. The only major down side I dont care for is fuel milage. My dealer says 65 miles on a tank of gas. And thats about right. I never let mine get down low, because there is no reserve. When the gauge is on E, its E. The newer EFI version is getting about 90-100 miles on a tank of gas. If the price you listed is not a camo version with a winch, I believe you should talk to the dealer or go else where. If you decide you want to spend a little less money, but still want a Polaris, you might also want to check out a the new Hawkeye. I was talking to my dealer and this machine looks like its really going to be nice. All in all, the 05 Sportsman is a wonderful machine in my opinion. Its so comfortable to ride on a long trip, and all of the other people I ride with just love the looks of it. I even had on Artic Cat owner trade his in to get a Sportsman. My nephews future father in law owns a Rubicon and really likes the Sportsman when we are out. You cant go wrong with this bike. I own a 91 TrailBlazer that still runs like a sowing machine. It has been rolled, burried and only God knows what else and is still a good ride. Since I have had such great luck on that one, I am sticking with Polaris for the time being.

 

I got 1000 miles on my 500 and changed CV boot about 800 miles poked a hole in with a stick but any ATV can have that happen. now the 500 is my wife's and the 800 is mine. My wife would not trade for any other wheeler.

 

As you have been told by many already, the Sportsman 500 is as tough as there is. Someone mentioned it being Polaris most reliable engine other than the 400. Well actually they both have the exact same engine, just the 500 (499cc) is bored a little larger than the 400 (421cc). They both have the Fuji Heavy Industries engine which is tried and true, and just plain bulletproof. Polaris haters will tell you the fuji engines in second to none. Anyway, I have an 05 500ho, which I baught because I have a friend with a 1996 sp 500. He has put this thing through everything possible. He has never checked nor changed the oil, or any of the fluids for that matter. He drives it as hard today as he did a decade ago, and has never had a seconds problem. I have always had Honda, Yamaha, Kawa, and Zuki, and had good success, but this thing is unbelievable. When I baught my last quad, I went with the Sportsman 500 for this very reason. **Note** anything polaris makes above the 500 doesn't have the fuji engine, rather the liberty, which is also good, but far from fuji quality and reliability!

 

Thanks for all the info. Sounds to be a above average ATV. Now I will have to start working on the dealer.

 

Go with the 06 model. Has many good updates from the 05! If you need specifics let me know....