Yes, its true a Honda guy looking at Polaris products. Our local dealer is blowing out the 2000 models SP500's @ $5349. That cheaper $50 cheaper than what I paid for my Rancher in March. The same dealer is selling the HO for $6349? Thats my dilema. IS the HO worth the extra money? besides the motor & brakes what else did Polaris update for '01?

Thanks for the help

 

mikee
the $6300 is the normal (very fair) price for a sp500ho. keep in mind i paid $6300 for my 2000 sp500 non HO. that was the best price i could find and it is among the lowest i have seen on this list. the dealer where i bought mine is selling ho's for $6300 also. your dealer may be blowing them out, but was that on a trade or was that straight out pricing? for $5300 i'd buy another 2000 sp500 non HO. have you ridden a non HO vs a HO? I haven't, but for that savings, you could put a lot of upgrades on a 2000. i am like you tho, i want the biggest baddest best i can get. you'd definately be getting the bbb with either machine. it seems to me that the dealers are looking at the ho as the next model year and not an upgraded quad like we do. to them it's just a sp500.

 

i just sold my 99sp tues. bought a 01500HO wend.for6245 out the door!!! man this HO is ALOT faster than my 99 was,i would opt for the HO over the non-HO anyday of the week. im goin to go over it today since its raining here,and check the slack in the throttle cable and all the nuts and bolts.i love this HO!!!

 

$5350 for a new "00" Sportsman is an excellent deal. Just sold our "00" Mag 500 with 650 miles for $5300. $6350 for a 500 HO is a good deal also. I love the HO its up to you if its worth a grand more. You get more than HP you also get better steering and brakes plus a few other neat features.

 

buy the HO I love my 2000 non HO but the newer steering and brakes alone would be almost worth the extra grand add in 20 percent more power and go for the HO.

 

There is no way I would pay $1000.00 more for the HO. I own a late model 2000 and I have ridden the 2001 HO several times, Yes I agree that the steering is better and the brakes are different IM not sure how much better they are, I guess we will know that with some more time. Regarding the 20% more power I dont ever remember ever going I wish my Polaris had more power. I have owned 96,98,99 and 2000 SP500's and there are alot of things I wish were different but more power wasnt one of them. How about some engine braking that wont lock up the rear wheels while coming down a steep hill ?
How about body panels that actually fit ?
How about some 12" Aluminum wheels on all 4 ?
How about some fenders that might actually keep some mud off of you ?
How about losing 50lbs of weight ?
How about being able to use all 3 headlights without putting the switch in the middle ?
These are some of the things I think Polaris needs to address.

 

4wheelindakota,

Hey B-ret, I haven't had a chance to ride an HO. My SP500 experience is limited also. I am trusting your recommendation & others on this forum about the quality of the Polaris products. We also have a SP500 & 335 in our club. The owner has over 1500 miles on his with zero problems.

Later

 

Ride both of them if you can and decide then. I like my steering it doesn't feel hard to me at all but some people like the easier steering of the HO, some people have brake trouble they fixed it for 2001. I am the same way my SP has always had enough power for me , not once have I ever said that I wished I had more power. but i bet the extra power will take away some of the heavy feeling of the SP that people complain about. For me the SP is perfect I don't think it is heavy or steers to hard, the engine braking is so much better than NONE. The mud protection is as good as i have seen on any atv. you will get dirty on any atv in the mud, but isn't that one of the reason why we mud in the first place?
but one thing to consider you are buying a year old machine even if it is new if you get the non HO. but buy what you want and can pay for , either way you get a great machine.