I'm gonna go purchase most likely a new 500 sportsman in the next week or 2. Can anyone give some good reasons why to by the efi or carb, good and or bad, I'd like to hear them. I've ridden both and I know the 500 is a great engine. I have a 99 scram now. I'm leanng toward the efi. What yall think?

 

besides having a mapping issue that made an idling problem i think they've pretty good. i would a serch on here about 500 efi and you can read it for yourself. the carb model is pretty much bullet proof. the big advantage w/ efi is starting and in high mountains, and a better throttle response making a little more power.

 

It's not likely the carb will fail on you while you're miles away from nowhere.

 

carb
carb can be took off and cleaned on the trails
the gas can be gravity feed if need be
no ecm

efi
try to fix an injector on the trails
i think the efi has a fuel pump for the higher pressure needed by the injector. if it goes out you stop.
has an ecm to recieve inputs and execute outputs

all my vechicles are efi of some sort but i dont drive them 60 miles out into the woods by my self either. but its your money man i would buy whatever i wanted no matter what.

 

There's a reason cars and trucks are all EFI. I would go with the EFI, I love mine. Especially in the winter when I go out to plow the driveway, starts just as fast when it's 5 below as it does when it's 85.

 

Ive had both and Id say it depends on your riding style. I purchased the 06 500efi thinking it would be good. 2mths later i traded it for a 700 carb because: 1: I ride swamps, mud and water. water and efi dont agree at all and I was frying sensors left right a centre. As mentioend above, a carb can be messed with on the trail or at your own garage. EFI, is dealer only. With that said, i lost a ton of money traveling with my atv all over renting cottages only to find myself out of commission and turn the trip to a drink beer and stare at the trees. Which also is fun but the purpose is to ride. Polaris was great in warranty-ing it all however like I said, i switched back to carb and have NO ISSUES in water, mud and swamps where EFI failed me repeatedly. 6 times in 2 months is not right. I have many riding buddies who have 500 and 800 efi's and do strictly trail riding and work and have had no issues whatsoever so if you dont plan on getting wet, I suppose EFI works well. Power wise, no difference. I drag another 700 efi (same yr but mine is carb) I take em off the line and he barely takes me in top end only. Stock to stock. (im not stock anymore). Anyways, thats my 2 cents and experience. Personally, I think EFI is for cars and stick to carbs for off road abuse [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Good luck in your purchase!

 

If youre gonna resell before the warentee is over...go efi.
If you plan on owning it past the warentee..get carb.
Youll be at the mercy of the local polaris shop once the warentee is over, and parts aint cheap on efi. Carb is old and cheap technology, and works almost flawlessly.
Also think about resale. would you buy a 5 year old quad, that had efi?

 

Parts are not an issue to me. I've got a couple friends in high enough places to take care of parts and all. Thanks for all you guys opinions on them. I'm actually leaning on the carb i think. I've ridden and got to be involved in field evaluations of every machine they make and alot of the other brands too. Just can't get off the feel and smooth but powerful 500. I do agree on the break downs though. If the efi were to go out, then it can be a long tow back from the middle of nowhere. But the efi is pretty much setup like a new car or truck. I'm just not 100% sold on how well it will hold up to years of abuse, mud, water and who knows what else. If I could be asured it would hold up as well as the average vehicle's system then I wouldn't think twice. But the only test on that is time. And I'm not waiting 5 years to buy a new one. 2006 is the last year of the carb on the 500 unless they go back in the future.