large dealerships will generally cut you a deal--- look at http://www.ritchiepowersports.com/ in TN. I"m sure there are other dealerships scattered across the US like this. I recommend against buying used-- just for the youtube videos alone... i made this mistake (buying used). Polaris has the sportsman 500ho (non-efi) for sticker price of $5999. I'm guessing you could get that from a big dealer for around $5500 otd..... just a guess tho--

does anyone know of larger dealerships for can-am and yamaha?

 

If you can afford to buy new, do it!! If I could, I would.

I will NOT finance or take a loan out for an ATV, so I buy used. I have done it many times & this is my best advice. One great thing about Polaris is that they offer very cheap financing for 2-3 years at a low interest rate. (check out the add on ATV Connections main page). After the 2-3 years, the interest goes through the roof. That is when many people sell their quads. I live in MN, where both Polaris & Cats are made. If you saw 10 atvs on a trail, 8 would be Polaris. I watch Craig's list everyday. I buy machines that are 3-4 years old with under 200 miles. If it has over that mileage, keep looking. Look at the extras the machine has. If it already has a winch, great. That is $500 I don't have to spend. In MN, you don't pay sales tax on used quads. That is another $500 savings. I always go to their house. I want to see how they live & how they take care of their stuff. It is very easy to tell if a machine with 150 miles has been abused. When a good deal comes along, I have CASH in hand & make the deal. People will rarely turn down an offer when are are thumbing through $100 bills. Once I get it home, I change all the fluids.

I am not very particular on color, options, or year. I was looking for a 500 Sportsman but a deal on a SP 700 came along. Black 03, 123 miles, Warn winch, aftermarket front & rear bumbers, 50 year old gentleman owned it for $4600. A new 500 with a winch would have been in the mid to high 6's out the door with tax, title, & license.

I have friends who think I am nuts because as they say, "why buy somebody else's junk!"
Buy new if you can afford it, I wish I could.

 

ok... i own a '06 kodiak 450 4x4. i bought a warn 2.5 winch, roller fairlead, front cv boot protectors, and a belly skid plate. at first i was going to buy the polaris 500ho efi but got talked out of it. alot of people dissed the polaris because of past issues but i feel polaris has come along way since then. i mostly ride in a field thats close to my house, pull the boat out of the back yard, and went trail riding and mudding once with the kodiak. it did ok but the stock tires are junk for mudding. they balled up very quickly and didnt clean out like they should the polaris's come with radial 6 ply tires. ive been happy so far with my yamaha but now im going to trade in for a '07 sportsman 500ho efi limited edition in stealth black. with the polaris, i dont have to buy the skid plate, protectors, or the winch because it all comes standard on the deluxe. im upgrading because i want efi and something faster. the kodiak is ok for someone just starting out but i think youll quickly get bored with it. yeah the polaris is heavier but i believe its built better and has more standard features that youd have to buy for the other atv's. like everyone else has said, when you return to the states, take your time go to the dealers and ride what you can. also, read as many reviews as you can too. youll know what atv you buy when you ride it. Tim

 

I appreciate the words of wisdom everyone. Just as my instincts told me, buying used is not prefered.

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

i just want to say polaris atvs are i pulled 3000 trailer with it np at all!! in dirtwheels there
i guy the broke the hole rear end off his 450 griz. Can-am frames brake as well i would not even think of buying one life is to short for that. and AC they look nice, but the diff lock is joke half the time it dont work. 650 H1 not match for the 700Twin. so AC pack your bags and take hike


Sportsman: The Bigest Icon In ATV History

 

oh yea i tell you about honda (rincon) wont even making up my trail with out stalling out and it a 4x4 with 3x4 do i say more

 

Admittedly I've only had my 'Cat a couple months now, but every time I've needed the differential lock engaged it's kicked in and pulled me out of some nasty crap that other machines I ride with won't touch. Digging itself through just as well as my brother's '99 Polaris Diesel. It's not fast compared to others of its size or larger, topping out so far around 55/56mph. But it seems like it produces monstrous amounts of torque and goes everywhere I want with as much speed as I want. Besides. Who needs speed on trails unless they're just looking to get themselves busted up? Just my two cents.

 

I'm glad your enjoying your new cat Lengendary. Do you have any pictures yet. Pictures of AC's are hard to come by especially the new ones. The 650H1 is one that I'm going to test drive when I get home.

Thanks for the post.

 

I really dont want in the middle of this PI$$ing match going on but will post this link from another forum group im in..can-am story!http://www.mudgrippersatv.com/...f1dcc4cc582650dce648b


and as for the yami vs. pol. issue...heres the best thing you can do for yourself..(there are alot of good pro/con arguements here) but each brand has a forum board somewhere on the net dedicated to its own brand..
my suggestion is to join all possible and start reading...all will talk/discuss "ISSUES"
they are having ( they ALL have their own inherent issues)
YOU will find that all brands really are a piece of junk ,,,you just have to decide which junk suites you best!!
there are 6 yamahas,2 polaris's ,1 kawasaki,2 arctic cats in the family all great machines for their purpose
i currently own both cats,2 of the yami's,1 pol,1 kaw

 

also other yamahas in family are as follows;
1-2005 kodiak 400 4x4 irs
1-2005 kodiak 450 4x4 irs
1-2007 kodiak/grizzly 450 4x4 irs
1-2007 grizzly 350 4x4 irs

all have performed flawlessly (so far)!!LOL
friends with polarisis have been performing with ours (been great)
they are 2007 800EFI's sportsmans.
one is also a 2007 450 sportsman
all 3 of them been good machines