I'm thinking bout buying a 2000 sportsman 500. Guy wants $4000 canadian and the quad has 716 miles and also comes with a winch. Good deal or bad? Any problem's you guy's know about? Thanl you.

 

That might be 716 miles of hard work and no play. It could be 200 hours of plowing, <u>or worse</u>. I would buy a new one instead. The difference in price, versus the uncertainty of what you're getting, is never worth it for me to buy used. If you're 100% sure everything is okay, it would be different, but I'm never that sure.

 

$4022 US, ouch! Way too much, friend just got a 2004.5 for $3799 US from a dealer with new tires.

Back in 2003 I got my 2000 for $3699 US.

Steve

I posted in another used post:
Sit on it and pull up on the handle bars, do they move up? (bushings/bearings)
Is there play from side to side with the wheels/tires not moving? (tie rod ends)
If they will allow it remove the clutch cover and look at the belt, and clutches. (belt not shiny, missing parts, shreaded. clutch, not too shiny)
Pull out the pull starter and feal the rope is it wet? is it brown? (water in starter housing)
If possible use an ATV lift and put all 4 tires in the air and see how it responds in 2wd and AWD, in 2wd all tires may rotate, but you can stop the fronts by touching them, in AWD all should move and you should not be able to stop them.
At the front and rear of ATV pull up on rack and see if the ATV lifts up on the shocks, if it does too much the spings are in need of replacement.
Check the speedometer, they are prone to fail every 3-4 years.
Does it pull strong off the line in low? High?
Make sure all CV-boots are intact and there should not be any clicking coming from any of the joints.
Let it run for a while and get the fan to run and check the sound, does it sould like it is full of crap (like mine) or is it clean? Does it never run?

Would any of this keep me from buying a used 2001-2003 Sportsman? Nope I have fixed all of this. Just offer less.
I purchased a 2000 in 2003 and have had to replace/repair my share, but not too much that I would not have done it. The only thing I would change is I would have gotten a 2001+ to get the HO engine. Also not sure when they changed the steering, but my 2000 is much more difficult to steer than a friends 2003.

I change my oil every year, prolly should twice a year, but I don't. I am not sure about mileage/hours, the speedo was non-functioning on mine when I got it, so who knows how many miles she has on her. When I bought it, I replaced every bit of fluid in it just so that I could say it was all good.

 

If your going to buy used then you might as well get one from the states. THat $4000 will get you a newer machine for sure.

 

I wouldn't pay more then $3000. for 98's to 2001's in DECENT maintained used shape UNLESS the machine has a lot of new/newer accessories and is in "like new" condition, here's just to many out there for sale you just can not be in a rush or you will spend way more then you should.