Well I just read this in one of the other Polaris posts and it is leading me to believe that I bought a 2000 sportsman and it is really a 1999 model...if this is so I am sure my dealer will straighten it out. So some of you new Sportsman owners might want to check this post. I am not going to go for the story either that this is upgrades for the year 2000, if so I know one Sportsman they are going to be upgrading anyway I am not jumping the gun yet cause I haven't been able to check my Sportsman because it is parked at my parents house and I haven't talked to my dealer yet who is a really nice guy (so far). I do know I have the newer tie rod ends on mine with the rubber boots. Also mine is dated either 8-99 or 9-99 but I don't think this is uncommon for between years. What are the dates on some of the newer bikes you all are buying anyway here is the post I read:

>Folks,
Some interesting comments and observations.

I was at my dealer's last night to look at the Sportsman 500 RSE that they ordered for me back in December. It finally arrived. I am having trouble deciding if I want it after hearing from others here that the finish chips off.

How is that Ducks Unlimited unit surviving?

However, I did notice a number of interesting things as I was looking it over:

1. As you mentioned the rear brake is different than the other 2000 models that I have seen . The disc is indeed much thicker, and vented.

2. The machine does not have the round vent holes in the typical spot near the top of the gas tank cover. I couldn't find them at all. Someone else posted that their new machine didn't have them. Maybe this is the new design?

3. The plastic belt cover is quite different. It is grey (maybe because of the RSE). It is an entirely different shape, and it is made out of what looks to be a less brittle plastic. It has an orange peel type finish to the plastic rather than the smooth finish of the black covers Looks a lot tougher.

4. The round black tube that encircles the tail light area (and supports the back rack) is different. It has 2 plates welded to it that the rear bumper bolts to. I assume this is strictly an RSE thing.

5. The unit has thicker tie rods than my '98. It also has the tie rod ends (inner and outer) with rubber boots over them. Some of you have already mentioned seeing this on the "just off the truck" machines.

This is all I noticed in the short time I looked at it.

Comments?

DJ

 

Changes are also made mid-product run do to vendor changes or just plain cost savings, left-over inventory etc. Some wheelers might have been holdovers that were updated and or converted to RSE at the factory. A very common practice among recreational companies. Just speaking on past experiences.

 

This is very typical. It's still a '00 Model. Many times models are releases, and therefor manufactured, before the real year. Thing about the handful of '00 NEW Polaris models released late '99. And look at cars, you get next year models way before the new year.

Manufactures usually use the new year to come out with changes on a model, but other than that, what does it matter what year is stamped on it as long as it's new and has all the current lineups features? Yours has all the "2000" model improvements.

A friend of mine bought a Sportsman 500 in '99, even though it was the '00 model. This is nothing to worry about. It's normal for a variety of manufactures, and doesn't only apply to ATV's.

 

I bought my '99 Sport new in 10/98. It is a '99 model because it has concentric drive, among other updates over the '98 model. This is a common practice. Look when the "new" cars hit showroom floors, Aug/Sept of the current year. Want to buy a '01 Ford? You will be able to by Sept. '00.

 

It is very strange to me that I see this post today. Reason is I visited a dealer east of where I live to see if they had better pricing. To my dis-satisfaction, they only had the sportsman 335 & 500. I was shopping sport quads.

There were three of us shopping there. I had assumed on entry that the sports were in another room. I told the salesman if he wanted to do business that he may as well just go get the invoice sheet 1st thing. The other two guy were looking these quads over hard because these were what they came to buy.

When the salesman come back, he laid the sheets down on the racks of a Sp500. After running down the page, I realized all they had in stock was the 2000 335 & 500. That's the year model that was on the list anyway.

Turns out the two guys were together and one of them already had a 2000 500 that he was evidently extremely familiar with already. The two gathered around one quad and the salesman went over to help them while I waited to talk with him about when they would get the next shipment.

I heard the older guy proclaim...this one might look just like the 2000 to someone who doesn't know there fourwheeler, but I'll tell you right now this one ain't no 2000 model, it's just like my brother's '99.

When he said that, I went back to the list just to see and sure enough, all the models were listed as 2000's on the paper except the used Big Boss 6x6.

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS...STRANGE!!

 

Is the RSE the camo model? I read on down about what happened. Salesmen doing something that is dishonest is not good. I just wonder if the dealership owner knows or if he, or them, is doing that on their own? The owner of the dealership needs to know and Polaris Industries does, too. That is not good for anyone.

 

Yeah it really depends on when the wheeler gets made and when it gets shipped out from the factory, one that gets made in feb. might go out in feb. whereas the same wheeler without the updates might get built in dec and probably won't ship until march. It all depends on the orders the company gets and what is being built at the time. This creates a big mess, look at the manufacture date, located in the serial number. If you want your dealer should be able to tell you(if he does some checking with the factory) exactly when it was going down the production line, almost to the exact hour of the day.