Originally Posted by kawie_guy
Originally Posted by NEKGuy
Buy Polaris, Basically bulletproof. Millions sold for good reason..
I think this might be the most false post I've ever read here on Bitog, and that's saying something!
First of all, Polaris is anything but bulletproof. In fact, I've never heard anybody use that word to describe Polaris. Ever. And that includes the die hard Polaris fans I know, and I know plenty. Polaris is infamous for being at or near the bottom of the reliability scale. They have some positives, and they have some feathers in their cap, but reliability and build quality have never been a part of that. I live in the offroad capital of the world, and I average 3500 miles per year on the busiest trails anywhere, and Polaris tows and trail repairs outnumber all other brands combined! Last year, my ohv club had at least one Polaris that had issues on every single monthly ride we did. Some folks in the club have started to suggest a "no Polaris" policy, or at very least, make all the Polaris riders group together at the rear so they can help each other, and not slow down the entire convoy.
There were also two atv rental places along the Strawberry and Paiute trail systems that replaced their Polaris fleets last year due to their overtime expenses with their maintenance depts.
My local Kawie dealer just started selling Polaris, too, three year ago. Before then, I could swing in there and get service same day. But now, they are over three months out because of all the recalls and burnt up RZRs coming in!
I actually know one of the Polaris atv forum moderators, and I have a quote he made awhile back where he said the smartest thing any Polaris owner can do is start looking to trade in your Polaris when it gets 3500 miles on it to avoid the issues that get worse after that mark. I give him kudos because he's being honest even though I know it pains him to say that.
So basically, with how much I ride, a Polaris would last me 12 months before I'd have to get something else.
The reason Polaris sell well is because one of said positives is their plush and comfy ride. That is a huge factor to a big demographic of aging riders! And they sell well because they have more and spend more on a fantastic marketing dept. Their ad budget is probably triple what most other brands spend. Maybe ten times more than some of the Japanese brands spend on 4 wheel marketing. I've probably spent more money on coffee this year than Suzuki or Kawasaki has spent on advertising their atv's. It's a shame. People entering the market for the first time hear an ear full about Can Am and Polaris, and probably don't even see one ad for a Teryx or a Wolverine.
In any event, I'd probably not choose a Mule or a Ranger, but for totally different reasons. Mules are almost entirely for utility purposes, and not really intended for heavy trail riding. Rangers are a little more versatile, but they're made by Polaris, soooooo......
I'd look at a Wolverine, a Viking, a Teryx, a Commander, or a Pioneer for light chores and fun trails.
Originally Posted by kawie_guy
NEKGuy said:
Buy Polaris, Basically bulletproof. Millions sold for good reason..
Yep. Polaris is garbage. There is a reason they are so cheap. They are great at innovation, but their build quality is absolute garbage.