I have had no luck buying a side-by-side, also known as a UTV. My expectation was people who bought new ones during the Hurricane Helene recovery would sell them as lightly used, but that is not the case. Clearly a miscalculation on my part.
I think people are looking at their new UTVs as a useful tool, like generators, and hanging on to them, just in case. So the wave of used UTVs I expected to hit the market hasn’t manifested. With my luck, they will all be on sale in three or four years after sitting unused in a shed with rodents eating their wiring harnesses.
I’ve tried to buy several I found listed on Facebook Marketplace with no luck. Besides one fraudulent listing, I communicated with a seller who had a 2018 Polaris Ranger for $7,800. He said it was pending the sale, as someone was on their way to look at it. I said, “Well, please keep me in mind if the sale falls through.” He sent the laughing with tears emoji and said, “You are like 12th in line.”
Other vehicles were like the 2014 model that “runs good but can’t go into reverse or high.” I will change the oil and perform some basic services, but I expect overhauling the transmission is beyond my level of expertise.
New versus Used
I looked at a 2021 Intimidator—a brand I had never heard of—at a dealer. It was being sold “as is.” It was difficult to shift into gear and when the dashboard said it was in reverse or low, it often wasn’t. There were some other minor problems. Since it was only $3,000 less than a new one, I passed.
That’s a common problem. Used UTVs have such a high resale value, you can buy a new one for just 25 or 30 percent more. Besides getting a warranty and a relationship with a dealer, you will know how your machine has been treated, when the oil has been changed, etc.
I don’t know if it is the case everywhere, but out here in the Appalachians, where there are plenty of places to go trail riding, used UTVs are scarce.
Visiting Dealers
I spent a long day driving in a big loop that encompassed to two cities. Besides burning gas, I visited four powersports stores, motorcycle dealers, and related business that sell UTVs. Besides the brands mentioned above, I looked at new or used CF Motos, the Segway (I know, I was surprised, too), Kawasaki, Can Am, Honda, Bighorn, and a couple others. I like the Kawasaki, because they have a model with the largest dump bed of any side-by-side. It is large enough to fit a standard pallet, but it would have run me close to $20,000.
The Segway was a pleasant surprise, and their UT10 model has 25 more horsepower than the base Polaris Ranger 1000 model, despite having the same displacement. (Amazing how much horsepower dual overhead cams can give you versus a SOHC.) But for climbing my mountain, I probably need torque more than horse power. Plus, there is only one Segway dealer in the area and very few aftermarket parts, like windshields. The Polaris and Can-Am have the most parts and just about every dealer carries one or the other, with Polaris seeming to have the edge in this area.
The only decision I had made after that trip is is it not the best time to buy a UTV made in China. Trump’s trade war makes it a big unknown. That was one appealing factor about Kawasaki, which are made in Japan. Plus, Kawasaki has been around for a long time and has an excellent reputation. Their reputation is reliability, not comfort, speed or accessories. But my impression of them is they are better for flat farms than steep mountains, and they have about the same ground clearance as my pickup.
Cost
Polaris has a sale now where they offer up to $4,000 off certain models. I am looking at one that is on sale for $2,500 below MSRP. I have to decide if I want it before the promotion ends April 30. The dealer told me Polaris may extend the discount or change it; they don’t know, so he can’t make any guarantees. He did not pressure me to make a deal, but I am pressuring myself.
My wife and I discussed the purchase and have decided to proceed. Not only has the washed out ford given us a good use case twice in the past year, but there is a lot of work we need to do up the mountain as a result of the Helene blowdowns. A UTV will be a big help as we try to manage what is left of our forest. Not only will it help haul wood out of there, we can haul tools up there.
There’s also a place further up the mountain where I could put beehives, but only if I can transport them up there. (Beehives are heavy!) I can see us planting fruit trees in areas where the native trees have all blown down. It would be a hidden orchard since it can’t be seen from the house or the road.
My wife was more supportive than I thought she would be. In fact, I am the one wincing at the cost. It freaks me out to consider spending as much on a new side-by-side as I did on my first new car back in 1980s. Believe it or not, you can spend north of $50,000 on a fully kitted out sport or recreational model. (I won’t be!) It’s enough to make wonder why people don’t just buy a Jeep.
Going Low
I’m likely getting a Polaris because of the sale, and because they are a leading brand, have lots of aftermarket parts, and there are multiple dealers I can take it to for service. But while I am getting a quality brand, I am getting a bare bones model with no doors, windshield, or a roof. I know we need both. My plan is to add a roof and windshield myself rather than paying the dealer twice as much.
I’m thinking a hard no on the doors and the snow plow. Unless last winter becomes the new normal, we can continue to just let the snow melt. If we decide we need one, I can always add it later.
Of course, a side-by-side should allow us to go up and down the mountain in the snow better than our personal vehicles. That will be useful in an emergency.