UTV Help

[NYBOB]

About 4 yrs ago, I went thru what you are going thru now in looking and buying a UTV........ looked at them all and then test drove 4 or 5 prior to buying. I really liked the Ranger 700 XP/LE but other than snow mobiles never owned Polaris equipment before. Over the past 45 years, I've owned many Honda ATV's, dirt bikes and motorcycles (~25) and always had good luck so was reluctant to go to a Polaris Ranger. Honda just came out with the Big Red SxS when I was buying but my wife and I didn't like it nearly as well as the Ranger. We wound up getting the Ranger 700 XP/LE along with the extended 5 yr warranty. I had the Ranger 3 yrs until I bought a 2011 Ranger 800 XP/LE with EPS. I never had a single problem with the 2008 Ranger but moved to the new 2011 as someone wanted to buy my older machine and I got a super good deal on the 2011 which had a little more power, power steering and better economy. Iirc, 25% better economy according to Polaris. After more than a year the 2011 Ranger has been problem free. I think the stigma associated with Polaris comes from several years ago when they had issues with some models of their ATV's. I use the Ranger more for work than play here on this old 300 acre farm I'm in process of restoring ....... mainly hauling stuff, fixing fence, checking wild game food plots, transporting hay and straw, filling corn feeders, cutting brush and etc. Hardly a day goes by that the Ranger doesn't get used. Also, my grand kids love to jump in the front and back to ride on the trails.
I'm not trying to sell you on a Ranger....... just telling you my experience with them.

Thanks for your insight, I truly appreciate it.

Did you find the EPS a must have?

 

[sunnyside360]

Did you find the EPS a must have?

No, not a must have, but it is nice to have. More desirable if the machine has a snow plow due to the additional front weight. The Polaris dealer offered my wife and I to test drive a machine with EPS and one w/o EPS before deciding. I was neutral but my wife wanted EPS. I'd call it a nice to have feature.

 

[NYBOB]

Does anyone know if any of the other John Deere models (I sat in a bucket seat 855D) would have better let room then others?

Thanks

 

[Martian]

Does anyone know if any of the other John Deere models (I sat in a bucket seat 855D) would have better let room then others?

Thanks

I have an HPX Diesel, I'm 6' and has ample leg room. Could definitely better but its not like I'm closed in. Has been one workhorse on the farm though!:thumbsup:

 

[dmrp6510]

The bench seat in the gator provides more room than the buckets

I weight 350 and my dad weighs 275 and find the gator has plenty of room plus there a real work horse

 

[dmrp6510]

Since this was a Kubota forum your going to get more of a slanted opinion

 

[jcmseven]

Even with a bench seat the Gator will never have as much leg room as the Ranger would. I have a new XUV and there are many aspects about it I much prefer over the Ranger I had or any other UTV I have used, but one area where the Ranger has the Gator's goat is in legroom and comfort/ergonomics. Having used most of the major UTV's I have found the Ranger to be the most-ergonomic of all the UTV's. I personally think the JD is a better machine overall, but if legroom is a major concern, going Polaris needs to be a top option. There are other options as well, but the Ranger is as good or better than most.

John M

 

[sunnyside360]

Does anyone know if any of the other John Deere models (I sat in a bucket seat 855D) would have better let room then others?

Thanks

I test drove a John Deere XUV 825i with a bench seat last year prior to buying my 2011 Ranger. I can't compare it with the 825i with bucket seats for clearance but can say it's similar to the Ranger bench seat. The adjustable steering wheel feature on the Ranger is nice for entry/exit. I came very close to buying the 825i instead of another Ranger. My wife and I liked the machine and the Deere salesman was offering a nice discount. IIRC, the prices after discounts between the XUV 825i and Ranger 800 XP/LE were not much different. However, the 825i had just come out in 2011, had a much smaller gas tank, only 2 seat belts, no adjustable steering wheel, and a lot fewer after market accessories available. Otherwise, I may have gotten the Deere XUV 825i instead of another Ranger.

 

[NYBOB]

I test drove a John Deere XUV 825i with a bench seat last year prior to buying my 2011 Ranger. I can't compare it with the 825i with bucket seats for clearance but can say it's similar to the Ranger bench seat. The adjustable steering wheel feature on the Ranger is nice for entry/exit. I came very close to buying the 825i instead of another Ranger. My wife and I liked the machine and the Deere salesman was offering a nice discount. IIRC, the prices after discounts between the XUV 825i and Ranger 800 XP/LE were not much different. However, the 825i had just come out in 2011, had a much smaller gas tank, only 2 seat belts, no adjustable steering wheel, and a lot fewer after market accessories available. Otherwise, I may have gotten the Deere XUV 825i instead of another Ranger.

Can you tell me what Gator models with a bench seat makes sense for me to check out besides the 825I?

Thanks

 

[sunnyside360]

Can you tell me what Gator models with a bench seat makes sense for me to check out besides the 825I?

Thanks

All XUV models offer optional bench seat --- 550, 625i, 825i, 855D. I'd suggest test driving the 825i for best power and speed. The other gas and diesel models have roughly half the HP and a little over half the speed of the 825i. Try the 625i if power and speed are not so important for your use. Most JD dealers would let you test drive both if they have them in stock.