UTV Help

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  • Thread Starter
#112  
Drove an Cub Cadet this weekend....observations below.

* Very noisy engine
* Transmission seemed jerky
* Quality of plastic parts were not equal to other brands

Very disappointing, I was hoping this was the one. Great financing and warranty does not outweigh the negatives.

I then drove a Ranger 800 EFI again with my wife. Her untrained eye could tell it was better then the Volunteer. The only thing that is holding me back is the pricing. $400 off MSRP is not going to get it done.

So I thought I would drive the JD 825I. I was not disappointed at all. The best engine in terms of performance, vibration and was extremely quiet. Tranny worked great....very nice machine. The only negatives were the bench seat was not as wide as the Ranger and the grab bars hit my hips and no tilt wheel. This one is rising up the charts.

Is the JD 625I the same size as the 825I with just a smaller engine? What other differences are there? They appear to be the same size, would I have the same room in it compared to the 825I?

Also, does the 855D have a bench seat option? Is it physically the same machine as the 825I? Any other differences?

If the Ranger would come down in price I would buy it tomorrow. I think I owe it to myself to look at the other John Deere options.

Thanks
 
   / UTV Help #113  
All the gators from the 625-855D are the same frame, transmission, 4WD, and axles. The thing that seperates them is the engines. The 825 is the high performance gator with a model only digital dash. It goes 44mph and has an optional high performance muffler. The 855D is the workhorse gator. Top speed on it is 32mph I think. You can get a bench seat, standard buckets, or the high back buckets on any of these models. Unfortunately, you cannot get tilt steering. I had a '06 diesel HPX and just recently bought a 2011 855D. There have been quite a few improvements as far as suspension and the new bed. But I too wish the gator had more leg room. I originally wanted the bench seat, but this hold over model had the high back buckets with deluxe cab. Supposedly this year sometime John Deere is releasing power steering and it will supposedly be available as a kit to add to the older XUV's. Hope this helps.

-Funkster-
 
   / UTV Help
  • Thread Starter
#114  
Looking at the Ranger 800 XP, if I don't go with EPS is there after market power steering units sold. If so, how much would they be?

Thanks
 
   / UTV Help #115  
Looking at the Ranger 800 XP, if I don't go with EPS is there after market power steering units sold. If so, how much would they be?

Thanks
There are after market power steering kits available for the Ranger 800. Here is a Ranger Forum where you can find/learn just about everything there is to know about Polaris Rangers. Iirc, the kit can be had for $700+ from some vendors.

http://www.prcforum.com/
 
   / UTV Help #116  
Looking at the Ranger 800 XP, if I don't go with EPS is there after market power steering units sold. If so, how much would they be?

Thanks

Hello there NYBOB......

For what it's worth, I wanted to add a little info on the 800 Ranger XP. I bought mine new in 2010 to work and play around the property we were looking at buying. I decided to go with a Polaris based on my personal experience with a Polaris Sportsman 700. I had really good luck with that machine.....no problems other than ones I was responsible for!:D I can tell you this......I have been nothing but pleased with my machine. I work it hard regularly! Whether it be hauling firewood stacked up to the roof, hauling feed to the deer feeders, pulling trailers around the property......it's a workhorse! I have had it for two years now with no problems and figure that my money was well spent!

As for cons about the machine......1) my wife tells me the center seat gets hot in the summer time from the engine directly below, 2) it's a little noisier than some of the others, 3) the steering takes a little more effort around sharp turns on the trail while in 4 wheel drive (mine does not have power steering).

While having my machine serviced a couple of months ago, I test drove a new Ranger crew with power steering. It was amazing how easy it was to steer compared to mine....whether in 2 or 4 wheel drive. The engine noise wasn't as noticeable either since the engine was set a little further back. My mechanic also told me that the heat issues below the center seat had been corrected with a better type of insulation. I didn't ride it long enough to find out how effective their insulation job was. Maybe someone who has a 2012 will read this and let us know.

As for the price that I paid for mine........it was $300 below MSRP. Keep in mind that I bought a 2010 model in November of 2009, so there were really no incentives at that time. Most of the dealers around here were not coming off of MSRP.

Another thing to consider......if you do go with Polaris.......I would recommend getting the power steering option from the dealer. This way it would be covered under the factory warranty. I also would stress buying the 5 year extended warranty........if I remember correctly it was somewhere around $1100 or so.......I feel that is well worth 5 years of coverage!

I am by no means trying to sway you in any direction.....I just wanted to share my personal experience with my machine........hopefully, you will find it useful in helping to make your decision. You are definitely going about it the right way.......lots of great information in this thread! Good luck to you!

Scotty
 
   / UTV Help
  • Thread Starter
#117  
Scotty,

Thanks for the great info.

I am torn on the power steering, another $700-$800 dollars is throwing me out of my price range. I have a fixed amount I can spend each month (tractor fund :)) and about $9500 over 4 years hits it about right. I can put some money down but may have to save a little longer to do so.

I thought the Ranger was the 2nd quietest I have driven behind the JD 825I. The only issue with the JD is there is no place to put your left foot when you drive since the wheel-well is right there. Oh, and it doesn't have a tilt wheel available.

The Ranger is still first in line but I may have to wait until I save more money. I need to drive an EPS version and see how much difference it is. My wife will be driving it also....

I plan on driving the new JD XUV tomorrow. Way less HP but I hear the leg room is better. Never hurts to try as many as possible.

Right now, the 825I,Kioti Mechron and Ranger are all still in play.

Thanks again...
Bob


Hello there NYBOB......

For what it's worth, I wanted to add a little info on the 800 Ranger XP. I bought mine new in 2010 to work and play around the property we were looking at buying. I decided to go with a Polaris based on my personal experience with a Polaris Sportsman 700. I had really good luck with that machine.....no problems other than ones I was responsible for!:D I can tell you this......I have been nothing but pleased with my machine. I work it hard regularly! Whether it be hauling firewood stacked up to the roof, hauling feed to the deer feeders, pulling trailers around the property......it's a workhorse! I have had it for two years now with no problems and figure that my money was well spent!

As for cons about the machine......1) my wife tells me the center seat gets hot in the summer time from the engine directly below, 2) it's a little noisier than some of the others, 3) the steering takes a little more effort around sharp turns on the trail while in 4 wheel drive (mine does not have power steering).

While having my machine serviced a couple of months ago, I test drove a new Ranger crew with power steering. It was amazing how easy it was to steer compared to mine....whether in 2 or 4 wheel drive. The engine noise wasn't as noticeable either since the engine was set a little further back. My mechanic also told me that the heat issues below the center seat had been corrected with a better type of insulation. I didn't ride it long enough to find out how effective their insulation job was. Maybe someone who has a 2012 will read this and let us know.

As for the price that I paid for mine........it was $300 below MSRP. Keep in mind that I bought a 2010 model in November of 2009, so there were really no incentives at that time. Most of the dealers around here were not coming off of MSRP.

Another thing to consider......if you do go with Polaris.......I would recommend getting the power steering option from the dealer. This way it would be covered under the factory warranty. I also would stress buying the 5 year extended warranty........if I remember correctly it was somewhere around $1100 or so.......I feel that is well worth 5 years of coverage!

I am by no means trying to sway you in any direction.....I just wanted to share my personal experience with my machine........hopefully, you will find it useful in helping to make your decision. You are definitely going about it the right way.......lots of great information in this thread! Good luck to you!

Scotty
 
   / UTV Help #118  
I have been comparing between the Polaris Ranger 400 and the new JD XUV 550.

Polaris Ranger 400

pros - fast!!! about 40 mph. Extra low low range.

cons - frame, suspension, bed, hood not as beefy as the XUV. The gear selector is very difficult to get into the correct gear, linkage felt flimsy (like my chinese go kart f/w selector, hate that thing). Financing, best dealer could do is 5% for 60 months. Bare bones steel wheels price out the door was $500 more than the XUV.

JD XUV 550

pros - heavy built frame, cast iron A-frames (not at strut like the Ranger), suspension felt like it hold up better to working. Cargo bed, though poly, is very stout and solid feeling. Financing, dealer offered JD financing for 2.9% for 60 months. Pricing with upgraded wheels, maxxis tires, and the poly roof was $500 cheaper than a plain basic Ranger 400.

cons - slow compared to the Ranger, only 16 hp and 28 mph. Plastic hood is the flimsiest thing on the unit.

Both are nice machines, but my preference is the JD XUV 550. I intend to work it more than play. Plus when trail riding, my wife doesn't like to go too fast.... Another thing I like is the industrial twin cylinder engine in the XUV. These are the same engines used in commercial mowers and other small commercial equipment. These engines tend to run well under abuse, bad and low grade fuel and with minimal maintenance. The Polaris dealer warned me that their non-fuel injected engines need premium unleaded and needed the fuel changed after 1 month. He tried real hard to get me go with 500 fuel injected unit for $1,200 more than the 400.

Just my opinion. Everyone has their own...:)
 
   / UTV Help #119  
NYBOB said...

"Right now, the 825I,Kioti Mechron and Ranger are all still in play."

I'm not sure why I care what you buy but my guess is that I want validation that I was smarter that everyone else and purchased a Mechron.

That purchase still seems a good judgment to me and given your budget I can't see you getting an industrial diesel and the seemingly excellent construction that the Mechron provides, all for about 10 grand. I don't see anything close.

Go ahead... show me how smart I am and buy the Mechron. :)
 
   / UTV Help
  • Thread Starter
#120  
Went to see the new JD XUV 550 this weekend. Although it has much better leg room the bed was very small and the engine was carb not EFI.

I sat in the 825I one more time and ruled it out. I just can't find a place to put my big left foot.

So I stopped at another Polaris dealer and drove the EPS and non EPS Ranger 800 XP. I thought the EPS was a easier to steer but did not find the non EPS hard to steer. I would say the non EPS is what I would buy.

Still need to drive the Kioti Mechron one more time, but I think the Ranger is it. Now I just need to figure out where and when to buy it and how to pay for it :).
 

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