Buyer's Remorse / Insights?

[TableRocked]

I was curious how many current UTV owners, based on what you know now, how you've used your UTV to date, based on what was also available at the time of your purchase, based on how much you had to spend, would have gone a different route and why?

UTV Purchased - Model, Manufacturer, Model Year

Purchased New or Used

Yes Would Purchase Again Favorite Features

No, Would Not Purchase Again Would purchase Manufacturer, Model, Year instead because of X, Y, Z reasons

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Bought a used 2011 RTV900XT with 75 hrs for $9000 1 month ago, I've only put 8 hrs on it due to not a lot going on with the current temps as far as farm work goes. Hydraulic dump bed works great, hydro tranny awesome. Speed demon, no. Would I like to go a little faster at times, sure. Do I need to, no. Maintenance, everything is easy to access. I'm very happy with it. I'd buy another. I bought exactly what I was looking for with my intended uses in mind.

 

[Combustix]

Just picked up a Kubota 1120D brand new. Pricey yes, but 0 interest for 4 years no problem. Sold two quads for the down since I got the machine for working around the property. Fast definetly not especially after the Kawasaki 650. But able to haul more definitely. The wife likes it more than the quad as well. Installed a winch for skidding logs and pulling myself out of the muck. So far I like it way better than the quads especially after hip surgery. The hydraulic dump is great and the dogs can sit in the cab with me instead o running in front of me. I went with the diesel for the power which it has lots of torque. The speed racer days are over. Got the HD work site tires and they are not the greatest in mud but work well in all other apps so far. I wish I had bought it a couple years ago. Just gonna add a windshield for winter use as well as some led work lights and all will be good. I would recommend the utv over a quad any day if u have work to do

 

[DIXIEDOG]

UTV Purchased - Gator 825i, JD, 2012
Purchased New

Yes I would purchase a Gator 825i again. My favorite features are the true 4wd which keeps me from getting stuck as often, the fairly long suspension travel, the Bighorn Maxxis tires option I purchased with it...I have the full front and rear protection rails around it to keep from damaging body panels and it allows me to push right up against things if needed with no damage to my utv....the hydraulic dump bed is very handy for moving dirt/trees/rocks.....I like the 2" front and rear receivers as well as the smooth CVT transmission. With my Boss hydraulic V plow the 825i pushes amazing amounts of snow with ease and has been great for a primary snow removal machine. I haven't used my International 2544 w/ front end loader in a long time the Gator doesn't need the help.


The only thing I would change if I ordered another today is I would have the power steering option, when I purchased my Gator it wasn't a factory option yet. I will likely add an aftermarket unit at some point it just hasn't been enough of an issue for me to want to do the install yet.



I traded in a 2010 RTV 500 when I purchased the Gator....it was an ok utv for work but had a lot of short comings I didn't know about until I started to really use it offroad....the 3wd...low ground clearance and slow reacting hydrostatic transmission were all weakness in my opinion for offroad use but it did give me a better understanding of exactly what I wanted when I purchased the Gator.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I purchased a used 2009 RTV 900 back in 2010 with about 60 hours on it for $8500 and wouldn't trade it for a solid gold monkey. It came with a winch, glass windshield and hydraulic dump bed that was Rhino lined. I have over 300 hours on it now and absolutely no problems, just scheduled oil and filter changes.

 

[HillStreet]

I have been wrestling with the decision of UTV or snowmobile now for 3 years. Looked at some used UTVs but they are really beat up or priced high (might as well buy new for above $7000 I think).

I sit around too much in the winter, need to get out more--- snowmobile probably better choice for me.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

I have been wrestling with the decision of UTV or snowmobile now for 3 years. Looked at some used UTVs but they are really beat up or priced high (might as well buy new for above $7000 I think).

I sit around too much in the winter, need to get out more--- snowmobile probably better choice for me.

Best choice is both Snowmobiles are fun but it's a lot shorter season than the utv season up here. I put about 4x as many miles on my Gator a year as I do my Arctic Cat sled although I'd really miss the sled when I had to walk 9 miles to get back out to the vehicle after an all day hunt on snowshoes.

 

[timswi]

Started with a Yamaha Big Bear 400..Old and beaten but plowed snow well for what it was..Good machine all and all.

Sold that and bought an RTV500. Liked it for it's smaller size and had plenty of power. Could go pretty much wherever the ATV's went. Had the OEM plow, windshield, roof and aftermarket back glass. Loved it, plowed very well even in a few draconian snow storms we had. It amazed everyone as to its capabilities. Loved the mostly open air in the summer but wanted a cab--so--

Traded the 500 on an RTV1100 (got close to what I had in it surprisingly) so that I wouldn't freeze when plowing for 2+ hours and mostly so that I could take my disabled daughter for runs around the area in less than favorable weather..A cab, stereo, wiper and HVAC are a beautiful thing.

No regrets on either machine..A little more speed would be nice but not necessary...The power is incredible, I never run out on the 1100 or on the 500..They serve(d) the purposes that they were purchased for perfectly...

Looking at another ATV - maybe a Polaris Sportsman 550EPS 2-up for just messing around..The 1100 stays though.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Had/have Kubota tractor so couldn't see much work use for a RTV.
Have twin Grands (now 9) and also a 2 year old Grand. Decided I needed to do something with them before they grow up and have no time for Papaw so looked at some ATVs but can't seem to get away from Kubota (I've bought 17 in 11 years) so went to Kubota dealer, saw the 2 seat RTV1140 and had it delivered a bit over 3 years ago. One of our odd snowy winters that year and I live on a hill and we keep kids when school closed for snow. Ended up having to go down to the bottom of the hill to pick up the Grands several times because cars couldn't make it up the hill. Grands love driving the RTV. I've also used the dump bed frequently for work and believe I should have bought one years before I did. It's not fast and that's OK. It will slowly pull as much as I can get in the extended hyd lift bed and I've filled it with gravel and other stuff.
It sits behind back door where we put all burn trash in the bed and when the bed gets to full we take it to the burn pile and burn the burn trash. Grands love doing that also.
I'd buy the RTV1140 again.

 

[jeff9366]

It is proverbial in Marketing that ANTICIPATION is 50% of SATISFACTION.

A customer who spends time researching product, and considers product research against anticipated needs, is much more likely to be satisfied after purchase.

DON'T BUY ON IMPULSE.

This is the place to research.


(I have a Kubota RTV500, purchased new.)