PoorPlowboy
Platinum Member
I think 1 guy touched on it, but if you buy one of these to tote your family, be sure to note how loud they are. While diesels are great and all, most of them are quite noisy. Who wants a loud noisy UTV while your trying to enjoy a peaceful ride with your family.
My wife's uncle built a custom sequential dual muffler for his rhino to keep it quiet for deer season.
I have driven them all and owned a few. My Polaris Ranger diesel (3 cyl Yanmar Minimax) is by far the quietest of them all (both gas and diesel.) At idle it seems loud, but it isn't any louder at full throttle than it was at idle. Gassers get louder with RPM, so loud that conversation is impossible. The diesel ranger (pvt belt drive) will run ~42mph so I still enjoy rides with groups and gain twice or better fuel economy with less noise. For 2014, you can opt for hydrostatic two-range transmission with F/R treadle pedal just like a tractor, for a significantly higher price. I don't think the hydrostatic model will run 40+ mph though. Even more money will get you an OEM enclosed climate controlled cab with AC/heat on the LE Deluxe Diesel model.
The Polaris Brutus is basically the same machine as the HST diesel, but with PTO and front 3PH options.
Be aware that the belt drive diesel has the higher top speed and the "standard" Ranger fully independent long travel suspension. The HST model has a DeDion rear setup like a Kawi Mule or Kubota with much less overall suspension travel.