Polaris 500 - Observations

AMR · Mar 24, 2008

Well, in my other thread I was asking about machines and Polaris did not rank very high, that is pretty consistent with a lot of the research I did with local dealers. Needless to say, I ended up buying a 2004.5 Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. It had stuff I was looking for, IRS, 500 CC, and lots of ground clearance, so for $4,000 out the door I got the machine with just under 20 hours and it included a warn winch and back seat thingy with fender things and pegs, included service before it left the dealer.

I put 4 hours on it this weekend, without much experience to compare it to I can still say that I had a blast! WOW, awesome, it rocks. I hammered around the yard with it making new trails, driving over saplings, going through mud that bottomed it out, crazy fun. I did not have trouble this weekend and hope I don't. I will keep you posted on my adventures with it when I can put some real time on it.

Like a lot have set it take a little to warm it up, Sunday it was about 32 F when I started it and it took a couple times to get it to run smooth.

A funny story, I got it home Saturday and sat in the bed of my truck trying to start it. It started and ran for about 3 minutes. I got on it and it stopped. I tried to start it for about a half hour, tried, tried, tried, tried. I was fired up ready to drive it back to the dealer, thinking yup, just like people said, then I realized, gas was off! I put about 300 hours worth of wear on the starter.

kenmac · Mar 24, 2008

AMR said:
Well, in my other thread I was asking about machines and Polaris did not rank very high, that is pretty consistent with a lot of the research I did with local dealers. Needless to say, I ended up buying a 2004.5 Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. It had stuff I was looking for, IRS, 500 CC, and lots of ground clearance, so for $4,000 out the door I got the machine with just under 20 hours and it included a warn winch and back seat thingy with fender things and pegs, included service before it left the dealer.

I put 4 hours on it this weekend, without much experience to compare it to I can still say that I had a blast! WOW, awesome, it rocks. I hammered around the yard with it making new trails, driving over saplings, going through mud that bottomed it out, crazy fun. I did not have trouble this weekend and hope I don't. I will keep you posted on my adventures with it when I can put some real time on it.

Like a lot have set it take a little to warm it up, Sunday it was about 32 F when I started it and it took a couple times to get it to run smooth.

A funny story, I got it home Saturday and sat in the bed of my truck trying to start it. It started and ran for about 3 minutes. I got on it and it stopped. I tried to start it for about a half hour, tried, tried, tried, tried. I was fired up ready to drive it back to the dealer, thinking yup, just like people said, then I realized, gas was off! I put about 300 hours worth of wear on the starter.

My opinion , you didn't go wrong with polaris . My next atv will be another polaris.If polaris didn't/ don't rank very high , why are they still in business ? If you sell junk. You won't b in business very long. Remember, when you change oil polaris recommends for synthetic oil. I use Amsoil in both of mine. predator 500 & the sportsman 400

wallace · Mar 24, 2008

I have had 6 polaris machines and never had any major issues..
I just purchase 2 more this past winter, I got the new Sportsman 500 touring and I bought my daughter a little pink Preaditor.
My machines are mostly trail ridden even though I have a Scrambler 400 and 500 we just trail ride them.
If those who said they are not good maybe they are ridding beyond the limits of the machine.
I don't know.
One thing I do know is I will buy another Polaris again and again.
Very happy.

1999 scrambler 400
2001 scrambler 500
2008 preditor 250
2008 sportsman 500 touring
2005 Bush Hog 90 (scrambler clone)

bake321 · Apr 3, 2008

I have a 98 that has been used and abused and just keeps going. Mine has done far more ranch work then trails. I am embarrassed to even mention the lack of maintenance. I will always buy Polaris.

Bake

offroadr · Apr 3, 2008

I have a 99 500 that I use for hunting and food plot work. I agree with Bake it just goes and goes, I use mine hard!

RedDog · Apr 5, 2008

I have to agree with the other posters. I purchased my Sportsman 500 new in 98, and will guarantee it will fire up.

I wouldn't mind selling it for a Ranger dump bed.

Hammy · Apr 7, 2008

I'm not sure why the research you read had Polaris ranked low. They always seem to do well in the magazine write ups. I have a 2005 Sportsman 800 and absolutely love it. Its a working machine. I've plowed my 1800' gravel driveway with it for the past 3 years. It takes a beating but doesn't skip a beat.

You'll love yours. If I were out looking for another machine tomorrow, it would be a Polaris.

Craig

AMR · Apr 7, 2008

Yup, I agree with all of your comments here, the Polaris has been a fantastic quad for me so far, I love it. I have been running it for only 2 weeks and a whopping total of 11 hours but it has started flawlessly and run flawlessly. I am not so timid as I was when I was first on it so I feel much more comfortable with it, that makes a big difference. One thing I have learned is that it requires NO choke to start, just turn the key at any temperature and off she goes.

kenmac · Apr 7, 2008

as I mentioned in your other post ( when you were askins about what to buy). To go with polaris. The others were talking about so many problems that they had heard that polaris had. I own 2 and have had no problems to mention & we ride through mud so deep that the racks get covered. I have replaced a CV boot once belt once. This is due to the mud ridding. The polaris all wheel drive can't be beat.

You won't be disappointed with your polaris 500

johnk · Apr 7, 2008

The only thing I didn't like about the older Polaris' is that they have so many grease fittings. The Honda I just sold w/ over 2000 miles didn't have any and I beat the livin heck out of it. If I went through a puddle with a Polaris I would worry that it needs grease. They may have changed from a few years ago. though. They are all good machines as long as they are a brand name. Can't beat technology I guess. My old Honda foreman 450ES...Bought a new Rubicon. I like the straight axle in the rear. I use mine mostly for working the heck out of them. The IRS traversing hills is scary to me. Lots of pics on my website of some great Quadding...

http://homepages.roadrunner.com/outdoorsman/