SxS - Polaris General vs Ranger vs Others

[ovrszd]

Yeah Eddie, with all the choices it gets very confusing. If not careful a person can buy the wrong tractor. In the SxS world it's much, much easier to buy the wrong one.

Before laying down $15K for an SxS I'd want to use it a couple days. But that's hard to find. Maybe source some friends that have similar machines that appeals and see which you like best?

I lost 2 ATVs in a fire and replaced them with a Rhino. Have had it for 7 years.

18 months ago I got a really, really good deal on a used Kubota RTV900.

The only fair comparison between the Rhino and the RTV is they both have 4 tires.

Really hard to blindly shop for a SxS and get lucky enough to actually buy what best serves needs.

 

[teejk01]

Need a little help or guidance selecting a SxS. I was pretty much set on the Polaris Ranger XP900 last year, winter came, I lost interest and moved on. Now, looking again, Polaris has a new model (at least to me), the General, with a 1000CC engine and a lot more HP for what seems like not much more money over the XP900.

Just a little background, nothing too crazy for SxS needs; just running around the property (60 acres or so), carrying some wood around I'm sure, carrying tools and recreation. No pulling implements, probably no real "farm" use at all (other than perhaps spraying the fence lines) beyond riding to the fields to pick veggies.

Do I need either of these things? Absolutely not. But I'm going to get one, and I see the General as the better value, looks like it would be more "fun" and maybe something I'd tow somewhere to run some trails. If the swing in price was big, I'd forget about it and buy the Ranger, but, perhaps because the General is new it has more attractive pricing?

Anyone have one of these things and care to comment? Are the enough "fun" to warrant taking them out to play, or do you use them only as a farm tool? Tools that are fun are bonus points, that's for sure! And, if anyone bought a General, mind sharing some pricing? I'm afraid that the dealer is going to be "list price only" on the General because it's new and that could sway me to the Ranger if it's more heavily discounted. Finally, anything else that you guys would recommend over these 2 options?

I looked at all the Polaris models a few months ago. That General model was amazing...about as close to an automobile cockpit as I've seen. I didn't price it but it can't possibly be that close to the Ranger can it? Getting a Cadillac for the price of a Buick?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Looking at 3 seat ranger.

 

[DK35vince]

I thought this review video showed some of the features of the General
Polaris General 1 Review - Bing video

 

[teejk01]

Looking at 3 seat ranger.

I think the Generals all have bucket seats so your choice is 2 passenger or the longer 4 passenger. The Ranger does offer a 3 seat model...being a bench seat I can't imagine that middle person loving his/her ride much.

 

[EddieWalker]

One more thing to consider is towing. I tow my log splitter all over my land, which isn't a big deal, but sometimes I hook up my 16 foot trailer, and a couple times a year I pull my 300 gallon sprayer, which has some weight to it. We also pull the garbage can out to the road every Sunday night too.

 

[farmer2009]

I went with the ranger back in April. But got the 6 seater and opted for the smaller 570 engine. Plenty of power. Will still run 45 easily. It's too long for the woods. But having a wife and 2 young kids (a 3 year old and one one the way at the time, now 5 months old). I knew better than to buy something with fewer seats than people.

Whichever sxs you buy get the windshield and the winch.

Nice thing about the ranger is you can buy a open cab model and kit the cab on as it's all bolt on pieces. Even the heater can be added.

I didn't look at other brands outside of kubota and Deere. They just didn't compare in my book. I farm for a living. So I wanted hauling and towing capacity. I carry a 30 gallon sprayer 7+ months a year. 175 hours since April.

 

[teejk01]

I went with the ranger back in April. But got the 6 seater and opted for the smaller 570 engine. Plenty of power. Will still run 45 easily. It's too long for the woods. But having a wife and 2 young kids (a 3 year old and one one the way at the time, now 5 months old). I knew better than to buy something with fewer seats than people.

Whichever sxs you buy get the windshield and the winch.

Nice thing about the ranger is you can buy a open cab model and kit the cab on as it's all bolt on pieces. Even the heater can be added.

I didn't look at other brands outside of kubota and Deere. They just didn't compare in my book. I farm for a living. So I wanted hauling and towing capacity. I carry a 30 gallon sprayer 7+ months a year. 175 hours since April.

I kept my decision between Polaris and Honda because they were both sold by the same dealer and I thought I could avoid "the pitch" favoring one vs. the other. Looking at the specs they are amazingly similar in payload, towing capacity, ground clearance, curb weight, etc. I found the Honda Pioneer 700 to be the best value but that was largely due to it being a 2016 model and I think they wanted it gone. Polaris had many more options available. I added an after market windshield and will be adding a winch soon (maybe 2). I was never one to buy "toys" but after using it for deer season I wonder why I waited so long.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Local honda dealer is M-F 9-5. That doesn't work for me. Polaris guy stays open late, and open on Sat.
Haven't bought yet, but looking. 3 seater works for me, don't want extra length, and our nest is getting empty.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Like Eddie sez, it all depends on how you're going to use it. I wanted something with a dump bed, 4WD, that could tow my splitter and 5x8 utility trailer, and was stable side hilling on steep terrain. I ended up with a used Kubota RTV900 and it works well for utility use. No, it won't keep up with my buddy's ATV, but he can't haul a half cord of firewood or a yard of gravel like I can with the RTV. Sometimes I wish the RTV wouldn't slow down so much going up the steep driveway to pick up the mail, but it'll haul that same yard of gravel up the hill at the same pace. And I ended up putting a snorkel on the air intake because the original intake was right in front of the rear wheel where it did nothing but eat dust and clog. And sometimes it's difficult to shift between 2WD and 4WD, especially on a hill. But I wanted utility and payload and dump bed, and Kubota covers those bases better than the others.:2cents: