[conchitus]

So, I have really bad anxiety and this is a big purchase for me.. I don't know if I'm doing the right decision or not.

I made a previous post in regards to getting an ATV and some people recommended a Rubicon while others a Foreman.

I just contacted my insurance company and its $400/yr for insurance plus you have to pay for plates, and register every year and get a trail pass and the added cost of gas and etc.

Then I was thinking.. maybe I can just use it for around the yard to bring wood around and to plow my huge driveway...

Its $11,500 CAD for the ATV plus I need a plow ($1000) and a winch ($400) and better tires ($300)...

This crap adds up. I just bought a $1800 Cub Cadet snow blower.. why don't I just put chains on it and I should be good to go.

Its not that I can't afford it.. I can easily afford it.. its just.. do I really need an expensive machine like that to do yard work? Why don't I just find a used one thats in good condition but then what if its f'ed.

UGH I need help LOL

 

[SamUK]

Don't do anything until your 100% sure this purchase is for you, you'll regret it and probably won't enjoy the ATV as you should.
A used ATV, good choice, half the price and some very tidy examples are available in good condition. My first call would be to a local dealer, you may pay a little more than a private sale but at least it will be (or should be) a good runner. Does HondaUSA or HondaCanada sell used machines? That could be another option.
If you don't know what your looking at then be careful buying privately, it really is so easy to be drawn in and ripped off. Alternatively, if you have any friends with ATV's you could take them along with you, or maybe a member from here if your lucky enough to live nearby.

 

[mrbb]

OK, my 2 cents
life is never about needs, most things we have or do, it more about "Wants" anymore.
you only go around once too!

as for the difference between plowing snow and a snow blower.
a blower works fine, but if you have a larger drive way, it grows old, going slow and standing in the weather as you go
plowing snow, on an atv is ALMOST fun, fun to some, but if you don't like winter it will still be work! to others, its a way to look at the ATV paying for itself
next if you have neighbors, its rather common for atv owners with plows to start plowing more than THERE own driveway, that can lead to a few extra bucks a snow storm for some(unless your dumb like me and plow neighbors for free LOL)

do you NEED an atv, most likely you were NOT born yesterday and you made it this far without one, so, NO you don't
BUT having an atv, you start to find more and more things to do with it,
me personally, I seldom have good luck buying used, and end up spending more than a new one would have run me, so I thinkif you don';t know a lot about atv's, DON"T go buy a used one, unless you take a really trusted friend and one that is HIGHLY experiences with atv REPAIRS on the model your looking at, FAR too easy to get burned these days by atv owners that beat the crap out of things, then cover things up and sell to folks that don;'t know any better
and even THEN with a experienced person with you, its STILL a gamble, as many things cannot be seen by looking, and inside a motor is a very important part of an atv!

BUT that leaves many things still here on the table
do you NEED a top of the line atv like a Rubican with options?

the answer is NO a BIG no, if you read on this site or others like it
many are still driving the old honda's from the 80's and 90's and doing so on purpose, going out of there way to get them, and sinking a chunk of cash on them!
plain jane NO bells NO whistles, just an ATV

SO< a plain Jane foreman, will save you a few grand over what that Rubican costs
NO you DON"T need Power steering, yes its nice!
cheaper the ATV, the cheaper the insurance is(99% of the time too)
look maybe at left overs(even cheaper then on both buying and Ins>)

nothing wrong with traveling to BUY a big ticket item like an ATV, I went 7+ hrs one way to get mine, and saved a chunk of cash on the deal!


plates, stickers trail passes, YUP< its all what the world of owning things comes down to
BUT you DO NOT have to buy these things if you use on your own land, but I will BET if you do buy them and go trail riding, you will find a LOT more reasons to OWN an atv, and justify owning one
back to only going around once in life, fun and a happy state of mind can add yrs they say to life LOL
BUT again, DON"T go buy anything if you don't want it.
as again , you made it this far without one!

but, I do fully think once you have one, you will find you wished you got one sooner!

buy new, take care of it, and no reason it shouldn't last you a LONG time and then them costs won't seem so bad!
mine is almost 20 yrs old now, and its been worth every penny, earned its keep countless times in snow storms and work about the property!

but thats ME

do what you want, and ONLY you,
its your life, make the all, take your time too
Honda ain't going any where any time soon!
and they will keep making more!

 

[shadetree]

i'll make this simple for ya, drive down here to Arkansas, bring a trailer or truck ?, hand me 5k, and i'll hand you the keys to my '05 trx500fm !. hows that for a heck of a deal !. it's been rebuilt from top to bottom, almost a brand new '05 all over again, worth 5k all day long, I spent about 4800 in Honda parts to rebuild it ?, soooo..your getting one heck of a atv for 200 in labor.

 

[SamUK]

Would this be your first ATV?
Maybe look at used 300 fourtrax or 450 foreman? Both capable ATVs and still cheap, parts availability is great too.
Definitely take somebody with you to view the above if you go that route though, their both old machines now and some up for sale are mutton dressed as lamb.

 

[shadetree]

Would this be your first ATV?
Maybe look at used 300 fourtrax or 450 foreman? Both capable ATVs and still cheap, parts availability is great too.
Definitely take somebody with you to view the above if you go that route though, their both old machines now and some up for sale are mutton dressed as lamb.

i'd sell him my '05 trx500fm if he really wants a great atv for half the price of a brand new one from the dealer.

 

[SamUK]

i'll make this simple for ya, drive down here to Arkansas, bring a trailer or truck ?, hand me 5k, and i'll hand you the keys to my '05 trx500fm !. hows that for a heck of a deal !. it's been rebuilt from top to bottom, almost a brand new '05 all over again, worth 5k all day long, I spent about 4800 in Honda parts to rebuild it ?, soooo..your getting one heck of a atv for 200 in labor.

^^^^ there you go^^^^

May be a long old drive but at least you know the guy who rebuilt it and if anything should go wrong at any time he's on hand to give you pointers

 

[shadetree]

and no, I don't need to sell it ?, but !..I've been tossing the idea around to buy me a new motorcycle ?, figured I could buy me a great bike for 5k.

 

[shadetree]

i'll make this simple for ya, drive down here to Arkansas, bring a trailer or truck ?, hand me 5k, and i'll hand you the keys to my '05 trx500fm !. hows that for a heck of a deal !. it's been rebuilt from top to bottom, almost a brand new '05 all over again, worth 5k all day long, I spent about 4800 in Honda parts to rebuild it ?, soooo..your getting one heck of a atv for 200 in labor.

^^^^ there you go^^^^

May be a long old drive but at least you know the guy who rebuilt it and if anything should go wrong at any time he's on hand to give you pointers

yeppers bro, nice to have on hand the guy who built it huh ?..lol. and you know dang well, I don't sell junk !..lol.

 

[SamUK]

It certainly is shady, and like you say, it's a known good ATV. If there were any issues i should imagine they'd only be very minor hiccups after the rebuild and those can't be helped, were only human aren't we.
What bike are you thinking of getting, Honda I hope?! ;-)

 

[shadetree]

It certainly is shady, and like you say, it's a known good ATV. If there were any issues i should imagine they'd only be very minor hiccups after the rebuild and those can't be helped, were only human aren't we.
What bike are you thinking of getting, Honda I hope?! ;-)

I've got a few Honda's in mind, the shadow phantom , or the shadow spirit. also, my bud has a 2000 something Yamaha 750 v-star, have not looked at it yet ?, if it's worth it ?, I may take it off his hands ?. but i'd rather have a Honda for sure !..lol.

 

[conchitus]

Hey shadetree thats an awesome offer and thanks for thinking of me.

I don't have a truck/trailer and its literally a 60 hour drive(return) for me and the CAD/USD exchange rate is not the greatest. It would cost me the price of a new ATV to come pick it up.
I am sure someone closer will jump on that though!

 

[alloutdoors]

I do agree, moving on a purchase too quickly can cause buyers’ remorse. As mentioned by mrbb, many of “our” purchases are about wants vs. needs. I would also add how do you want to “enjoy” the experience? That is, how much more fun/enjoyment might you get plowing snow on a ATV or trailing riding or pulling a lawn cart around the yard vs doing all those on a Cub Cadet? The only person who can answer that is you, but I would contend once you go with an ATV chances are you will not look back as they are fun, enjoyable, utilitarian, etc.

 

[Wsg]

Where in canada are we talking, there is a difference between Toronto and Ottawa for snow falls. I live by Barrie Ontario and love plowing snow, I plow it back early in the winter and have used my blower during the winter thaw when I haven't done a good job early in the winter. Hondas are great machines and great for holding there value. My 08 rancher still brings 4-5k cnd doubt it was worth much more new. Buy what you want if money isn't an issue, you won't regret it


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[redtherocket]

I got my 2016 new for less than 7k out the door...Brand spankin... She ain't no foreman... Close though!


For what you want to do, you don't need a foreman...


My 420 is a great bike, you'll love it.

I put a Warn winch on... It was a bit dear... But it will always work!

 

[mrbb]

Other food for thought to maybe keep in mind is this
Since this would be your first atv, buying a plain jane simple base model,, might be your best option, saves you $$, and remember, you can always SELL it if you don't like it, enjoy it, and get back most of your $$ if you take care of it right

Buying a plain Jane, also leaves you with the facts, you leanr what you like and or don't like, and down the road in life, you can always maybe upgrade to an atv that has more of what you would like?

no need to buy a top of the line machine on a first time atv buying/owning deal!

and last, if all again your going to to do witha winch is lift a plow, you can buy a lesser end model, a cheap superwinch LT 2500 will more than work on a plow and still pull the atv out of most things if ever stuick
and they go on sale all the time for about a 100 bucks, add 50 bucks for a mount, and your in a winch for under 200 bucks
I have seen countless Moose plow set ups, mid mounts, on E bay for about $700 bucks or less.

and I can testify there mid mounts are as strong as they come and will last a LONG time if you again take care of them' mine is almost 20 yrs old and I beat the crap out of it all at times?? doing way more than plowing snow, I do not think there is a stronger set up out there
so a plow and winch can be had for about a grand or less, and there again rather simple to install

you can even maybe buy a used atv for a first one and see if you like things, but again, buying used , is a gamble, sellers today are just , lying more than there honest today, you need to take an experienced guy with you, or have atv taken to a good shop and have it gone over(this should be possible at any shop, but for a fee?)
but I'd call it money well spent if they do a good once over for you !

 

[conchitus]

I live in Southern New Brunswick, last year I got raped by snow and it wasn't necessarily fun snowplowing a 400ft driveway with just a snowblower but I did manage, (I'm still youngish)

Sounds like a sweet deal @redtherocket

What is the big deal between the 420 vs 500 minus a couple hp?

I bet those HP would count when hauling a trailer of wood uphill or snow plowing right?

 

[SamUK]

Just a suggestion @conchitus , have you looked at shipping costs? I can ship an ATV from the USA to U.K. For just under £700, surely you could get a good price to ship an ATV to you? Was just thinking of an option for you as shady's could be a good deal.

Edit: To me, the 500 is a workhorse, a slogger, should last a lifetime doing that as long as it's services and maintained. The 420, leisure/workhorse, still capable of the jobs a 500 can do but would be a little less reliable long term. Better suited to 'some' hard work and more trail riding.
Apart from the few HP difference, the only other big difference is the rear end, the 500 having the stronger of the two.

 

[Melatv]

Just a suggestion @conchitus , have you looked at shipping costs? I can ship an ATV from the USA to U.K. For just under £700, surely you could get a good price to ship an ATV to you? Was just thinking of an option for you as shady's could be a good deal.

Edit: To me, the 500 is a workhorse, a slogger, should last a lifetime doing that as long as it's services and maintained. The 420, leisure/workhorse, still capable of the jobs a 500 can do but would be a little less reliable long term. Better suited to 'some' hard work and more trail riding.
Apart from the few HP difference, the only other big difference is the rear end, the 500 having the stronger of the two.

Hi: $5,000 USD is $6,292.25 CND dollars plus shipping on top -- no thanks

 

[conchitus]

@Melatv

I live close to you.
Would you mind coming to check out a used Foreman 500 thats for sale for $1,500 in quispamsis?