snowmobile - which one to buy?

[strokeoluck]

Re: snowmobile - which one to buy?

Thanks guys. I've found a very good forum over at www.snowmobileforum.com (thanks to one of you) and will keep the bulk of my sled-related posts over there since this is, after all, a boating forum. Generally what I'm finding is that the dealers are holding relatively firm on their prices. The loaded ~600cc touring sleds that are a year or two old still sitting in the showroom seem to be listing for about $6500 to $7k. The "price point" sleds about 500cc to 600cc w/fewer options seem to be in the $5k to $6k range. I'm not having much luck finding used touring sleds, save for a place 90 miles north of me that has a bunch of out-West rental sleds with 2k+ miles.

If I have to spend $6k to $7k per sled, $1k for the trailer, and another $1k on "stuff" then this snow toy thing ain't going to happen. I was hoping to be all in for about $10k cash - no financing.

 

[jkust]

Re: snowmobile - which one to buy?

Seriously like I mentioned above come October/Novemberish, the used sled come out in droves. Even then though there are not many 2-ups for sale but I have noticed that for whatever reason, they are very expensive new but pretty depreciated used. I would (conditional tense) avoid dealers for used sleds. They simply mark them up much higher than private party. The other thing I think would help you is to get used to the idea of sleds pre 2004. They are generally used so little, you can get a serious piece of equipment almost never used for pennies on the dollar. I would never have considered 1998 sleds (a few years ago now so I am talking 2001+) but when it is cheap money and your first ones why not? The down side of sled shopping in the summer is the maxum of cheaper in the off season may be true but there are just so few available to buy. For $10 k you could get more than two very nice sleds in the 2000's and a brand new Floe trailer. Floe is like the Cobalt of Trailers if you haven't started looking yet. The whole gear thing I haven't yet cracked. Sledding apparel is expensive to the point where you say 'no way can a pair of bibs cost that much' under your breath. We bootlegged and bought helmets from Fleetfarm in Brooklyn Park and pieced the rest together. Bootleg helmets and their foggy shields are a pain. Where boating is concerned I want to ride in style, but where sledding is concerned, I am just happy to be out there as long as the machines are nice, they don't have to be the latest and greatest. Also someone mentioned your wife won't like a 2-up touring, I wholeheartedly disagree. They are like riding on a cloud with all the ammenities that make an extreme cold weather sport fun. Plus if she wants to trade off she can drive your machine. The same reason my wife drives the most plush vehicle and I get the performance car. Plus she could never full appreciate a more preformance oriented car or sled. Again she is not a tomboy so I suppose that doesn't always hold true. I heald my breath after the first time we rode hoping she would like the sport and luckily she did. Since you are looking now I will delve out two more pieces of advice. Avoid sleds that have been trailered. The salt spray prematurely rusts the suspension as you will likely see. If you haven't tried Craigs List yet, I just checked and there are a handful of sleds on there now (Minneapolis) which are under the category 'RVS' and take a look nationally on Ebay as well.

 

[Powder Head]

Re: snowmobile - which one to buy?

Don't know about your neck of the woods but in Washington you could buy 2 nice newer sleds 2004 or 05 and a trailer for around 8,000. Get layers for under garmet gear. Poly, or man made breathing material, several light layers, not too spendy. Then buy good bibs and coats, Klim, in my mind is the best. You won't be dissatisfied. Worth every penny. If you get 500 or 600 CC's she should have no problem starting hers. They start on the first or secound pull alomst every time. I would not recommend a two up, they are heavy, not very agile, and limits the experience. If she has her own then she can do some exicting challenging things, and if she gets stuck oh well, 2 people can easily get it unstuck. Just my 2 cents from an Iboat rooky, but a Snowmobile veteran.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: snowmobile - which one to buy?

Seriously like I mentioned above come October/Novemberish, the used sled come out in droves.

I just spent yesterday at a meeting w/a guy that owns four sleds and puts on about 3k miles/year - he agreed. He told me not to get too anxious because I can't find them now. He assured me I'll find what I want by October...maybe November - and he offered to help me find/select them, which was nice. We're having breakfast next week so we can go over my list of 30+ snowmobile-related questions!

The other thing I think would help you is to get used to the idea of sleds pre 2004.

As long as the miles are relatively low and the sled's in good shape I think we're fine with that. It's hard not to get too excited when you look at those brand new ones, but given that this is our first experience I want to keep the cost reasonable and just have reliable machines.

Also someone mentioned your wife won't like a 2-up touring, I wholeheartedly disagree. They are like riding on a cloud with all the ammenities that make an extreme cold weather sport fun. Plus if she wants to trade off she can drive your machine.

Yeah, my wife is not a tomboy. The idea of camping out turns her stomach; or of putting a worm on a hook - heck, she wouldn't be caught dead in a fishing boat. And my daughter is the same way, so I'm pretty certain they want a touring sled. What I'm starting to wonder is if "I" want/need a touring sled. At first I thought I did because a) my 40-year old body, while in decent shape, has a few more aches and pains than it used to, and I don't want to be popping a handful of ibuprofen after a Sunday afternoon ride; b) my son will need to ride with me - is there enough room on a non-touring sled for him to ride comfortably behind me? (he's 9; but he's 5' 1" and 90#); and c) in case we take the sleds up north for a weekend on groomed trails for longer rides I wanted a comfortable ride for everyone. We're not speed freaks or eager to jump off hills.

 

[jkust]

Re: snowmobile - which one to buy?

Yeah, my wife is not a tomboy. The idea of camping out turns her stomach; or of putting a worm on a hook - heck, she wouldn't be caught dead in a fishing boat. And my daughter is the same way, so I'm pretty certain they want a touring sled. What I'm starting to wonder is if "I" want/need a touring sled. At first I thought I did because a) my 40-year old body, while in decent shape, has a few more aches and pains than it used to, and I don't want to be popping a handful of ibuprofen after a Sunday afternoon ride; b) my son will need to ride with me - is there enough room on a non-touring sled for him to ride comfortably behind me? (he's 9; but he's 5' 1" and 90#); and c) in case we take the sleds up north for a weekend on groomed trails for longer rides I wanted a comfortable ride for everyone. We're not speed freaks or eager to jump off hills.

Your wife sounds just like mine. I am 36 and in good shape but after a day on the ZR and its unforgiving suspension then lifting both of the sleds up to put them on dollies and put them in the garage after a ride, I have popped a few ibuprofin myself. (The original owner of my ZR put a heavier duty suspension on it because he was heavy, older gentleman and I am not but I was blinded by the condition and low miles, wanted a sled now and didn't know any better.) As for the room for two on a non-touring sled, you could both fit but it would not be comfortable or not nearly as comfortable as on a 2-up especially on the desired long rides. My youngest is now 4 and so he sits in front of me on my zr which has saved him from falling off many times. It will be a challenge to see over his helmet in the next year or two when driving and he will have to transition to the back. We should have a few good years before it gets too crowed. When we have both kids we literally go 15-20 mph on the trails and will open them up a little on a lake. I will say though there are times when you just want to tear it up by yourself and a 2-up just doesn't quite do then. It would be nice if you could have at least one non-touring machine. I would suggest that you and your son both go and sit on a few trail machines and test them out for size.