Who's NOT happy with their Polaris ranger?

[Rcole1310]

So I'm about ready for a new side x side. I haven't owned a Polaris or a Honda. I see that tons of guys have the Ranger 900. I'm thinking about a 2015 Ranger 900 HD. BUT... An ATV mechanic told me that Hondas are more reliable and have real transmission gears instead of a belt. He said they have a New Pioneer 1000 coming out in a month that's supposed to be a monster. I personally don't like the look of the new Honda but reliability and power is what's important to me. What typically breaks on a stock Ranger? What's great about them and what's not so great. Thanks for the heads up fellas. These things cost a grip and I'd like to avoid buying a finiky bike.

[BigFoot]

What are you going to be doing with the bike? Most people will never tear a belt up in a Ranger, its when you throw big tires on and go offloading is when the belts tend to go. I'm partial to Polaris, everything my family has owned since I can remember has been Polaris and great. The 45+ people that I go to the ATV/UTV parks all have Rzrs/Rangers, nothing ever breaks that isn't brought on by us. We never see any hondas out there if that answers your question.

[Mexico]

I've owned about 10 Honda's and 1 Polaris...that should tell you what I think. It spent half its life on my trailer going back and forth to the shop. I will say the polaris had amazing suspension, other than that it was trash.

[RiverRat1]

I've owned about 10 Honda's and 1 Polaris...that should tell you what I think. It spent half its life on my trailer going back and forth to the shop.

We own Hondas now. We had 4 Polaris but never had more than 2 running at once. Sometimes we had all 4 in the shop at the same time. Complete BS. They had every excuse in the book.

Will see how the Hondas hold up after a few months.

[Ccarter]

My boss just bought a Polaris four seater 900. It is very quiet and has plenty of power, the only big negative we are having issue with is the linkage in the transmission. It does not want to shift into gear, you can put it in high or reverse and you have to accelerate the motor so high to make it shift that it grinds and makes all kinds of noise. He has already had it put in the shop with the dealer twice with no improvement.

[thebowhunters]

You asked, What typically breaks on a stock Ranger? I do not have enough battery life in my computer to list them all. They are not made to be used everyday as a tool, maybe for the High Fence guy on paved roads.

[Drycreek3189]

I have a Ranger and have had zero problems with it in the four years that I've owned it. But then, I don't abuse it either.

[Rcole1310]

Thanks so far for the info fellas! Hopefully this doesn't turn into a bashing thread for one or the other.
I hunt in Bracketville on rocks and ridges. It's a really rough place and my buddies Polaris is a smooth ride on it. But I also raise cattle so I haul feed/hay. I may run the bike for an hr or two straight herding/feeding so the reliability and tourqe of that Honda has my attention. That's about it.

[catslayer]

look at a Gravely... just look... that's all I'm saying, it isn't a waste of your time

[TXJIM]

I have had my 800 crew EPS for 4 years on a very rugged piece of land. It has well over 1000 miles and 600 hours. I am on the 4th set of tires and I drive it hard over rocks and steeps. I had the Polaris dealer swap the belt at about 150 hours and it looked so good I thought they had just set the new belt in the bed. I haven't bothered changing it again. The ride is as smooth as any UTV I have been in. If I was going to buy another one it would be a Polaris but I can't manage to kill the one I have

[Mexico]

You asked, What typically breaks on a stock Ranger? I do not have enough battery life in my computer to list them all. They are not made to be used everyday as a tool, maybe for the High Fence guy on paved roads.

Whats HF got to do with anything?

[8pointer]

I have a Ranger and have had zero problems with it in the four years that I've owned it. But then, I don't abuse it either.

That's the key

[30-30]

Has anyone owned both a Ranger and a Gator? Thoughts between the two?

[Rcole1310]

My boss just bought a Polaris four seater 900. It is very quiet and has plenty of power, the only big negative we are having issue with is the linkage in the transmission. It does not want to shift into gear, you can put it in high or reverse and you have to accelerate the motor so high to make it shift that it grinds and makes all kinds of noise. He has already had it put in the shop with the dealer twice with no improvement.

See....this is what I'm concerned about. I'm a stickler for annual maintenance and take care of my stuff, but I'm wondering if I should worry about a belt linked tranny. That's the ONLY thing that causes me to hesitate on the Ranger. Well... the 1000cc displacement of the Honda is kinda cool too. I just want to do enough due diligence that I can get a general consensus before I'm locked into a machine for the next 6 years.

[DamonJ]

I had a 2009 xp 700

5 years and close to 4500 miles.. Not 1 problem, just routine maintenance..


Have a 2015 900 crew now, I am pleased so far..