NEW VS. OLD (used) - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

mmrosshere · 12-22-2006, 12:34 AM

If we keep buying new sleds; will the prices still rise as fast? Will labor rates go up due to the new sled not needing repair? Will the assesories price go down. Everyone wants to personalize the sled.

If we stop buying new; will the price of new drop? Due to lack of sales. Will used sleds soon be close to the price of a new one? Will the technology stop being developed. will after market companys make eaven better products.

For me I will not likely ever purchase a brand new sled due to the hit you take when you take it home. I feel the same way about cars and trucks.

What are your thoughts.

**RJ Gleason** · 12-22-2006, 01:39 AM

I think that it will be like auto's. The price of one year old used cars is quite high compared to new. The price gap gets larger the older the vehicle gets.
Used sleds are showing the same thing. There are always those who will buy a new one every year or two.
Myself, if I ever get a grand new sled. it will probably be the last one ever too as I will take very good care of it and can get 10 year or more out of it.

Vote for me in the Nov. SOTM.

I will shamelessly promote myself all over the forum.

**smallengineguy** · 12-22-2006, 06:50 AM

RJ has hereby been disqualified .....

I agree with both of you. As much as I'd like a new sled, I'm going t owait until 08 or so to buy a used REV. That way they are around $2000 or so. Plus I can wrench on it if needed.

SnowRida · 12-22-2006, 07:06 AM

I'm with SEG on this one. Find a good used sled so you don't have to take the hit on it.

IndianRvrShiver · 12-22-2006, 07:20 AM

Great topic, mm!!

It would be nearly impossible for me to justify the purchase of a new sled considering the depreciation they have the first couple of years and the actual use I get from them. I think the best strategy is to buy during the off-season & find the best bang/buck that fits your own situation. Also, search for distress sales where you may be able to find an exceptional deal on a used sled.

grouly925 · 12-22-2006, 07:35 AM

With the deals that you can get on leftover sleds, I wonder why some people need a new one right when it comes out. I know that some people have to have the best of the best right when it comes out, but I bought my F7 used after a year and let the guy who had it spend all the money customizing it. You never get that money back for little things you add to the sled. Unless something highly revolutionary comes out, it boggles my mind why you would want to get a brand new sled. If its super-duper speeds you're looking for you are better off to buy a zr 800 or something and put D&D 1010 kit on it or something and still have half of what you would have into a f1000.

RMK 600 · 12-22-2006, 08:59 AM

I have to agree buying a sled a year or two old saves a ton of money. I saved about 4k on my sled over what last years new stock would have been.

upersleder · 12-22-2006, 09:11 AM

i have a friend with $$$$, he always buys a new sled every two or three years, i buy his old one and get a great deal. i also maintain his sleds, so i take good care of them

jagermiester · 12-22-2006, 09:13 AM

[quote=RJ Gleason]
Myself, if I ever get a grand new sled. it will probably be the last one ever too as I will take very good care of it and can get 10 year or more out of it.

I'm with RJ on this one and it doesn't even have to be new. Even if the initial investment is $3500 to $4500 (and that would be a really nice used sled), all you have to do is take exceptional care of it and it's kinda like having a new sled (at least in my mind). I always go completely through a sled when I get it then I know what I've got, get what it needs, and maintain it from there. See no point at all investing in a new sled.

ac bigbore · 12-22-2006, 09:18 AM

New sleds are great. Better every year. I'm very glad
the previous owner of my 2000 800zrt needed to get a
newer, more popular twin. If he didn't buy a new sled, I would not have gotten 3 year old $8000 dollar sled for 3grand.

I just hope there are enough brave souls out there willing to
take out 36 and 48 month loans to keep the industry viable.

Kudos to the new sled buyers keeping this motorsport alive!

grouly925 · 12-22-2006, 09:49 AM

Its crazy that so many people get upside down on the loans for big boys toys. I know a lot of people that the only way they can even think about being able to pay their sled off is to total it. Thats a good reason why insurance is so high. When they used to have the no money down no payments until after winter thing, so many people would ride their sleds and then total them out at the end of the season it was ridiculous.

tamacat · 12-22-2006, 11:26 AM

I agree with all of you.But Iv'e bought 3 Brand spankin new sleds in my life. A 96 Cougar was the first for $4500. A Z570esr was the second for $5400 (notice the inflation on a less powerful sled). Then the 04 F7 EFI for $7500 strait out of the box.We won't talk about the price for the accessories.

Except for the Cougar. Trade ins aloud me to buy a couple without financing a rediculous amount of money.In the Firecat deal. I traded the Z570esr in and sold the ZRT. I didn't owe any money on either of those two sleds. I loaded that firecat on the trailer with $3000 loan attached to it. If I can get new sleds in that fashion .....fine. But I will NEVER buy a new sled for more than $5000 financing.They're just gettin out of hand with the price.I guess the quick depreciation can be a blessing in disguise.

You can buy real nice used machines for knockout prices and very low miles.

And hey . If the wife says"go ahead and get what you want baby".

I'm on it!!!

SawBlade · 12-22-2006, 03:24 PM

The industry needs new buyers, period. I myself could never justify the cost of a new sled. just wouldnt fly at home (you know what i mean) and it wouldnt be fair to the family anyway. If i get to ride ten times during the season im lucky.

That said, if i lived in upper canada or alaska then you bet your biddy id be buying new sleds every three years or so. the use would justify the cost.

But hey, im thankful for what i have and love working on equipment anyway. if i had a new sled, i wouldnt get to work on it too often. just maintenance stuff. How would my boy learn anything. we work on everything together and he has learned the value of a buck and the value of fixing something not running. we are having a blast and i think a new sled would hamper that a little.

jagermiester · 12-22-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SawBlade

The industry needs new buyers, period. I myself could never justify the cost of a new sled. just wouldnt fly at home (you know what i mean) and it wouldnt be fair to the family anyway. If i get to ride ten times during the season im lucky.

That said, if i lived in upper canada or alaska then you bet your biddy id be buying new sleds every three years or so. the use would justify the cost.

But hey, im thankful for what i have and love working on equipment anyway. if i had a new sled, i wouldnt get to work on it too often. just maintenance stuff. How would my boy learn anything. we work on everything together and he has learned the value of a buck and the value of fixing something not running. we are having a blast and i think a new sled would hamper that a little.

Right on sawblade

. That is way cool

what you are doing with your son.

kccats · 12-22-2006, 05:34 PM

I bought my 98 ZR as a demo with750 miles on it. I haven't bought a new one since. But instead I have invested about half of what I would have spent in upgrades. An 01 suspension, a Black Magic Invader motor, Rip Saw track, just to mention a few.I wasn't too sure of the F7 when it first came out and I can run with them, Now I'm waiting on the F1000 to see what it's like, I supose I'll have to get one of them!!! I don't think I got any more to add to my lil
ZR to make it that fast!LOL

Formula_Canuk · 12-22-2006, 05:40 PM

Used all the way! Of course if I was doing really well for myself I would buy brand new, would be great to the the first owner and be able to keep it in immaculate condition

mmrosshere · 12-22-2006, 07:10 PM

Great replies All!!!

I guess what it all comes down to is the useage and how long you will keep it.
I have also talked to some local guys as well as my relitives in Northern Canada and I got answers that kind of paralleled each other. Here most (with the exclusion of the ones with money to burn) "There is no way to justifiy a new sled 1. too short a season. 2. too few years till the "much better mods." comes out. 3. too easy to trash a sled in one season."

Up north they said "1. if you have the time. 2. if you use it for work or to get back and forth to. 3. if you have money you don't want to hand to me but must spend."

So the used have it but as many have said here we need the new buyers. unfortunatily they with the exception of a few don't seem to want to chime in and help me understand why.

I do really like the working on them with the kids deal I do the same with my daughters.

Formula_Canuk · 12-22-2006, 07:16 PM

Well I bet the number one reason for a brand new sled is the owner having no mechanical ability, and no desire to learn. My uncle is loaded and owns his own hvac company. He has the money to burn, and always trades his in every 2 years. He says what little free time he has in the winter he doesn't want to spend wrenching on the sled

mmrosshere · 12-22-2006, 07:23 PM

Formula That is a good point. Still has come down to the cash. If they made a line that the common person could afford do you think it would take over or just sit on the floor.

upersleder · 12-22-2006, 07:28 PM

with very few exceptions i believe the people who do buy new sleds do not hang out on foums either. that may be one reason for the lopsided replies.