Buying an ATV – Alerts, Tips and Anecdotes

If you’re thinking of buying an ATV, we’ve put together a series of Alerts, Tips and Anecdotes to help you along your way.

Beware of deals too good to be true

All-terrain vehicles are not cheap. However, with the influx of dozens of ‘off-brand’ four-wheelers, some of the price tags on new quads have dropped to enticing levels. Most of these low-priced machines are copies of models from the established manufacturers. And most of these copies are mini quads or small-motored two-wheel drives.

Listen to your pals about unreliable brands

If several of them have had bad experiences with certain models or brands, pay attention. And keep in mind that some quads that may break down quite frequently, in say muddy conditions, may run just fine for many years in the desert if all their troubles were caused by water and mud.

Consider the dealer

Of course, one shouldn’t buy one brand or another solely based on how well you happen to like the dealership, but it is something to consider.

What’s the word on engine break-in time?

Don’t void your warranty

If you like the idea of having a warranty as an insurance policy against early failure (ATV warranties don’t tend to last very long), make sure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding maintenance and fluid changes. If you have a catastrophic engine failure during the warranty period and your dealer sees that the air filter is filthy and the oil is old and dirty, you may be out of luck.

Consider replacement part costs

Different ATV manufacturers charge different prices for their replacement parts. Most are in the same ballpark; however, there can be drastic differences on some parts. If you’re close to buying one brand or another and need a deciding factor, go to each dealer and ask to see OEM (original equipment manufacturer) replacement prices for some fairly expensive items such as brakes, clutches, tie-rods, batteries and plastic.