2012 Polaris Ranger® 500 EFI
User Reviews
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Impressed
By Jeff Baker (I am an Owner) on Feb 02, 2020I have always wanted a Polaris Ranger for as long as they have been made. I purchased ours used in 2015. Since I've used it for hauling deer and bear out of the woods, cut and hauled firewood, towed a brush hog to maintain trails and field roads, used a dirtworks attachments for my food plots and ... this year have added a 66" snow plow. This thing has done everything I've asked it to do. We absolutely love our Ranger. Someday we'd like to find her a big brother.
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Awesome
By Dan Sherman (I am an Owner) on Dec 01, 2018Just came back from Southern West Virginia where we rode about 300 miles on the Outlaw trails...off of the Hatfield McCoy trails. Got into every kind of terrain and mud hole you can come up with. Rode with 4 other guys that all had razors and other machines that were made for extreme conditions. ... The Ranger never missed a beat. We were all amazed by the end of the trip what i was able to do. Add in the versatility of working around our farm and you CANT beat the Ranger. Does all i ask of it and then some.
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MY RANGER RICK (2012 POLARIS RANGER 500 EFI)
By JAMES LITTEN (I am an Owner) on Oct 31, 2014I BOUGHT THE RANGER SECOND HAND AND IN NEARLY NEW CONDITION. EVERYTHING WORKS. IT HAS PLENTY OF POWER TO HAUL ME AND A PASSENGER UP STEEP HILLS. I HAD TO DRAG A HEAVY LOG OUT OF THE RIVER AND IT DID IT WITHOUT EVEN A GRUNT. I HAVE HAD IT UP TO 45 MPH BEFORE I RAN OUT OF STRAIGHT ROAD. I BELIEVE IT ... WILL GO A LITTLE FASTER. THE FRONT END IS A LITTLE LIGHT AND WANTS TO KEEP GOING STRAIGHT WHEN I WANT TO TURN ON DIRT ROADS AT SPEED. I HAVE TRIED IT OUT IN WATER UP TO 12" DEEP AND HAD NO TROUBLE AT ALL. I WAS ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED WHEN I CLIMBED A STEEP BANK OUT OF THE RIVER. UNDER CLOSE SUPERVISION, I LET SOME OF MY GRANDCHILDREN OPERATE THE MACHINE (ME IN THE PASSENGER SEAT). THEY DID QUITE WELL AND I COULD HARDLY TAKE THE SMILES OFF THEIR FACES. THE ONLY TROUBLE I HAVE HAD IS GOING DOWN A LONG STEEP HILL. THERE IS NO ENGINE BRAKING THAT IS EFFECTIVE AT SLOWING THE RANGER. IF YOU GIVE IT SOME GAS AT FIRST, THE BELT WILL ENGAGE AND HOLD YOU BACK SOME BUT IT WILL PICK UP SPEED AND THEN THE BELT WILL DISENGAGE AND YOU HAVE TO RIDE THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAULED IT ON MY 6 1/2 FOOT BED PICKUP BUT THE REAR WHEELS HAVE TO SIT ON THE TAILGATE AND THE FRONT IS AGAINST THE FRONT OF THE BED BOX. ALSO, WHEN LOADING, IT HAS TO FORCE ITS WAY BETWEEN THE WHEEL HUBS OR CLIMB UP OVER THEM AND THIS CAUSES A LOT OF STRESS ON THE LOADING RAMPS. I DO NOT RECOMMEND PUTTING IT ON THE BACK OF A TRUCK LIKE MINE. IT DEFINITELY WILL NOT FIT BACKWARDS ONTO THE TRUCK. GAS MILEAGE SEEMS PRETTY GOOD.
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Good Value
By R Smith (I am an Owner) on Sep 28, 2012I bought a 500 EFI Camo in April 2012. Taking in this weekend for service and flip-out windshield (fluids changed at 33 hours/ not due until 50 / before 6 month warranty expires).
So far, have had no problems. We love it for yard work and gardening on 3 acres.
Actually fits ... 3 people and hauls anything. Didn't need the larger UTV and the price was right!
My 500 has had no heating problems as discussed by previous reviewer.
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Beware!!
By Randy (I am an Owner) on Mar 20, 2012I've read several reviews on this model and so far agree on all the good comments BUT i've had this machine for a little over a month and after about 10 minutes sitting in the passenger seat it gets sooo hot it is unbearable. the passenger seat is above the exhaust manifold. there is no heat sheild ... for the seat. I called Polaris and they said there is no recall or bulletin for that problem. I will be taking this machine back to the dealer to make sure there isn't anything else causing such extreme heat, or is this normal. I sure hope this is not normal if it is i just can't beleive a company as big as Polaris would put a machine like that out there. if that is the case they should not have this machine made for sxs. Good luck and choose ur purchase carefully.
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Needed some basic help with the chores around here.....
By Ken Hoyesen (I am an Owner) on Nov 16, 2011I researched and liked what I read and saw with the new 2012 Polaris Ranger 500 EFI before buying. Then I took a test drive at our local Polaris dealer. My needs are pretty simple I needed a tool to get fallen and trimed limbs to the back of the property's burn pile and to help with gardening chores. ... Every year by winter I collect a good 8 foot pile of debris to be burned. I was getting exhausted and doughted whether at 65 I could continue dragging stuff out to the pile by hand. Sometimes I'd have to take near a half hour or so to catch my breath and to cool down enough before doing it all over again with the next load, that's when I had my light bulb moment. I knew I needed a better tool than my back and rope! I live where there is plenty of woods and trails and my property abuts a trail out back and gives me access to get out and do some exploring which is a plus for owning this vehicle. My wife had a lung transplant back in 2002 and her physical condition limits what she can do and where she can go. With the addition of this UTV she can now enjoy driving it and get out in the fresh air, move about and have some fun too. Most uses of what I see and read on the internet for these UTV seems to be geared more to racing and just wanted to highlight it's other more utilitarian uses too. I think with the help of my new RANGER I'll be all set for the next 20 years or so to take care of what needs doing around here and have some fun doing it. Turning chores into fun was a good decision for us and have not regretted my purchase.
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Polaris Ranger 500 EFI Camo
By Larry Hart (I am an Owner) on Oct 20, 2011Just bought it after test driving a lot of different other manufacture's models. Smoother riding, more horsepower, and fits in the back of my Z71 short bed. Could not even compare the price to other models. I got more for my money with the Polaris. Can not beat the 2.9 interest rate!
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