polaris 500 ho vs 550

jngs3 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 06:28 AM

Hello All, I'm both a first-time ATV buyer and a new member of this forum, though I've been scouring it for information the last week or so.

I want to purchase a new ATV. I'm on a somewhat limited budget (say 7-8k OTD price), and after doing a lot of research I had narrowed down my choices to the 500 HO and the 550 XP. Then I started reading through this forum and 90% of the posters here seem to answer that question with a chant of "XP XP XP XP XP!"

I go to my two local dealers and they also suggest the XP. They say its "A totally different machine, and much better for it."

Ok, so the XP 550 it is. Right?

Now it comes down to price, I really want to get the best deal possible because I still need to buy a trailer, helmet, etc. due to the fact that I am a first-time ATV buyer and have none of these. This makes my budget very very tight.

So, sorry for the long story, this post really comes down to this:

Is the 550 really worth the extra money over the 500?

and

Is $7300 OTD for a NON-EPS Sportsman 550 XP a good price or can I do better?

Thanks in advance,
Jim

SMP63 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 08:10 AM

Welcome to the forum! Totaly happy with the 500 HO's. Like you had a limited budget. Took the money from price difference & used it for upgrades to the bikes, helmets, trailer, ect.. For me the 550 wasn't worth the extra $$$. I'm sure others will disagree

but thats ok! I have no regrets chooseing the 500 over the 550!!!!

kool_500HO · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 08:28 AM

Love my 500 also... Took the extra cash and purchased a lot of extra's for the bike... You will see the all in my sig

Beerhunter · #4 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 08:36 AM

Great to see positive reviews about the 500 HO's. We are ready to pull the trigger on a pair of them for the wife and I.

WHS · #5 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 09:07 AM

I paid $5900 OTD for my 2010 Polaris SP 550 in September of last year. This was an upgrade from my 07' SP450 (essentially the 500HO), which I paid $4500 OTD in 07'. Between the two, the 550 is by far the superior machine and I would highly recommend it. However, I really enjoyed my 450 also, it was just lacking a few things that I really wanted, mainly I out grew the power in a very short time.
Price wise, I would do a little shopping around, as that seems a little high to me. However, that may be the going rate in your area? I am fortunate, in that my bro' lives in a town (Eugene Oregon) that has a dealer that cheap sells and they move a lot of machines, so we get good deals right up front, no negotiating. They just hand you a price sheet and then send you out back to their huge test track area and let you have at it... It's really great!
We found a two place ATV trailer, new for $500.00 which we use down there (and it is not one of those elcheapo bolt together things either)... So be sure to look around, and check some of the local welding shops, because thats where we got this one. They were building basic trailers to supplement their income, because business is down. Nothing fancy, just a 6.5'X8'. We painted with that rough surface paint, drilled a couple more holes for tie downs and it works great! Then I have a trailer for when he comes up to my neck of the woods.
Anyhow, for 7 or 8 grand, you should be able to get everything you need and if you can swing it go for the 550!

Good luck and have fun!

skip

john luttrell · #6 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 09:50 AM

I personally went with the 500HO, because as a mechanic, I know the design uses the less sophisticated and easier to work on carburetor. The fuel injected 550 is much more dependent on a good battery charge to run correctly, than the good ol' carb.

If you install a rope starter on the carbed 500HO, you can start the rig even on a very weak battery, where as, I believe the fuel injected 550 would need a charged battery to start and run, even with a rope starter, as the computer is very voltage sensitive; this could be very important in the middle of no where in steep terrain.

I'm not putting down the 550 either, I have no doubt that it is a quality machine, but like I mentioned, as a mechanic, I do believe in keeping it simple, if you want reliability.

buckwheat_la · #7 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 08:15 PM

Either way, you can do better on that price. In Canada (where everything costs more) a 550xp can be purchased for $6800 give or take a couple hundred.

**Bruce!** · #8 (**permalink**) 06-30-2011, 05:47 AM

Welcome to the board!

bgirard420 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-30-2011, 05:58 AM

x3 on the 500 HO for all of the above reasons. I now have a trailer, new radial tires, and mad gear for less than the 550. Just do yourself a favor and change the gas that comes from the factory/dealer, mine was a gooey mess and I learned the hard way

mikes po po · #10 (**permalink**) 06-30-2011, 05:59 AM

search around on the price...where I got my 2011 850, the 550's are 6200 and thats an otd price..(south Ga) the 550 is an excellent machine, I sold it to get the 850 and i dont regret it but my 550 was more practical. If your on a limited budget the 500 HO is a good choice...the price on a new 500 is around 5000 so the price difference is a pretty big jump...people have those 500 Hight outputs and they dont regret it...they ride right along with us all day long...your buying it new so just keep up with it and it will last you a long time...or save a couple more thousand if your buying 2 and just get the 550's they are Cadillacs on the trail, excellent suspension travel great fuel mileage ...everything is just about good on it...either machine will get you to where you want to go...keep us informed and happy riding!!!!!