Looking to buy phoenix 200

[cheque28]

Hi everyone,
I am looking to buy a used Phoenix200 for my girlfriend. I usually favor the Hondas but she is in need of an automatic transmission. So this would be my first polaris experience. Is there any common issues or problems to look out for when making a private party purchase. I've seen a few (local to me) ads. Everyone seems to say needs battery....new battery...and one has a Transmission making noise!!! Think I'll avoid that one. Thanks in advance for any input or suggestions you folks might have.

[Bruce!]

Welcome to the board!

[brad5401]

Welcome! I recently sold a 2006 Polaris Sawtooth which is mechanically identical to the Phoenix. I bought it new in 2007 for my son to ride and had no mechanical problems whatsoever with it aside from a broken rear brake cable during a ride last year. In fact, the rear brakes in general were the only complaint I ever had with that machine. They are a drum setup, and it just felt like I could never get sufficient braking out of them. The front brakes, however, are hydraulic discs and are extremely effective.

The rear shock is adjustable which is good because I found the factory setting to be far too compliant for even the lightest operator. I cranked it up to one of the higher-tension settings and made sure to keep plenty of air in the tires and I was able to ride it myself just fine (6'2", 190 lbs.) when my son wasn't using it.

The transmission on these machines is fairly highly geared which means your throttle input has to be pretty deliberate to move the machine off the line with any authority. This was a plus for me having bought it for a young rider with limited ATV operating experience. I was never afraid of him gunning it and experiencing an out-of-control acceleration into a tree or something. The engine was always quiet and smooth, and I always appreciated how wide of a stance the Sawtooth had for its relatively small size. This made it feel extremely stable.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Brad

[cheque28]

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the suggestions on the sawtooth. I'm not in a huge hurry to make a purchase so I am going to include this ATV in my search as well as the phoenix200!


Sheldon

[weedy]

Look at the Trail Boss 325. I have had on for the kids and it is easy to ride, simple to operate, comfortable, great brakes, and INDESTRUCTABLE. Mine is a 2000 model and it must have a million miles. She will outgrow the smaller machine in no time.

Far more capable machine than the Pheonix. The trail boss platform has been close to unchanged since 1993 - A PROVEN PLATFORM. They run forever and so simple that nothing ever wears out or breaks.

[SOLOLUCKY]

THE rear brakes on my sons 2011 phoenix wore out in the first year and is now due.

what was said about the drums being poor is correct but the fronts are disk and powerful enough. I would imagine my boy used hiw foot rears a LOT more than the hand fronts which are prolly a a bit of a reach for his little 9 yr old hands.
but I have no complaints about them other than that...have ran fine and been ridden a lot.

[MNS]

I bought a new 2006 sawtooth for my daughters. It has never run right. The idle has to be adjusted when cold , then when hot. It surges at top end and back fires (maybe 25 mph). The only reason I still have it is I won't sell it till I know it's running right. The reason I'm on this site is I'm always looking for a solution. We have Trail Boss and Blaster that are great machines. Whoever gets stuck with the sawtooth complains. I,ve try everything I've read on these forums with no success. Other than a yard machine I would stay clear.

[LukeDaMan24]

I will sell ya my Polaris Phoenix 2011

[Footbal9584]

Agreed, don't get one. My wife has had problems since the first day.

2010 Polaris Phoenix

*The starter sucks 90% of the time it will not grab the engine, and has been doing this since day 1. The dealer said this is "normal"

*One of the large bolts holding the rear axle on came out while we were trail riding and caused her drive shaft to separate from the transmission. Luckily she wasn't going up hill or she would have been screwed. Which brings up my next woe.

* This thing sucks on hills. After the first moderately steep hill she climbed there was a god awful smell of burning brakes. Now she really has to get a head start and push it to go up almost any decent hill.

* Finally forget going through water holes deeper than a few inches quickly. Even after di-electric greasing EVERY connection the thing still bogs down and will not run right for about how minutes afterwards.

I swear my son's 110cc chinese atv has fewer problems than this POS.

So please get ANYTHING but a Polaris Phoenix unless you are just going to be doing back yard riding.

[Wes]

I'm with Weedy. My friend has a Trail Boss 325 since 01. Still going. This is the loaner quad when someone shows up and wants to go for a ride. It gets abused.