FYI all modern 2 stroke snowmobiles are oil injected so there is no mixing. Just fill up the oil tank. It’s really pretty simple. Not trying to talk you into 2 stroke just saying.

 

This is why I posted here. Clearly I know nothing. Thank you for the reply. +

 

snowmobile's are all HIGH wear and tear toys, there NOT like an atv you fuel let sits for months and go

they require yearly maintenance and even in season at times pending things

at your price range your going to be looking at sleds that are old and odds are in need of EXTRA work after you buy(sellers are not all honest )
if your NOT up to doing repairs yourself things will get costly FAST

reliability goes down hill with age and miles and hours,a s things wear out! its the nature of the beast!

and this is why most folks sell sleds, they BAIL onto newer models before there older one starts costing them more money! money they would rather put towards a NEW sled that will have better features and ride quality!

SO< just providing info,. food for thought, so you just know what your getting into here


the reliability part of sleds come down to HOW well YOU take care of it, how well it was taken care of before you bought it!(a gamble always here)
the name of the game then tends to come down to buying the newest sled you can find with the lowest miles on it
THEN take a VERY experienced person with you to go look at any you find, as you being new, will not know what to look for and this can cost you dearly!
everyone can have brand /model suggestions, but it honestly IMO comes down to finding the snowmobile again with the lowest miles and cared for the best
ALL brands make decent sleds
haters will always bash "X" make Model
but there are tons of happy owners of all! treat things right they last, don't and well??

 

snowmobile's are all HIGH wear and tear toys, there NOT like an atv you fuel let sits for months and go

they require yearly maintenance and even in season at times pending things

at your price range your going to be looking at sleds that are old and odds are in need of EXTRA work after you buy(sellers are not all honest )
if your NOT up to doing repairs yourself things will get costly FAST

reliability goes down hill with age and miles and hours,a s things wear out! its the nature of the beast!

and this is why most folks sell sleds, they BAIL onto newer models before there older one starts costing them more money! money they would rather put towards a NEW sled that will have better features and ride quality!

SO< just providing info,. food for thought, so you just know what your getting into here


the reliability part of sleds come down to HOW well YOU take care of it, how well it was taken care of before you bought it!(a gamble always here)
the name of the game then tends to come down to buying the newest sled you can find with the lowest miles on it
THEN take a VERY experienced person with you to go look at any you find, as you being new, will not know what to look for and this can cost you dearly!
everyone can have brand /model suggestions, but it honestly IMO comes down to finding the snowmobile again with the lowest miles and cared for the best
ALL brands make decent sleds
haters will always bash "X" make Model
but there are tons of happy owners of all! treat things right they last, don't and well??

Hey thanks for your response,

I understand the issues with buying used stuff.

snowmobile's are all HIGH wear and tear toys, there NOT like an atv you fuel let sits for months and go

they require yearly maintenance and even in season at times pending things

at your price range your going to be looking at sleds that are old and odds are in need of EXTRA work after you buy(sellers are not all honest )
if your NOT up to doing repairs yourself things will get costly FAST

reliability goes down hill with age and miles and hours,a s things wear out! its the nature of the beast!

and this is why most folks sell sleds, they BAIL onto newer models before there older one starts costing them more money! money they would rather put towards a NEW sled that will have better features and ride quality!

SO< just providing info,. food for thought, so you just know what your getting into here


the reliability part of sleds come down to HOW well YOU take care of it, how well it was taken care of before you bought it!(a gamble always here)
the name of the game then tends to come down to buying the newest sled you can find with the lowest miles on it
THEN take a VERY experienced person with you to go look at any you find, as you being new, will not know what to look for and this can cost you dearly!
everyone can have brand /model suggestions, but it honestly IMO comes down to finding the snowmobile again with the lowest miles and cared for the best
ALL brands make decent sleds
haters will always bash "X" make Model
but there are tons of happy owners of all! treat things right they last, don't and well??

I appreciate what you are trying to tell me. I only buy used vehicles so I understand the issues around it. A new sled just isnt in the cards though. What price range would you look at?

 

Hello,

I am looking to buy my first snow mobile with a budget of around 4000$ I have a cottage next to the Bancroft heritage trails up by limerick lake so I will be riding up there. I dont know anything about snowmobiles. I dont need something stupid fast. I really just want something reliable. I wont be going every weekend, perhaps a half dozen times a season. Just wondering what to look for in a good used snowmobile and perhaps what to avoid (brands, models etc)

One thing I know for sure is that I DO NOT want a 2 stroke. I am not interested in mixing gas again.

If i was in your position I'd be looking at a 600 class sled. Lots of options out there as its still the meat of the market. As a rule the 600 class are pretty reliable and are decent on oil/fuel.

Polaris xc 600

Skidoo mxz 600 (few different models to choose from)

Arctic cat 600 ( firecat sabercat crossfire and the twin spar chassis)

Yamaha vector is a 600 class but its a 4 stroke sled. Bullet proof engine but its heavier then the 2 stroke options.

Take someone who is familiar with sleds when looking to purchase. The more eyes the better. Ask a lot of questions. Easy to see through all the bs if the answers don't add up. And for me condition is more important them mileage. If its a good clean sled chances are it was well looked after and had the routine maintenance done.

Good luck and welcome to the sport. Its all about the miles and smiles!

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

 

Not sure how soon you are looking to purchase, but the snowmobile market is hilariously seasonal, meaning if you can wait until at least late Febuary and preferably into March, your 4000 will likely go much further than purchasing in the next couple weeks.

I would recommend a mid-00's Skidoo 500ss, Arctic Cat F5 or F6, or a Polaris Shift 600.

 

Covid pricing is in effect now for anything used

 

Lots of great advice here. A sled that I would add is any non turbo Cat 1100 4 stroke. Only about 120-125 hp but lots of torque and will run all day at 80 mph or lower. Very trouble free and durable just keep a good battery and change the oil once a year. Should be some in your price range.

 

Good call. Seems to get overlooked a lot but a great reliable sled and seems to be priced reasonably.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

 

Lots of good trails in your area to ride. I often ride that direction from cottage in Haliburton. Considering it's already nearing end of Jan maybe use the time to check out some dealers and get info. Although as previously stated, covid pricing is crazy this year and supply is low. Will be harder with curbside only too... If you're going to have dealer service for you, consider brand that has local dealer. Spring is always best time to buy from price perspective, but this year is definitely not normal...
Best of luck.

 

I was in the same position about 3 years ago. for $5k I bought a 2010 Skidoo MXZ-600, and it's been a total gem. Never a problem with it, it starts easy and runs great. I just put 220km on it today, not a hitch. No need to mix oil & gas, the oil is in a separate tank, and this model barely uses it (a full oil reservoir will last a casual rider most of the winter).
Similar sleds are very common on Kijiji (MX-Z 600 H.O. ETEC), a ton of them have been sold over the years and they run great. It won't overpower you, it's easy to manage, and if you're not up to doing basic maintenance yourself, your local dealer can give it an annual pre-season tune-up for a reasonable fee. After your initial investment for the sled, you can expect to about double that amount over the next year or two, getting the various accessories and gear that you'll need (good helmet, riding gear, boots, trail passes, insurance, maintenance and repairs, etc.). It's not clear if you plan to leave your sled at your cottage year-round, but if not, you'll need a pickup or trailer to move it from place to place.

YouTube is a great resource, check out "My Old Sled" as a starting point, for basic, introductory snowmobiling videos.

 

Skidoo 900 ACE, 4 stroke, is perfect for what it sounds like you want. however, you would need to save more money. You may be able to find a used Yamaha Nytro or Yamaha Vector or an earlier Yamaha Apex.

 

Just my 2c's -- you mentioned you have a cottage, are you into this sport for the long haul or just a season or two? I ask because at your price point you are looking at a sled that is already over inflated by $1K because of Covid. So then what would be a $3k sled normally Is going to be 15ish+ years old.

I have been broken down and towed from the depths of hell in the middle of the night the last couple of years. The first time on a 2002 Skidoo MXZ. Not fun but luckily was with a group so relatively painless.

Now I'm all about reliability and warranty. Both my sleds have both now.

My point is you may want to perhaps think about putting that $4k towards payments on a new sled. Inventory is low but you may be able find a new Skidoo 600 EFI/ACE or Polaris Indy SP. You will have the piece of mind that comes with reliability and if you end up not liking the sport you could always sell it Ina couple years and it wouldn't likely lose to much on the sale.

Which ever way you go good luck and enjoy.

 

Sold a 2005 600 gsx this year. It would have been a good sled for you. I was asking 2600 prob could've sold it for 3500. But I sold it for what is was worth. To a nice family. I'd wait till summer you'll prob get a good deal on someone selling by then . Mad they could hardly use it. Covid prices were crazy expensive . I would wait .

Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk

 

Hey
Update us upon your purchase. All good advices here. Infact i am new to Sled as well, but a bit handy when it comes to engines. Ended up picking up Yamaha SX700 1999, that isnt running due clogged cards (will fix) & was lucky to pick a 98 Vmax 600 twin for $1500 that is good running, new track well kept. Indoor stored machine will tend to fair better in wear, also think of the pricey part/repairs thats addressed already. IMO track is one hell of a job to replace next to engine. Just my 2c.

 

Hey there. I didn't end up buying anything. Prices were too high and I also wouldn't have got to use it more than once. I took the money and went skiing at tremblant for a long weekend instead. I'll be keeping an eye out this summer for a unit when he market cools off. I need something to get in and out of the cottage between February and March.