By: Dustin Tenney
Buying a used ATV?
So you're looking to buy a used ATV. It can be a challenge to find what you
want on a budget. So where do you begin? Our recent experience gave us a wealth of knowledge, and we're ready to share what we learned in order to help you find a deal that won't break the bank.
You first need to determine what you need. It is a good idea to have a few comparable models in mind. You might end up finding a better deal if you're not dead set on a specific model. You probably have a dollar amount that you're willing to spend. That amount will decide what models and years fit your budget. The more money you have to spend is generally proportional to bigger, better, newer machines.
Now that you have a budget and know what models you want you can begin your search. Where do you look to find that uber deal? We have gone down this road a few times and think we have come up with some good techniques. We will detail some websites and ideas to help you find your next ride. Here is where to look:
http://www.craigslist.comCraigslist is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free classified advertisements. There are usually quite a few ATVs for sale here. They are almost always listed by private sellers and are easy to find in your area. Private sellers always seem to have a better price than dealers and they are usually more willing to negotiate.
+ good selection, easy to search, good prices, FREE, flag fraudulent ads- watch out for fraudulent ads
http://www.atvtraderonline.com
ATV TraderOnline is an online version of the popular classifieds magazine that you find at a lot of gas stations. It has a large selection of ATVs and makes it very easy to find what you're looking for. Most of their inventory seems to be from dealers.
+ great selection, easy to search, no fraudulent ads- mostly dealer inventory, costs to post ads
http://www.atvfan.com
ATVFan.com is an online ATV community that allows its members to post free classifieds. You will find an easy interface to help you find your next ride.
+ easy to search, good prices, FREE, videos, flag fraudulent ads- smaller inventory
http://www.powersportsnetwork.com
Powersports Network is a large network of dealers in the powersports industry. Many dealers belong to this network and use it to post their inventory online. You can search the classifieds to find used ATVs in your area.
+ large inventory across many dealers, find inventory in your area- higher prices at dealers, website is cluttered and difficult to navigate
One of the best places to find a great deal is a trusty newspaper. Many people
simply don't have access to the Internet. Others just want to deal locally, and go to their local newspaper to sell
their ATV. The great thing about newspapers today is that they will still publish the ads to their website. We
have found this to be one of the best ways to find deals on dream machines. It is time
consuming, and often frustrating, but a thorough newspaper search will easily save you money.
We recently found a list of regional newspaper websites and checked their classifieds weekly for ATVs. In fact, we looked regularly at thirty different newspapers throughout our state searching for that perfect match. Some of the better deals we found were in small town newspapers. It took some patience, but we ended up with the ATV we wanted at the price we were willing to pay.
There are many other places online you can use to find an ATV. We have found most ATV sites to be practically worthless. The inventory is, more often than not, depleted or completely outdated. The big site we also avoided was eBay. It has the inventory, but is riddled with fraudulent listings and wallet-gouging prices. It is probably worth looking at--especially if you're in a hurry--but we think these other methods will work better for a true deal seeker.
So you found an ATV that catches your interest, now what? What should you look for before actually buying it? If you're looking
at utility quads, always find out the miles and hours on the machine. When possible, visually inspect the machine for any
problem areas. There are several areas that should provide surefire indicators of high mileage and past abuse. Check the tires, seat, and hand grips for wear. If these areas have been replaced or are significantly worn you can bet a lot of miles were put on the machine. Look over the under carriage for any serious dents or damage.
Examine the frame for any stress cracks. Look over the drivetrain for problems. Check all fluids to see if
they have been changed or look contaminated by water. Check the airbox to see how clean it is. Most
importantly, take it for a drive. If you do find a problem, but still want to buy, don't be afraid to negotiate.
We hope this will help you to find your first or next quad, and if you do, make sure you come park it in your ATVFan virtual garage. Use your garage to keep a service history and provide it to potential buyers when it's your turn to sell.
