Price of my first sled

I

Iowarider

Member
I was think back of when i bought my first sled in 1978. A Polaris SS340 for around $1900. Then I compare it to my 2012 Switback Assault. Just thinking how far technology and prices have advanced. I wonder what is over the horizen for the future.
 
J

jr37

Well-known member
Mine first new sled was a 1989 Yamaha Exciter, paid $4000 late season. That was a wasted 4 grand. 1700 miles and 2 engines later I said good by to that sled.
 
mezz

mezz

Well-known member
In the summer of 1977 I bought my first sled, used, 1973 Suzuki XR440, $300.00. Loved to ride, day and night, right after school, to & from basketball practice, thousands of miles. Been happily & hopelessly addicted ever since.:cool:-Mezz
 
J

jasono

New member
Iowarider said:
I was think back of when i bought my first sled in 1978. A Polaris SS340 for around $1900. Then I compare it to my 2012 Switback Assault. Just thinking how far technology and prices have advanced. I wonder what is over the horizen for the future.
Click to expand...

I remember my dad bringing home a new Yami 84 Phazer and i recall he paid about $2000 for it.

Now, think about this. The first sled I bought was a 2006 P Fusion 600 for $6200. Now, the fusion line wasn't the most loved, but I paid about triple what you did about 30 years later! Doesn't that make today's sleds seem pretty awesome priced? Second sled was 09 renegade 600 etec that was a leftover sled durring major recession purchased for about $7500. Now, my 3rd sled is a 2012 Summit SP 146 800 etec that I picked up for about $9700.

So, it seems to me that the prices have really gone up dramatically in the last 5 years. 300% increase in 30 years, 50% increase in 6 years.... my sleds are a little apples to oranges, but still comparable as pricing for each line of sled is always about the same base.
 
skiroule

skiroule

Well-known member
First Sled - 1968 Johnson Skee-Horse, Cost: $100 (with various components removed and in boxes)

Second Sled - 1972 Skiroule RTX 440, Cost: $400 (had more speed than I had common sense)

Last Sled - 2013 RMK Assault Powder, Cost: More than my first two houses (combined)
 
R

rodehard

New member
1969 Wheel Horse Safari. I bought it from my dad with a pull sled attachment. It had a 2 gal tank, 20 to 1 mix, bogie wheels and no suspension.
The next one was a 1972 Ski-doo TNT 775. Very hard to start but I sure thought it was fast. I remember it belching gas out of the carbs right on me. We coined the phrase "smells like a Ski-Doo" from those experiences
 
V

vmax1994

New member
So $1900 in 1978 adjusted for inflation is around $6700. I bet you paid about twice that for your new sled. Is it twice as nice and twice as capable? I would think it is so I think the price increases are reasonable. For about $8000 ($2250 in 1978 dollars) you could get a new sled that would put that old Polaris to shame.
 
bearrassler

bearrassler

Well-known member
The first new sled that I bought was a 1980 Polaris Centurion, I bought it from a Polaris employee for 2070.00 including sales tax. I rode sleds that my parents owned up until then. The next one was a 1988 Indy 400 for 3800.00. Then I became a Polaris dealer and over the next 12 years bought about 2000 new ones. The last one was last year, a 2012 Switchback Assault with electric start. The old Centurion was a blast.
 
T

Team Elkhorn

Guest
When we were kids our dad bought us each new 1978 Arctic Cat Jags. Great sleds for about $1200 each. I put over 5000 miles on mine in the two years I rode it before I bought my own sled. (Remember when we used to get snow down here?) Those free air 340 motors were over achievers. Got great fuel mileage too.
Even with all the technology now, I cant see why a snowmobile should cost over $10,000.:confused:
 
T

tman

Member
My first sled was a ski doo Olympic 1971 one lunger. Paid $350.00

The last sled I bought was a 1971 ski doo Olympic one lunger 335cc. Paid $410.00

A lot of yellow, black, white, purple, red stuff in between for way more money than I care to remember. I just finished washing the trailer, got it out of storage yesterday, come on December.
 
R

renegade2011

New member
bearrassler said:
The first new sled that I bought was a 1980 Polaris Centurion, I bought it from a Polaris employee for 2070.00 including sales tax. I rode sleds that my parents owned up until then. The next one was a 1988 Indy 400 for 3800.00. Then I became a Polaris dealer and over the next 12 years bought about 2000 new ones. The last one was last year, a 2012 Switchback Assault with electric start. The old Centurion was a blas t.
Click to expand...

My first sled was also a 1980 polaris centurion used for 900. It was one heavy no suspension triple cylinder sled but it was something to ride. Only lasted one winter fried a piston and had new pistons and rings put in but was never right. Second sled polaris Indy 500 efi 1992 used paid 1200 rode that for several years till efi started acting up. Traded it in on my first new sled polaris 500 xc so edge no frills sled 2003 for only 3700. Had a 06 Skidoo gsx 500ss for awhile awesome sled bought new 6900. Currently have 2012 Skidoo renegade 600 etec and 2011 Skidoo 1200 4- Tec. Bought bought new as well. 7200 and 7700. Mine haven't gotten too out of hand yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top