By David on Unrecorded Date: Edit

From what I can see, the Max and Argo machines are amazing. They are also extremely expensive. Do any of you regret your purchase? Should I go ahead and get one or should I just pass? Any regrets on yours out there?

By Midwest atv's #1 in 2000 (Hustler) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Dave, Yes they are expensive and worth a lot more. You will have so much fun riding them. The Argo and Max are both great aatv's. If you can afford one of them go for it you will never regret it.

By Bill Schmelzer on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David, I bought my first atv or aatv in January, a new 2000 16 hp Max II. Mainly because the price was right. I added the RI plow. I am very pleased, but wish I could have afforded the IV due to passenger and cargo room. I have taken it places in my woods where I would never take my tricycle front tractor. It is an absolute hoot! My wife and grandkids love it, too, and my wife took to driving it very easily. I am 59 and it extends my range and time in the woods. Maybe take a look at the reconditioned machines Richard has. Good luck.

Bill Schmelzer, Wausau, WI

By P.J. on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David: Buyer's remorse quickly disappears when you go for your first ride. These things are safe, durable and far more versatile than any other kind of atv. Believe me, you won't regret it.

P.J.

By Harry Dusseau (Dirtyharry) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David-
I bought an 18hp MAX II in 1996. I have driven the snot out of it over the last five years and it has been a total blast. Yes, I have had to do the occasional repair; mainly axles, and this is because I tried to play it cheap and bought hollow axles. (They suck. Buy solids!) All other work under the hood has just been routine maintainence; oil change, fresh air & fuel filters, etc. Nothing you wouldn't encounter with any other machine designed for & used in similar situations.

Having been though all of that, looking back, my only regret is that I didn't buy a four passenger MAX IV. I had the money, and should've just went ahead and upgraded. Shortly after bringing my MAX II back home, LOTS of friends were out for rides. Usually it was my two best friends, or my best friend and his wife, or my cousin and his girlfriend. You get the picture - I always wound up a seat or two short. This "problem" would 've been non-existant with a MAX IV.

The new IV's are really sweet. Even more backseat comfort for your friends and family since Recreatives redesigned the IV with three inches or so more legroom in the back. (That may not sound like much, but it made a world of difference when I recently rode in an older, 18hp cramped MAX IV, and then a roomier, new 25hp MAX IV: no more knees in your chest!!)

If you can afford it, (or even if you can't and you're buying it on credit), do yourself a favor and get that bigger machine. You will find a zillion uses for the extra space. Even if no one else will be with you, you'll be able to carry a LOT more gear & stuff out with you on trips. And when you DO need the extra passenger space... there it is!

A final word of advice: get the biggest engine available! You can NEVER have too much power!!! Besides, the new 25hp Kohler in the MAX IV is just killer. The 20hp Kohler in the MAX II is really sweet, too.

Regardless, you WILL have fun in an amphibious ATV, and you'll never run out of folks wanting to know "What the heck is that thing you're driving?" followed seconds later by "Hey! Will you take me/us for a ride? Please??" Trust me. ;-)

RIDE ON!!!

DirtyHARRY
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By Kevin Vallelunga (Kevinv123) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

98 Argo Vanguard fully loaded, track, top, alternator, skid plate, winch. Only regret is not adding the plow. I financed it and another $1200 would not have made the wife any more mad than she was.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

harry,
i guess the new max IV 's leg room is nice now that you dont have your nees in your chest, but now there up agenced plywood back of the drivers seat, it's a painful ride let me tell yah, i got out in about 2 minets, it's all i could take of that pain! i sugested to a rep from RI that thay pad both sides of the frount seat so pasengers in back will stil be able to walk after riding in one.thay need pading on the seat suports as well!

By David on Unrecorded Date: Edit

What about those plastic (High Desnity something) bodies, do they hold up? It seems like they'd fall apart after the undercarriage took a beating going throught the woods?

Thanks for the replies and advice all, sounds like you all are more than satisfied. The price kills me, seems really expensive.

By Harry Dusseau (Dirtyharry) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David-
The HDPE bodies of both the MAX and ARGO can take a pounding all day and come back for more. I (and friends & family) have unintentionally ran smack into trees with my MAX II. The front end bows in like a 'V', and then pops back out. Try that with your quad! (Better yet... don't!!)

As I said in my previous post, I have driven my machine pretty hard over the last five years, and except for a few minor scratches, the body (upper & lower) looks as good as new. These things are designed to take a tremendous amount of punishment and bounce back for more. The two halves form a clamshell and allow the body a fair amount of flex, which helps absorb skids and impacts. Nothing is indestrucible, but compared to fiberglass or brittle plastic fenders and body panels on most quads, the MAX and ARGO are worlds apart in ruggedness and longevity.

If you really have to justify the purchase price, figure it out like this:

What's a new 4x4 quad with at least 600cc or bigger engine gonna run you?? Compare to the cost of a fully loaded MAX IV or ARGO Bigfoot. NOW...

If you plan on taking friends or family along on trips in your ampihib ATV, for each member you would take, figure the cost of an additional quad for each (remember - 1 rider per machine, as stated in quad owner's manuals the world over).
Factor in the cost of the various equipment that a quad rider needs (helmet + ride 'armor' + boots + gloves + goggles) & multiply for each rider.
Factor in insurance for each quad
Factor in fuel costs for each
Factor in the maintainence costs (fluids, plugs, filters) for each
Factor in the cost of a trailer big enough to haul all of those machines
Factor in the cost of tie-downs, chains and bungees to hold all of them onto that trailer
Factor in spare parts needed on hand in order to keep X-amount of quads trail-ready on a trip, or just riding around at home
Factor in the repair bills for each quad when something goes wrong that you cannot fix yourself and you must lug it to the nearest Yamahonduki dealer

N O W . . .

ADD ALL OF THESE FIGURES UP. YOU'LL SOON FIND YOUR CHECKBOOK DROWNING IN A SEA THAT'S THE DEEPEST SHADE OF RED.

It's pretty easy to see where an amphibious ATV that can accomodate the whole family will pay for itself over time. AATVs are simple and easy for anyone to master (young or old, male or female), with no special balance tricks or body postures to figure out. The whole bunch rides together, experienceing and sharing the great outdoors as a unit, instead of seperately, racing all over with no sense of togetherness.

AATVs are more rugged and simpler by design than high-tech 4x4 quads. AATVs are far easier to service yourself. Basic service doesn't require a fancy degree or employment at NASA to figure out.

Unless you're all about speed, an AATV is the machine for the true outdoorsman. You can get where you want in comfort (jeans and a t-shirt) and take your time (although modern AATVs can zip along pretty fast if you feel like scooting). And let's not forget safety! You sit inside an AATV instead of straddling it, like a quad. With the available rollbars/cages and seatbelts, the safety comparison between an amphib and a quad is a joke. There is no comparison.

What more do you need to know? AATVs are the original All Terrain Vehicle. Anything else is just a pretender to the throne.

RIDE ON!!!
DirtyHARRY
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By davidb3rd@aol.com (David3rdd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

david
in thiry years the plastic might be the only thing left to a vehicle if it is not cept up, the body plastic is very durable, you can peal some off on rocks, but you try not too.
and if somhow you do manage to poke a hole threw one it can be welded or a bolt & washer can fix smal holes, heaven forbid a metal patch or somthing will work, new bodys are available too! if thats what you want,