From the President

From the MnUSA President The Key to Buying an Entry-Level Sled

Scott Wakefield

With the pandemic we have seen an influx of people wanting to get out of the house and participate in a sport that is naturally social distanced and masked by its own definition. Great! Well, some of those new snowmobilers need to be educated on where they can drive, and where they can’t, but besides that we are welcoming the influx and the manufacturers have taken notice with entry-level sleds. Find an excellent article on entry-level sleds by Joel Kunz, in this edition of Minnesota Snowmobiling, the official publication of MnUSA and its members.

I’d like to take the entry-level area a bit further. Although the manufacturers have done a great job building entry-level snowmobiles featuring technology only available on top-ofthe-line sleds from just a few years ago, and with a very good warranty program, they may still be out of reach for some. In order to keep snowmobilers joining the sport, it needs to fun, engaging, easy to do, but more importantly affordable for people to participate. I have talked on numerous radio stations and even been interviewed for some TV stations, and one of the questions I always get from the non-snowmobile side is, “How do I get involved and get a snowmobile I can ride and afford?” My answer is, “I’ve developed a 4-tiered system— one that won’t break the bank or skyrocket your debt-toincome ratio, and keep you within your family budget.”

Everybody’s expendable income level is different, but you need to start at the first tier which is under $1,000.00. I have seen numerous entry-level sleds in this range. I have one in my brood—a 1987 Polaris Indy Trail 340—a fun sled and very reliable.

The next is tier #2. This is the $1,000 to $4,000 range. I just sold one in this range—a 2002 Polaris Classic 2-up with 4,500 miles on it. These sleds have seen some mileage on them, but with proper care, and being somewhat mechanically savvy, are very affordable.

Tier #3 is $4,000 to $8,000. You can get some really good sleds in this group, with newer suspensions and newer technology, but maybe with some high miles, and some potential repairs coming in the not-too-distant future. This tier could come along with monthly payments in most cases of under $200.00 on the low end of the tier, and under $300 on the upper end of the tier. If you need to finance, tier 3 is a very good tier to be in, and can get you to the 2017 year on some manufacturer’s sleds.

Tier #4 is $8,000 to $10,000. I was at Hay Days trying to buy for a buddy in tier #3 this past year, and it’s a toughie. I could find 2018 and 2019, not in tier #3 but in tier #4. Tier #4 can be difficult in trying to weigh the warranty factor of a new sled vs. used in that higher end of tier #4. So, if you’re looking in tier #4, you’re looking for 2018-2019 sleds.

The key here is stay within your budget. Don’t overspend on something that is a “want” and not a “need,” but there is no reason in the world that you can’t enjoy snowmobiling in today’s market, even with a COVID push in prices. You just need to be prudent in your decision making and use my fourtiered approach. Your checkbook will thank you.

If you’d like to discuss further or talk sleds and prices and what you’re seeing out there, drop me a line. Thank you for continuing your commitment to Minnesota Snowmobiling, and making us one of the best state organizations in the upper Midwest. We really appreciate it. Spread the news and grab a buddy or two and sign up with your local club today.

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