RZR Disappointment

I bought a new 2011 RZR S 9 months ago. We have been out a few times and I have put about 700 miles on it. Now I like my buggy but Im so disappointed in the quality of Polaris and the S. I think most have seen the post about the melting vent lines, well mine not only melted the vent lines but also melted the bed, tool box, and and a hole the size of a coke can in the cover behind the passenger seat. ( I dont know how it did not catch on fire with all the melted plastic) Now because I was out of warrenty by 3 weeks when this happended Polaris covered the parts and I had to pay for labor. The dealer put it back the way is was and the lines melted again on the next ride. So I took the bed off run new lines around the bottom of the motor ( away from the header pipe ) and installed a heat shield over the bed. now at the 9 month mark the bushings on the right lower arm are shot. so now im out another $200 for new bushings ( im going to replace all of them with after market ones now ) When we ride we go to mostly dirt parks and ride 20 to 30 miles at a time, the longest ride I have done is 120 miles in one day. I dont race, jump, or go in deep mud holes, just general trail riding and I clean it top to bottom after every ride.

I think it is sad that I spent $14,000 on a RZR S and it is falling apart in less then a year :rm_thumbdown:

Thanks for letting me vent now its off to the shop to start the tear down and repair process.

ohhh when I said those kind of things about my Arctic Cat I got roasted!!
Maybe they are all junk...

Hollon wrote:

Maybe they are all junk...

I would not say that any of them are junk. But there is no doubt that the extra weight that these machines,cargo, and occupants have place a great deal of stress on the components with the way we ride them. People who go from a ATV to a UTV can immediately see the extra maintenance that is required to keep them running compared to the ATV they used to own.

Now the melting issue is a definite design problem that should be recalled and fixed. This is typical Polaris bullshit to ignore it and fix it when they have to. As long as they are selling them as fast as they can make them, don't look for a resolution to the problems anytime soon.

I havent seen one brand yet that doesnt have problem areas but if you mention any of the problems other folks want to call you out about it and say you are bashing that product. it falls in line with two of the biggest lies people tell, #1 how much they paid for their house, # 2 how much they paid for their car. everybody want to think they got a great deal on the car they drive....(they didn't) so they lie and almost always quote a price less than they actually paid. its reversed on the house deal, they will almost always give you a higher price than they actually paid. So nobody wants to think they were silly enough to buy a piece of crap so they lie and say its great.

if you don't believe these things to be true, then ask a car salesman and a Realtor

My rhino has been a Damn good machine. Other then the mishaps I did to it. So yes they can build something good.

my Rhino was a tuff little booger too, now that machine, I abused!!

I agree with the bushings!! I'm on my third set in a years time. Oh well, I guess thats the price you pay to play!

At 700 miles you better start checking your ball joints, tie rod ends and brake pads. They are due! Oh, add wheel bearings to the check list.

My 2010 was not six months old and I was on my second set of ball joints, third set of tie rod ends, and second set of brake pads... also second tranny and wheel bearings.

These things are money pits... but a whole lot of fun. I budget $100 per riding day for spare parts and basic maintenance. Major stuff is extra.

I love my Rhino, I beat on it pretty good....And it never lets me down. It's been on 100+ mile rides, and she's never missed a lick.....I usually replace my wheel bearings, ball joints, tie-rod end's, once a year. I'm still on the factory stock bushings. I just grease every zerk after every ride, no squeaks, wobbles anything.
Shes got over 5500 miles on her, and it runs like the day I brung it home.
I love my Rhino..........

Not to start an argument.....But I remember Ridepate saying the RZR is a 1000 mile, one year machine.

High Performance = High maintenance! Think of a RZR like a corvette, lots of oomph, but lots more issues. My Teryx is like a diesel truck...not nearly as much performance, but less problems. Rhino's are the gold standard!

I've had all major brand ATV's - nothing performed like my Popo, but I spent more time wrenching on it than all my other ATV's combined!!

well i have 2700 plus miles on my ball joints and no play in them. put 3 sets of bushings in the last set i put in are super daves and i have 1300 plus miles on rear in and out no play in them have had 3 right tie rods put on and 1 left and new steering box and 1 left front bearing warranty payed for it all expect for the bushings because i didn't want popo's. derlins don't last much longer either. but super daves have. mine also was the early 2010 so the tran. was fixed to. one set of brakes and thats all thats been done hope it stays that way knock on wood

Stench wrote:

High Performance = High maintenance! Think of a RZR like a corvette, lots of oomph, but lots more issues. My Teryx is like a diesel truck...not nearly as much performance, but less problems. Rhino's are the gold standard!

I've had all major brand ATV's - nothing performed like my Popo, but I spent more time wrenching on it than all my other ATV's combined!!

Very well said. Stench for Prez!!!

nocerisdave wrote:

Stench wrote:

High Performance = High maintenance! Think of a RZR like a corvette, lots of oomph, but lots more issues. My Teryx is like a diesel truck...not nearly as much performance, but less problems. Rhino's are the gold standard!

I've had all major brand ATV's - nothing performed like my Popo, but I spent more time wrenching on it than all my other ATV's combined!!

Very well said. Stench for Prez!!!

I some what agree. I don't think any of the manufacturers have the SxS down yet. They are still using atv parts on a machine tagged is twice the weight.

I got to say with 2200+ miles the rhino has been great other than the bearings and brakes pretty much maintenance free. Although I did bend a spindle ( which was all my fault) i think airborne can attest to that. I am still running stock tierod ends and stock balljoints but I do had stock balljoints in the mail. And any who rides with me will tell you I do my pm's but ride this thing hard. I guess that's why I have still gotten this thing and probably will still have it till Yamaha steps up and builds a sport Sxs.

I hope you have better luck after all the fixes bro I agree it sucks to have that much maintenance on such an expensive machine

My rex 1300 miles, 0ne set of front brae pads 16.00

~1500 miles on my 2010 Ranger. Other than a bad ignition switch, injector timing, regular fluid changes and 2 sets of parking brake pads, all has been good.

The Teryx is just as bad when it comes to a arm bushings. I had 1700 miles on mine and went threw 5 or 6 sets of front a arm bushings

roadiestar wrote:

The Teryx is just as bad when it comes to a arm bushings. I had 1700 miles on mine and went threw 5 or 6 sets of front a arm bushings

most of us don't drive like you Roadie!

1800 miles on Rhino one set btake pads at thats it, drove a 010 rzr S last weekend WOW WHAT A RIDE but i will stick with the rhino

Stench wrote:

roadiestar wrote:

The Teryx is just as bad when it comes to a arm bushings. I had 1700 miles on mine and went threw 5 or 6 sets of front a arm bushings

most of us don't drive like you Roadie!

What are you saying ?

2009 teryx with 1300 miles. two sets of bushings one bearing and two sets of pads.

roadiestar wrote:

Stench wrote:

roadiestar wrote:

The Teryx is just as bad when it comes to a arm bushings. I had 1700 miles on mine and went threw 5 or 6 sets of front a arm bushings

most of us don't drive like you Roadie!

What are you saying ?

Nothing...

Yep I dont know which is a bigger money pit my rzr or the boat I had.Today I raised my rzr up with 800 miles on it and the lower balljoints are wore out and the rear a-arm bushings are wore out .I will fix all of these problems myself but if the damn parts dont last no longer than these did its time to start inventing something stronger and better.

Kent when we going riding again?

Bad quality and Polaris go hand in hand. Sorry about your trouble.