Wass Up Argo

[tracmaster]

My Question is ...Does Argo do any real world testing before vehicles are offered for sale? ...Too many upgrades in to short a time!!. .I own a 2007 Avenger efi and already have install a new brake lever system and now they upgrade the chain adjusters...and the upgrades are marginal at best..Wass Up Argo! These are not simple changes and makes me feel that the vehicle was never really tested. Seems they leave finding the problems to the customers. We all know there's not much to an argo except the engine, brake system, chain system, tires and a tub.. so why so many problems.. Having to revamp the brakes and ajusters makes me feel alittle ripped off not to mention very poor fit and finish on the plastic...Almost forgot the plastic in the front compartment to the left and right where you step in and out also needs trimmed and two brackets added to hold it in place. There are bulletins for all these upgrades but only the dealers get them and only if you complain will they ever tell you they exist. $18,500 This will be my last Argo.. I have owned 4 new rides and they continully get worse..Huge tires same axles and bearings..really poor braking system..Bigger engines with the same frame and smaller chains... I feel that honda, yamaha and others are begining to see some major profits being made in this field and they will soon build a brand new mostly mantainence free 6 and 8 wheelers in the near future. Just had to vent so don't chop my head off!..OK

[Roger S]

What can you expect.. it's made in north america. You expected Jap quality? The best designed thing in mine is the briggs&stratton vanguard engine. It was designed in Japan

Not to be misunderstood, I agree. For the $, I expect more from max or argo. I think the value is in used machines.

[MaxRules]

I agree with you although I don't believe it's quite as bad as you make it sound. That is a lot of cash for a very simple machine - recalls and upgrades aside. I've rode every new model Max and Argo and overall they are good machines. That being said, they are nothing compared to the quality and high tech engineering of the big name side-by-side utility vehicles. I just bought a 2004 Yamaha Rhino 660. It's my first side X side and I'm thrilled to death to say the least. It has fully independant suspension all the way around, a dump bed, seats two comfortably, 12" of ground clearance, and a 40hp engine that gives 'er hell up to 45mph. Combine all that with push button on command true four wheel drive and it can't be beat. Best of all, a brand new Rhino 700 with EFI can be had for only about $10,500.
Wait....! Am I selling Max.... or Yamaha?

[jerrynuss]

Remember you are selling the benefits of the amphibious AATV and not just the assembled parts. The Japanese vehicles are very nice but they still won't go through deep water, and as capable as the AATV.

My Porsche is extremely refined and quiet and smooth and a pleasure to drive but it won't haul a load of plywood or gravel like my truck.

If the Japanese built an AATV would parts be readily available in 15 years, would the design changes with new models get away from the original reason it was designed and no longer serve that purpose?

[boncrshr]

Brandon,

I hate it when you make sense! Too true on all of the things you mentioned, all of my hunting partners have Polaris machines.....speaking in strictly financial terms, I will say one thing the Max (I'm ignorant about Argo) has over the mainstream quad brands is that maintenance and repair are WAY cheaper. I've seen that first hand, although I will admit that maintenance is almost nil on the quads, people just drive them till they break.

[boncrshr]

What can you expect.. it's made in north america. You expected Jap quality? The best designed thing in mine is the briggs&stratton vanguard engine. It was designed in Japan

Not to be misunderstood, I agree. For the $, I expect more from max or argo. I think the value is in used machines.

Although I respect Jap quality....let me tell a funny, but true story. When my wife and I started dating, she was constantly making fun of my 2000 Jeep Cherokee, saying I should get a foreign car because American models break down. Guess she didn't know that Cherokees are anvils. I would make her so mad because I kept telling her that I would be driving the Cherokee long after her 2001 Accord was scrap. To date, she has had to replace the transmission, 3 radios, A/C 2x in the shop. The only breakdown I have had was a starter. My Jeep has 145,000, her Honda just turned 100K....BTW, she wants a Commander in the near future. She will be the first Asian chick I know driving a Jeep! Around here the Rexus is the status symbol of choice for upwardly mobile Asians.

[tracmaster]

Last year when Yamaha realized the Rhino needed doors for safety reasons they supplied them free to all Rhino owners regardless of vehicle age..... they also sent a letter to all owners to ensure they all knew of the problem and installed the upgrade free of charge. This is what i am talking about!!.. Can't speak for Max but Argo knew or should have known that bad brakes are a health issue and did nothing to inform their customers.. Loose chains on the other hand create another health hazard for the driver and can easily destroy the machine and again no letter... This is what i am talking about!..Lack of respect! .. Buyers should not have to pay for safety upgrades . ...This is a very slick way of making more money from a poorly designed machine...Watch your back Argo ...some company surely has a amphib on the drawing board by now and all of us 6 and 8 wheel riders should look forward to much better machines in the future. Could write more but need to go to work to pay for Argos mistakes....Over and out!!

Tracmaster

[philipatmaxfour]

2007 Avenger EFI

[QUOTE=tracmaster;16883]. .I own a 2007 Avenger efi ..................now they upgrade the chain adjusters... very poor fit and finish on the plastic...Almost forgot the plastic in the front compartment to the left and right where you step in and out also needs trimmed and two brackets added to hold it in place.

I own the same machine,but I don't know about upgrades to the chain adjusters.......................
could you post a picture to show where the plastic needs trimmed.....and the two brackets added?

I get different reactions from people when I ask about retrofitting the emergency parking brake but I would like one!!

[RKlingborg]

Phili the park brake can be added to your 07. not as an up grade but as an add on. As for the Rhino's it was cheeper to give the door and install than buying back all the Rhino's becouse its a safety recall. there still triing to get them out lawed do to easy rollover deathes of younge poeple that should have not been driving in the first place.

[rdr]

Phili the park brake can be added to your 07. not as an up grade but as an add on. As for the Rhino's it was cheeper to give the door and install than buying back all the Rhino's becouse its a safety recall. there still triing to get them out lawed do to easy rollover deathes of younge poeple that should have not been driving in the first place.

AMENNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

[rdr]

I agree with you although I don't believe it's quite as bad as you make it sound. That is a lot of cash for a very simple machine - recalls and upgrades aside. I've rode every new model Max and Argo and overall they are good machines. That being said, they are nothing compared to the quality and high tech engineering of the big name side-by-side utility vehicles. I just bought a 2004 Yamaha Rhino 660. It's my first side X side and I'm thrilled to death to say the least. It has fully independant suspension all the way around, a dump bed, seats two comfortably, 12" of ground clearance, and a 40hp engine that gives 'er hell up to 45mph. Combine all that with push button on command true four wheel drive and it can't be beat. Best of all, a brand new Rhino 700 with EFI can be had for only about $10,500.
Wait....! Am I selling Max.... or Yamaha?

DOES IT FLOAT BRANDON ?????????????? NOPE

[tracmaster]

Hey Phil.. E brake would be nice..let me know if you install it..probably a ten on difficulty..ODG made the slots on the adjusters much deeper..not sure why but i can only guess they were slipping or abnormal wear..ordered one from the dealer on Monday should get it tomorrow..about the piece of plastic that needs cut...Odg made a production line change after our serial numbers that removed a large section over the wheel wells..Hard to explain but ODG said people were catching there clothes and warpage was unaccepable. I'll PM you my work number ..ask for Joe.. call me so i can explain in more detail...

Tracmaster

[DerekF]

OK, This raises flags for me.

I have been lurking around this site for a few months and have recently decided to finalize a deal for a new EFI avenger. I have used argos before (my Dad has one) and my one issue with them is that they are not as tough (reliable) as they really should be considering what they are designed to go through. I have taken them out and things have broken on them when I thought it was being operated with in "normal" offroad parameters. We were not baggin on 'em in other words.

I definately want an argo but I definately do not want to be stuck 20 miles in some valley in the mountains because a drive gear shaft broke.

If an average quad is 10 out of 10 on the reliability scale, where will my new avenger likely sit? 6 out of 10? 7,8, 2 ?

DerekF

[boncrshr]

For what it's worth, my opinion is that the amphibs can be just as reliable as quads....you will just have to re-adjust your thoughts on maintenance. You must really know your machine inside and out, perform regular maintenance, and be very pro-active with changing essential parts at the first hint of something wrong. So there will definitely be more regular maintenance, however; the capabilities of the 6x6 offset this IMO. Also, the replacement parts for the amphibs are generally much cheaper than the quads. You're just not going to be able to change fluids and plugs at the first of the season and forget about it.

[MaxRules]

OK, This raises flags for me.

I have been lurking around this site for a few months and have recently decided to finalize a deal for a new EFI avenger. I have used argos before (my Dad has one) and my one issue with them is that they are not as tough (reliable) as they really should be considering what they are designed to go through. I have taken them out and things have broken on them when I thought it was being operated with in "normal" offroad parameters. We were not baggin on 'em in other words.

I definately want an argo but I definately do not want to be stuck 20 miles in some valley in the mountains because a drive gear shaft broke.

If an average quad is 10 out of 10 on the reliability scale, where will my new avenger likely sit? 6 out of 10? 7,8, 2 ?

DerekF

I definately don't want this topic to lead anyone to believe an Argo or Max is unreliable. Both brands build very tough vehicles. Argo did have a few issues with their new model, but it is the first completely new body style in 30 years. The problems were minor and not everyone had them. It can happen on any new product reguardless of cost.

I would not hesitate to take an Argo on a big Alaskan adventure many miles into the wilderness. In fact, I fully intend to do so one of these days. Maintenance is kept to a minimum and is very easy compared to 6x6s many years ago. Argo's auto chain adjusters usually work really well and the axle bearings are sealed up so well that they last hundreds of hours in harsh conditions. I love riding 4x4 ATVs and my Rhino, but Max and Argo is my vehicle of choice for mud, heavy brush, or just extreme riding. Argo is built like a brick sh!t house and will bounce off trees and smash through the thickest brush you can find without damage. I love my Rhino, but it won't replace an Argo in the terrain an amphib was designed for.