new or usead need help going to buy this week

[sljim]

looking at a couple 2011 frointer 8x8's one is new with skid plate, brush gaurd, winch,hitch,bildge pump $14036.00 out the door. The other 2011 frointer 8x8 165hrs,plactic tracks,skid plate, $12600.00.
Let hear from you as I'm going to bite the bullet soon.
Let me hear from some frointer owener good or bad

THANKS
JIM

[racerone3]

I'm usually all for buying used. These are worse than cars about losing value, but in this case, I would probably drop the (less than) 2K difference. 165 isn't a TON of hours on one of these machines, but with the new machine you will probably have a warranty out the door. I've seen a bunch of bearings and chains fail with less hours use than that depending on riding conditions and of course maintence.

[thebuggyman1]

Why a frontier? What advances does it have over the older responce/conquests? They can be had much cheaper.
If I end up spending that much coin, I'm gonna have an avenger.
Hey, check out this one: http://www.6x6world.com/forums/aatvs...ger-700-a.html

[MaxRules]

I think the Frontier 8x8 is the all-around best machine on the market. It totally blows away the previous model (Response, Conquest) 8x8s so we can't put them in the same comparison. The Avenger has more horsepower which is always welcome, but it comes at a cost. The Avenger is much more front heavy and floats nose low, especially with the winch and accessories on the front. The Frontier has the same driveline and lower body. Open the hood on the Frontier and you have a very simple, air cooled engine. Not much to go wrong in there with the proven Vanguard engine and it has a pull starter on top of that. The Avenger is a great machine, but the Frontier shouldn't always be over looked just because it isn't the biggest (or most expensive).

To help answer your question: People buy used vehicles when they don't want to spend the money to buy new. When you are comparing 12k to 14k, you are in the new vehicle ballpark. There is just nothing better than taking home a brand new machine. Plastic tracks are nothing great anyway, so take home the new machine and add Adair tracks if you need them in the future.

[thebuggyman1]

Brandon: the frontier has the same frame as the avenger? I thought the avenger was the only one to lift the rear wheel for easy turning.

[MaxRules]

I don't know of any variations between the frames of the Frontier and non-HDI Avenger. Both vehicles have the front and rear axles 1" higher than the center axles to allow easier steering. The Avenger does come with front and rear axle bearing extensions and skid plate standard, where the Frontier has only front bearing extensions standard. That's just like the Conquest and Reponse were. There is a $2400 difference between the two vehicles (Frontier 8x8 23hp, Avenger 8x8 26hp, both carbed) in the 2011 retail prices, so there is plenty of room to work and add accessories to the Frontier.

[gusgus]

saw this one on craigslist in maine, not sure if its a scam, tracks are rubber in the pics might worth a shot


2011 650 frontier - $12500 (yarmouth me)

Date: 2011-08-31, 2:39PM EDT
Reply to: sale-fgvv4-2575508304@craigslist.org

2011 argo 650 frontier about 100 hrs loaded bought new in january for 20,000 would like 12,500 . call for more info. accessories include tracks , brush guard, off road lights, canopy, motor mount, bilge pump front and rear mount winch. all black

[sljim]

The new one I.m looking at is close to home,just wondering if it's a good price.i live in northen saskatchewan and do some outfitting and getting tired of the damage getting done to the 4 wheels do to lots of water in the bush.

[Rock Doctor]

I think the Frontier 8x8 is the all-around best machine on the market. It totally blows away the previous model (Response, Conquest) 8x8s so we can't put them in the same comparison. .

Hey Max, can you enlighten us on this comment? It's not that I doubt you, it's just that I can't think of anyplace that a Frontier will go that a Responce or Conquest won't. I also don't know of anything that a Frontier will do that the older models can't do. About the only differences I can think of between the two's abilities is that the Frontier has slightly more centerline clearance under the tub, and the older Conquests and Responces are built out of stronger body material. I think they are all good machines, but in no way does one blow the others away.

RD

[Rock Doctor]

The new one I.m looking at is close to home,just wondering if it's a good price.i live in northen saskatchewan and do some outfitting and getting tired of the damage getting done to the 4 wheels do to lots of water in the bush.

I agree with Maxrules on the prices, and the plastic track comment. Go for the new one. If you decide down the road that you NEED tracks, you can always get a set, and like mentioned, the plastic tracks are nothing to write home about, especially in the summer time.

RD

[MaxRules]

Hey Max, can you enlighten us on this comment? It's not that I doubt you, it's just that I can't think of anyplace that a Frontier will go that a Responce or Conquest won't. I also don't know of anything that a Frontier will do that the older models can't do. About the only differences I can think of between the two's abilities is that the Frontier has slightly more centerline clearance under the tub, and the older Conquests and Responces are built out of stronger body material. I think they are all good machines, but in no way does one blow the others away.

RD

I agree they are all good machines and each one fills a different need. I'm glad someone asked for details because I have had many experiences where performance was greatly different between the vehicles. The tires and lower body make the biggest difference, followed closely by the transmission. The Conquest and Response came standard with the 22" Runamuk tires with no factory option for a more aggressive tread. We had no luck with the Argos outfitted with the Runamuk tires. It's difficult to even drive out of a pond with any kind of steep bank with those tires. I've had to turn the vehicle around in the water and back out. Even then it's a 50/50 shot if you'll make it or not. Embarrassing for an amphibious vehicle, to say the least. I have climbed the steepest pond banks you can possibly climb with the Avenger and it just blasts right out. Upgrading the Conquest to the 24" Argo tire helps a lot but you still have the lower body problem to stick the vehicle.

Look at the lower body of the Conquest, on each side there is a vertical ledge in front of the chain wells. That design catches mud and ruts and stops it cold. Now look at the Avenger and Frontier. The body flows smoothly all the way under the vehicle and the axles are pushed all the way out to the edge, so the tires catch land before the body hits.

Then you have the transmission. When the Avenger came out in 2004, I was disappointed to find Argo built a whole new transmission and it was still a differential (not true AWD). I hated it until I tried it, then I wouldn't drive anything else. First thing you'll notice is how quiet it is at all speeds. Many Response/Conquests I've drive have a trans that is louder than the engine and I'm not exaggerating. Then you get the Avenger in the mud and when you stay on the throttle, all wheels spin. Driver input is rarely needed when you keep the throttle up while it's nearly impossible to keep all eight turning on a Conquest. Try this easy test: raise a Conquest and Avenger completely off the ground. Put the Conquest in high and give it some throttle. More often than not, just a difference in resistance from the chains and bearings will cause only one side of wheels to spin. Hit the throttle and one side spins wildly while the other is in neutral. Now do the same with the Avenger and hit the throttle. All eight spin and it's very hard to stop one side. Sure it's still a differential (that's how it steers) but it keeps all eight spinning a LOT better than the old trans. Combine that 'feature' with the improved shifter, better brakes/steering, and silent gears and it's a winner.

I could go on and on describing real world situations I've been in with both vehicles but that would take all night. All the Argos are well built and each model does it's own thing well. In today's market, the '04 Conquest will sell first over the '08 Avenger simply because the Avenger is double the price. The Conquest will take you almost anywhere you need to go. As my nickname implies, I'm a Max man at the end of the day so my standard for off-road performance is high.

[Rock Doctor]

Ah, ok. I see you make your comparison "out of the box" so to speak. That's good I was dreading having to explain to my Conquest that it could no longer run with the big guys, that it's not possible, lol.
I will have to ( respectfully ) disagree about the trans. At least for in the conditions I ride in. I have found that I have much better control of the machine with sticks than with the handle bars ( although I do see how it's easier for newcomers to get the hang of the new system) . At this point, I have seen way to many of the new transmitions pile up to be comfortable trusting them. ( Although I've heard, again, that ODG has a fix for the problem)
I don't know man, I hear what your saying, but at the end of the day. I can haul heavier loads all the same places, just as fast. Now driver ability must play some part in this, comfort and knowledge in your machine plays a part too.
Would love to go for a ride with you sometime, maybe we could learn some things from each other.

RD