Anybody selling new machines out there?

[wheeler]

This market is tough but is anybody selling any new machines anywhere in the country?

[Eldon]

I'm not sure if dealers frequent this forum nor do I know if Mike allows dealers to post sales information or not .I do know some forums do not.Regarding new sales of Max I do know you seldom hear from anyone here who has a brand new machine.You can get a feel for what is happening by going to RI's site and check through the stock that dealers still have.In many cases you will find stock that while is still new, is as old as 1995 in at least one instance.Many dealers have 2005,2006 and so on "new" machines in stock.I know in Canada we only have a couple of dealers and here I know sales are extremely slow.I believe Max has the capability to produce about 2000 machines a year(not a lot on a world scale) .The serial numbers on Max vehicles run consecutively from year to year leading me to believe in recent years their production figures are probably more in line with 600 or so though this is only my guess,no data to back this up.I think Max vehicles are tops and so does everyone on this forum but here is the problem:in limited production numbers to survive RI needs a higher profit margin per vehicle than vehicles that are mass produced by the thousands.Further to get the best of your Max you need accessories and these add fast.I read your post in which RI indicated that soon they will be raising the price possibly 8% or more.I can certainly understand their need to do this in these times but the price is what is restricting sales now.
The car manufacturers increased their sales by innovations,lower prices and better quality control.Max is up against some tough competition who are rapidly improving their product and are price competitive.I am rooting for Max as I believe their drive system is the best out there but I don't make their sales.The public has to be convinced and this is a hard sell in times of latest and greatest technology.I did find it curious that forum members seemed reluctant to respond to some of your questions as I know some know what I say to be the case.........Now the short answer.....the Max is tops....amphibian sales are not figures like quads or dirt bikes...not even in the ball park.The price of a fully outfitted new Max is out of the budget reach of many of those who would be otherwise interested in buying one.I personally don't believe that with sluggish sales RI can increase their fortunes with a hefty price increase but I hope they can........for sure.

[rdr]

whipper has copel max's new so pm him

[MaxRules]

Wheeler, I talk to dealers throughout the year about sales. Of those who will give me a real answer, I'd say sales of two or three vehicles this year is doing real good. Max and Argo sales are pretty much the same from the info I get, but Argo sells many more vehicles outside the US so their overall sales are better than Max.
To Eldon's post about the dealer stock on the Max website - That database is rarely if ever updated so I would not judge to much from that. Some people might have new old stock but from what I know, very few dealers have anything on hand. It's a real shame more inventory can't be on hand but a dealer can't stock such an expensive hard selling item, but yet he can't sell one if he doesn't have one.

[Cougar]

This market is tough but is anybody selling any new machines anywhere in the country?

I was Mudd-Ox on Fri. and they are working 16 Hr days to keep up. I tryed to get Matt to go rideing and he said could not get away till after the first of the year. (maybe in Feb.) Cougar

[Eldon]

Brandon you have a really valid point regarding the updating of the database of dealer inventory however I have in some cases ,talked to dealers who indeed do have new old stock.All this aside the sales can be calculated by the serial numbers and how many are actually at dealers.
Long before the economy tanked a wise man once told me "new Max are darned hard to sell right now and there is actually more money in buying/repairing/selling used ones".No one hopes this changes more than me. :-).

[travisch]

Its wrong that in general we're a society driven by monthly payments but this is the single key reason why quads and side by side UTS's like Polaris Rangers have a higher sell rate then Argo, Max or Mudd-Ox. I know many guys that are driving a 3 year old quad and still making a $69 a month payment and own more then its trade value.

If a customer could walk into a dealer storefront and buy a new Argo for zero down and $129 a month the dealer would sell a ton of new units. The financing options just don't exist for Argo or Max like they do for quads.

[Eldon]

That most definitely is the problem.These amphibians are a true investment and the only recreational vehicle that can be enjoyed 24/7-365 .I have always believed that a full load Max was a better buy than a bare one because of the much more usage.I am a Max fan because of the design and drivetrain.Rear mount engine..noise out the back,T-20 transmission that can seem to give you more each time out.Everyone is interested in mine but I can't find people who understand that it is an investment in a multi-multi purpose vehicle.

[wheeler]

Gentelmen, Thankyou At this time I am not going to sell the max's. The market is just too tough right now. I am going to look for a used max that has a plow, full top and possibly tracks. I have been scouring the web and run into alot of the same where people will try to sell you something that is not. They don't know the year of the machines and they want way too much money for what they have. I'm not saying everybody is like that, but there are quite a few. I have been looking for good websites that sell the machines and 6x6 World is a great site. I would love to hear from others out there who have been to sites that sell the 6x6's and let me know what they are. Well to this day I still don't have a Max or Argo and dream about the day when I can get one that has the options I want. Thanks again and keep wheelin.
Wheeler

[larryf]

Wheeler it took me forever to find a 6x6 that i could afford that didnt need major repairs i ended up with a max 2-4 is what its called basicly a max 2 other than on here i have never came across any argos or maxes that has everything with it like u want for most people i know just the cost of buying one new without accesories would put a big dent in there wallet never the less getting tracks or a plow package would love to have that stuff for my max but the cost is just no way in my budget i could buy a small dozer cheaper so it may be hard to find one with everything would love to have a muddox but who has 20000 laying around that cost way more then my trailblazer and it has to get me everywhere i just dont know how anyone other people with lots off money could afford something of that magnatude for the blue collar worker can only dream of one of those machines one person said that muddox cant keep up that may be true but i bet that those being built are for large companys who can afford them and need something like that in there fleet so with that said your more than likely just going to buy everything seperate unless theres a bunch of people in your area that has them im in southeast ohio and in my town theres only one other aatv that i know of but have never seen it theres no one close to me that has a max for sure i would never been able to buy one with that type of setup unless i would drive three to who knows states away

[bierbower37]

I found my Max as a plain jane and have been picking away at making it to what I truly want. And the big thing is when someone gets one of these machines they tend to hold on to them. My Max will never leave me I've got too much wrench time in it. Get one that is basic then add to it as you go for your needs. I wanted tracks, but chains are doing the job now. And no cab I'll dress a little warmer. Don't do the throw away thing so many do with quads. Mines a 1998 and it is better then new for the simple fact it is paid off!

[golpher76]

whipper I hear you about finding a good price on one I was overpaid for mine with a destroyed bottom a bad jackshaft and old chains. The only thin good on it was the rest of the sprockets the axles/bearings and it had brand new 3-5 lug adapters/brand new tires/and rims. I paid 1900 and I have about 30 hours into it which includes the 17 hours I have in welding the tub back together(which came out amazing and has almost no leaks). I think if recreatives made a simple commercial and maybe paid for some advertising time on a couple local channels they could get some more business it's a risk but a lot of my friends had no idea what my machine was or what it was capable of untill I showed them. I know there are videos on youtube of the max in action but that's not a site often browsed by the group of potential max buyers, there has to be a good way to get the word out about the usefullness and durability of these machines.

[larryf]

Wow and i thought i paid to much for mine and all it really needed was a well deserved servicing i paid a thousand for mine but its an 85 model when i told the guy i would buy it i hadnt even seen it yet i was hopeing for the briggs engine but mine had the tecumseh i wasnt paying attension to the headlights when i seen the pics but i talked him down to that body was mint other than the spray painted letters which still will not come off so i guess now i got a real good deal

[golpher76]

yea I was a noob to the aatv market and I new they were a lot of money new so I thought I was getting a good deal but now I realize I got screwed pretty hard as my machine is a 1978 maxII. I still haven't gotten a chance to get it running right with the tillotson carb but I am saving. I did take it through a pond last weekend though and like I said it is barely leaking at all now. My bearing flanges don't have grease fittings on them is there any way to grease them or do I have to pull and drill the flanges and put in my own zerks?

[larryf]

I know what u mean about the running end i got a big penny in to my carb on my tecumseh but no other problems so far