Polaris 1000 Buyer Review

Polaris 1000 Buyer Review Brian Flom, Kenyon, Minn.: “I bought a 2024 Polaris Ranger XP 1000 Ultimate Crew Cab to replace my tired, dirty and dusty old Kawasaki Mule. The Ultimate was a major upgrade because it’s a crew cab with hard side doors, heat and A/C. With 29-in. tires, it goes through almost anything and rides well. I’ve taken it on hilly and muddy trails, and the 4-WD handles those without problems. “I use it around the farm to pull a small trailer, fence, check fields, pick rocks, and take a quick ride to the neighbors. The tilt-up box works well. Those are the good points. Now for the dislikes. “I really don’t like the whining engine noise. The engine is right behind the back seat, so the noise is tough for backseat passengers. The radio is terrible and doesn’t pick up many stations, so I use Bluetooth on my phone. “When driving on gravel roads, which we have a lot of, the cab gets full of dust. It was coming in underneath the seats through open bolt holes, so I sealed those. When it’s really dusty, I crack open the front tilt-up window, turn the A/C on high and roll down the back windows. That seems to help kick the dust through. “In rainy weather, the roof leaks; if I wash it, water gets inside because the doors don’t seal. I had to silicone the roof where the front and back seam together. I also added silicone and sealing on top of the doors. Polaris could’ve done a much better job on the cab, especially since the vehicle cost $30K. Mine’s a 2024 model, and I’ve read that the company upgraded the 2025 models by sealing the cab better and putting in better noise control. “I’d like to do the service myself, but I have to almost stand on my head to check the oil because it’s tucked way under the cab. I have the dealer check it over and service it. “Shifting can be an issue because the drive belt needs a certain rpm to kick in. If I shift quickly, there’s a loud clunk when it engages. Done slowly, it engages a little smoother. The drive train has a turf mode so the wheels don’t tear up grass, a 4-WD mode that works well on hills and muddy conditions, and ‘positraction’ for tough straight-ahead towing. I’ve driven it through deep water that comes through the floorboard, so I guess it’s not a boat, just an all-terrain utility vehicle. “It has a good suspension, the ride is smooth, and I don’t feel a lot of bumps, even on field roads. It’s not a perfect vehicle, but it’s much better than I had before.”

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