Was looking for a golf cart...bought a Mule

[5030]

It's amazing. Positives:
*The traction is incredible.
*It has a cargo capacity of 1200# - as much as my full-sized pickup! The only way you could put that much weight in it would be a large stone or block of concrete...
*It has a very low COG - it feels as if you couldn't tip it over unless you drove off a cliff.

So far the three negatives are:
*Low ground clearance.
*In 4WD you essentially lose steering ability.
*The snowmobile style drive system means you lose all engine braking ability at low RPM.

But most importantly, my wife loves it

We had a Honda quad for years. Last summer my wife and I went to the Monroe County fair (Monroe, Michigan) and my friendly Kubota dealer had his side by sides there and my wife fell in love with the GSX850 Kubota so we have one in the garage, all optioned up of course. Kubota Orange, what else...lol Dump bed, fold up windshield, turn signals, 5000 pound remote winch, mud flaps, bed liner (Rhino Liner), aluminum wheels, LED lights, roof and it goes like a scalded dog, 50 per. Part time 4wd and electric steering and it's belt drive but has engine braking (don't know how that works but it does).

Nice buggy and we can drive it on secondary roads here in Michigan because it has the turn signals, lights and the required SMV placard. Fun buggy to go uptown with,

 

[Zebrafive]

We had a Honda quad for years. Last summer my wife and I went to the Monroe County fair (Monroe, Michigan) and my friendly Kubota dealer had his side by sides there and my wife fell in love with the GSX850 Kubota so we have one in the garage, all optioned up of course. Kubota Orange, what else...lol Dump bed, fold up windshield, turn signals, 5000 pound remote winch, mud flaps, bed liner (Rhino Liner), aluminum wheels, LED lights, roof and it goes like a scalded dog, 50 per. Part time 4wd and electric steering and it's belt drive but has engine braking (don't know how that works but it does).

Nice buggy and we can drive it on secondary roads here in Michigan because it has the turn signals, lights and the required SMV placard. Fun buggy to go uptown with,

I am considering one. Does it have a tach? If so what is rpm range of the engine? A friend has an 825i JD Gator, and it really "whines" at full throttle on the road, around 40+ mph.

 

[Milo]

.....Stopped at the local Kawasaki dealer last Friday and they had a sale on SX 4x4 FI Mules...under $7000. Liked having a dump bed. Nice to get a three year warranty. We did about 5 hours of logging road and two track riding over the long weekend. It seemed quieter compared to my buddy痴 570 Polaris...but it is not as fast. But we do not drive fast on those roads anyway.

I was concerned it would tear up the lawn but no issues with that

Will be adding a roof, extra LED lights, folding bench seat that is quick detachable in the bed and a trailer hitch.

Wish I had got the XC with extra clearance but pleased otherwise.

Congratulations you'll find all kinds of uses for the little Mule! I bought a Mule 610 back in 2005 and we had a blast with it, in fact no one wanted to ride the ATVs anymore. They're narrow so will fit on tight ATV trails and having side by side seating along with a bed made the thing really useful. The only things I did was had the bed Rhino Lined and took the cage above the seat back off. Nice that they're FI now. I eventually wanted a bit more power and speed so sold it to buy a Polaris 500 FI (midsize), and while it was faster and rode smoother I never really liked the thing especially the crappy AWD system, so last year sold it and bought another Kawasaki. Mule Pro MX which I really like.

 

[shooterdon]

My first SxS was a 2010 Polaris Ranger. I tried to do too much with it. Added a winch, roof, windshields front and rear, chains and plow, dual gun carrier, signals. Then added tracks but they lasted one season as you get about 1/2 the speed using them and the engine was always at thigh RPM. Then added a cab. By the time I was done, I had invested nearly $25k. Insurance was another $250/year. When I sold it, two years ago I got 1/2 of the investment back. Cost of ownership was about $2000/year. It was ok for light snows but useless as my only snow tool. The cab was hot in the summer, but I could remove the doors, and cold in the winter. Cab leaked a bit in the rain.

My next unit was a Polaris RZR. Completely useless as a work vehicle but got it as a fun toy to ride trails so the gf and kids would be able to play.

IMHO, SxS's are not that useful as work vehicle and certainly not worth the over $15k the 'nice' ones go for.

When I realized the price of a decent golf cart was north of $4500, I looked a getting a small used pickup (like a Ford Ranger). But they were $4k and then there was the cost of plates and insurance ($800/yr) if I wanted to use it for riding trails and backroads. And I know a used truck can be counted on for another $1000-1200/year in repairs. So it came in at $1800-2000/year.

If the Mule had not been on sale, I may not have bought it. But for a couple of thousand more than a good four wheeler it was a better choice for us. It will be do what we need and we are enjoying it. If I keep it 10 years, it will still be worth $3000 and ownership cost will be less than $700/year. It is a simple machine with little that will require dealer service.

 

[Milo]

What some people can spend on a UTV seems excessive to me but each to their own. $10k is the sweet spot for me and I was under that for my Mule Pro MX LE with power steering, 1/2 windshield, roof, and alloy wheels. 4wd system operates same as Mule 610 which is how I like it to work. Unfortunately being 6 wider I had to cut a few trees in widening my trails but it is still not as wide as many including full size Mules yet still comfortable for 3.
A 610 sounds perfect for your intended use and so much more useful and functional than a golf cart!

 

[two_bit_score]

Simpler is better I have decided.

I have never owned a UTV but since retiring from my paying job last year Ive been looking and of course TBN is a great resource.

Wife actually told me once to just buy another tractor if I was going "to spend THAT much on it" talking about a UTV. I have a farm truck but keep going back to how much fun a gator or something like that would be.

Biggest drawback on all of the ones I've seen is the bed is too short. It needs to be an 8' bed to be to be really considered a Utility vehicle.


.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Saw a really interesting 1200cc (I believe) Jeep look alike in the Princess Auto Cat. (Like a CDN HF) $2400.oo CDN, I believe. No Bed but a bench seat for two. Pretty cheap for something new and to avoid walking. Got it wrong, just Googled it. 125 CC, and smaller than it looked without an adult sitting in it. Still pretty cheap.

If people had to put cash on the table for some of those UTVs, I think they would consider them not worth the money. Funny how that works.

 

[two_bit_score]

Some people believe that credit is cheaper than cash too.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A friend with money just got a Gator for thirty something. And I bet he went for the 0 % or whatever and without a doubt expenses it through the business. I also bet, he would never go the the Dealer and put that money on the table for that vehicle. He just wouldn't think it worth it, if I know him. Did I say, how funny that is?

 

[two_bit_score]

A friend with money just got a Gator for thirty something. And I bet he went for the 0 % or whatever and without a doubt expenses it through the business. I also bet, he would never go the the Dealer and put that money on the table for that vehicle. He just wouldn't think it worth it, if I know him. Did I say, how funny that is?

It's probably not even the write off that 'encourages' doing that because even taking a 179 deduction wouldn't induce me to spend $30K on a Gator. But I'm cheap.



.

 

[LouNY]

We have and use 2 mules on the farm and 3 4wheelers then I have my side x side which gets used over there also,
they are much handier and will go many places that the pickups will not go especially when the fields and pastures are soft and muddy,
a pickup or jeep would be either getting stuck or tearing up and rutting the ground terrible. These UTV's can run around with minimal disturbance
of the surface and minor rutting. Also the ride on the newer ones is so much better then a jeep or pickup on rough ground, (not the old style mule).
While a bit better then a pickup not much.
Also when one does get stuck it's much simpler to get it free then a pickup and it has been know to just sit and wait a few days.

 

[dnw64]

Some people believe that credit is cheaper than cash too.

Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. Depends on what the deal is.

$50k purchase, choice of $1000 rebate and 8% financing or no rebate and 0% financing, both over 5 years. What's the better deal?

$10k purchase, choice of $500 rebate and 8% financing or no rebate and 0% financing, both over 5 years. What's the better deal?

$1k purchase, choice of $100 rebate and 8% financing or no rebate and 0% financing, both over 5 years. What's the better deal?

Sometimes the better deal is the one you can afford. NOT the one that has a total lower cost.

 

[two_bit_score]

Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. Depends on what the deal is.

$50k purchase, choice of $1000 rebate and 8% financing or no rebate and 0% financing, both over 5 years. What's the better deal?

$10k purchase, choice of $500 rebate and 8% financing or no rebate and 0% financing, both over 5 years. What's the better deal?

$1k purchase, choice of $100 rebate and 8% financing or no rebate and 0% financing, both over 5 years. What's the better deal?

Sometimes the better deal is the one you can afford. NOT the one that has a total lower cost.

There is always a cost for using someone else's money. If that cost is less than the cost of using your own money (interest or opportunity cost) then it's possible but there is no free lunch and there is no free financing. It's made up in the price somewhere.

These tractor deals usually include some finance scheme to entice people into buying for the 'low down and 0% financing'. Cash may not always be the best way to buy because of all the built ins but in any normal transaction you are NOT going to use someone else's money without paying for it.

 

[dnw64]

...in any normal transaction you are NOT going to use someone else's money without paying for it.

Maybe I have some abnormal transactions...

If I can borrow money for at or less than the (anticipated) rate of return in other venues, and I need/want to spend some money, I will borrow it rather than take my money out of the better ROIs.

Even at just a 1% differential, on a $1MM investment it's a $10,000 difference. Continuing the math exercise, at $10MM it's $100,000 (not that I am at that stage...) it's enough to buy the nicest light-duty pickup you can possibly option out OR a very nice UT and then throw it away at the end of the year.

You CAN beat the system.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's mostly people that have money, liquid money and assetts that can best take advantage of many situations.

 

[two_bit_score]

Maybe I have some abnormal transactions...

If I can borrow money for at or less than the (anticipated) rate of return in other venues, and I need/want to spend some money, I will borrow it rather than take my money out of the better ROIs.

Even at just a 1% differential, on a $1MM investment it's a $10,000 difference. Continuing the math exercise, at $10MM it's $100,000 (not that I am at that stage...) it's enough to buy the nicest light-duty pickup you can possibly option out OR a very nice UT and then throw it away at the end of the year.

You CAN beat the system.

Refer to my statement above: If that cost is less than the cost of using your own money (interest or opportunity cost) then it's possible but there is no free lunch and there is no free financing. It's made up in the price somewhere.

 

[two_bit_score]

It's mostly people that have money, liquid money and assetts that can best take advantage of many situations.

My Dad used to say about some individuals that, "He's bankrupt. He just hasn't figured it out yet." Because they were always buying on credit.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I know businesses that always pay CASH, buy their assetts outright. Pay their bills right away. They have plants in various countries around the world. Whenever the economy tanks, it's always them that survive.

Much of this smoke and mirrors, "use other peoples money" is not always guaranteed to work.

I like Warren Buffetts saying. To paraphrase. When the surf goes out, you find who has been swimming naked.

 

[dnw64]

...not always guaranteed to work.

Oh, you mean like "life"?

:laughing:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Or you find, you (not YOU specifically) and the other lemmings are headed over a cliff!