Price a utilitarian sxs/UTV, it'll be $20k or more. Priced a ClubCar Carryall 1500, it was $20k. Nothing fancy, a work machine. Same thing, a John Deere Gator was $23k. One of the fast, trail-riding machines that have less utility but more speed and off-road capabilities, it'll be $30k and more. This sure seems like a lot of money. But the market has evolved for both types such that there is a LOT of competition, many choices. Do you think these machines are crazy overpriced or 'worth' what they cost. Do you think that there is enough competition that the market has them priced fairly for the quality of the machine, they are built robustly, or do you think all the manufacturers are just greedy and making way too much money? It bugs me to get 'ripped off' but OTOH, am curious if market dynamics always keep prices in check... or not so? Can greed ever manifest itself in a competitive market? Collusion would be hard to accomplish with SO many manufacturers.
I could start a similar thread about pickup trucks. Problem is, seems to me, they are way too dang big these days and there's too much 'stuff' on them. Perhaps they are very well made, lol. I guess I got my money's worth out of my 2008 Nissan Titan, have 250k miles, still going.
Yeah, pricing on these UTVs and side-by-sides has really gone through the roof. I mean, when a basic workhorse like a ClubCar Carryall or a John Deere Gator runs you $20k to $23k, and a sporty trail machine pushes $30k or more, it makes you stop and think. That’s a lot of cash, no matter how you slice it.
There’s definitely a lot of competition in this space now, which usually helps keep prices in check. Tons of brands are out there—Polaris, Can-Am, John Deere, Honda, Yamaha, you name it—so you'd think there'd be enough competition to keep things honest. And, to be fair, these machines are built tough for the most part. They can handle rough terrain, carry heavy loads, and some are even built like tanks. But does that justify the sticker price? That’s the million-dollar question.
It can feel like the manufacturers are cashing in big time, especially when you see the price tags. In theory, a competitive market should balance things out. If one company jacks up their prices too high, another should swoop in with something more affordable to take that market share. But when everyone seems to be in the same ballpark, it makes you wonder. Is it fair pricing for the quality, or are we just paying for the name or some unnecessary extras?
As for whether greed can manifest in a competitive market—absolutely. Even with lots of players, if they all decide to keep their prices high, it could feel like they’re working together, even if they're not technically colluding. Sometimes it seems like the manufacturers know people will pay up, so they keep the prices high across the board.
And yeah, pickup trucks are a whole other ballgame. Trucks these days are getting bigger, fancier, and loaded with tech and features—some useful, some maybe not so much. It's hard to find a good, simple work truck anymore without all the bells and whistles driving up the price. But hey, sounds like you’ve gotten your money’s worth out of that 2008 Titan. 250k miles and still going strong? Now that’s value!
So, are these machines overpriced? Maybe. But are they worth it? That’s up to each of us to decide based on what we need and how much we’re willing to spend.
